Every time the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team fell behind by double-digits Saturday night, it found a way to crawl back into the game.
But a poor stretch of play in the third quarter ultimately cost the Skyhawks on the road in Golden in a 75-63 loss to Colorado School of Mines (4-1, 3-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference).
FLC (1-3, 1-3 RMAC) had fought back to tie the game at 37-37 in the third quarter, but Mines would answer with a 10-2 run and would outscore the Skyhawks 21-10 in the third quarter to build a 56-42 lead going to the fourth quarter.
“I think we stopped moving the ball as much and weren’t able to make shots like we were in the first half to keep it close,” FLC head coach Orlando Griego said. “We had a couple of turnovers that also played a part, but I was proud of my group. They were battling and fighting and weren’t giving up.”
FLC sophomore forward Jordan Vasquez continued her streak of scoring 20 or more points per game in all four games this season, as she scored a career-high 25 to go with 13 rebounds. It was her 3-pointer that had FLC and the Orediggers tied at 37 in the third.
“Jordan put in a lot of time over the summer, and we are grateful to have had that time with our school and NCAA allowing players to come work out,” Griego said. “She dedicated herself over the summer, and that’s showing.”
Chloe Warrington made three first-half 3-pointers for FLC to add 11 points. Bailey Osmer also scored 11 points in the loss, while Katrina Chandler scored eight in the first half and finished with nine points to go with six assists.
Denali Pinto, one of the top RMAC players, had 22 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Orediggers.
“She’s been an RMAC Player of the Year, and they have a good team around her,” Griego said of Pinto. “That makes them very good. There are five players out there for them at all times that play hard and score in different ways. It presents problems for a lot of teams and did for us with their size and athleticism. But Jordan was down there battling with those girls, rebounded well and was aggressive for us.”
Liz Holter added 13 points and four steals for the home team. Courtney Stanton finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Mines held FLC’s Alison Chanhthala to zero points on 0-of-7 shooting. Alyssa Adams was also held to only three points, though she grabbed seven rebounds.
FLC lost despite winning the rebound battle 38-30. Turnovers were the problem for the Skyhawks, as they had 19. Mines had 12 turnovers.
FLC will have some time off to prepare for a Jan. 3 home contest against South Dakota Mines, a game that was scheduled as the season opener but was rescheduled because of COVID-19 reasons.
FLC was supposed to play the Friday before Saturday’s game at Regis, but that game was postponed one day before because of Regis’ COVID-19 problems.
“The biggest thing is trying to find some normalcy and trying to get games and have fun with the team when we do get games,” Griego said. “It’s hard when you look forward to playing a team all week then, all of a sudden, you’re not playing them. You have to transition to the next team pretty quick. It’s tough to do, but any opportunity we get to play this year, we’re gonna do it and appreciate it.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
