The Fort Lewis women’s basketball team trailed New Mexico Highlands University by as many as 18 points Friday.
The Skyhawks picked it up and played their best ball in the fourth quarter and rallied to cut the lead to a single point twice. Highlands, however, made six of its final seven free throws to hold on and win the game, 54-51.
Kelsey Sorenson scored Fort Lewis’ first six points and finished with 15 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. FLC trailed 8-6 early in the first, but then NMHU went on a 9-0 run. Sydney Candelaria responded by scoring six straight points to close the gap to five. She finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Highlands, however, scored the last six of the first to lead 23-12.
In the second, FLC was held to a single field goal and a handful of free throws and went into halftime trailing 32-19.
Highlands extended the lead to 41-23 in the third, but FLC scored 10 of the final 12 in the frame and won the third quarter, 14-11, to enter the fourth only trailing by 10, 43-33. During the late run, Candelaria scored three the old-fashioned way, Jana Conejero hit the team’s first 3-pointer of the game and Sorenson scored on a put back.
The Skyhawks continued their rally in the fourth. Alyssa Adams, who finished with 10 points, hit a corner three to start the quarter. Sorenson, Candelaria and Brooke McGee all made baskets and FLC trailed 48-43 with 1:09 left.
Candelaria added two free throws with 43 seconds left to make it a 3-point game. After Highlands went 1-of-2 from the line, Adams knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game to get FLC within one of NMHU, 49-48, with 10 seconds left. FLC fouled right away and caught a break when Highlands missed its second free throw and the ball bounced towards McGee. Shania Johnson, however, followed her miss and was able to get the ball before McGee, was fouled and went back to the line where she made both shots.
Candelaria hit a running 3-pointer to make it a one-point game again, 52-51, but NMHU made two late free throws and the Skyhawks last second shot was off target.
With the win, NMHU improved to 5-15 overall and 2-12 in the RMAC.
FLC slid to 2-17, 1-12.
The Skyhawks will be back in Whalen tomorrow for a showdown with the University of Colorado Springs. The women will play at 5 p.m., followed by the men at 7 p.m.
