Fort Lewis College’s women’s basketball team did about everything it could Friday night but couldn’t secure a second consecutive overtime victory.
The Skyhawks saw their winning streak snapped at four in a 74-72 overtime loss against Colorado Christian University in Lakewood. FLC (15-6, 11-5 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) battled back from a 72-68 hole in overtime to tie the game with 7.8 seconds to play in the extra five minutes, but a layup at the buzzer by the Cougars’ Marie Tsoungui rattled around the rim and fell through the hoop to give the home team the win and a season split against FLC.
“It was tough,” FLC head coach Orlando Griego said. “I don’t think we played as good of defense as we needed to to really win the game. It’s not all about the last play. It’s about turnovers, key rebounds for them or even fouls sending them to the free-throw line. It’s a good learning experience for us to keep learning and get better.”
FLC fell to 2-5 on the road with the loss compared to a 13-1 mark at home. The Skyhawks have four more road games to play during the regular season, with only two at home during a chase for a top-four position to earn a home game in the eight-team RMAC tournament. Three of those road games are coming up as quick as 3 p.m. Saturday at Regis (9-13, 7-9 RMAC).
“We are close, close, close, but we’re not able to really put it all together to really get key road wins we need,” Griego said. “We have to stay consistent. I know we’re always gonna be tough, but it’s about being consistent on defense and our shot selection. We really have to execute and put complete games together on the road.”
Tsoungui had shot only 2-of-14 from the field before her game-winning layup. It was the second time the Cougars (7-15, 7-9 RMAC) had a chance to win the game at the buzzer. The first time in the fourth quarter, Olivia Christy attempted a jump shot that was blocked by FLC junior guard Sydney Candelaria to send the game to overtime.
FLC had to fight to send the game to OT. The Skyhawks led 60-54 with 2:16 to play, but mistakes by FLC got the Cougars back in the game. Taylor Ferris, who scored a team-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting for CCU, would make a traditional three-point play at the foul line to get her team within 60-57 with 1:26 to go in the fourth. FLC’s Bailey Osmer would then miss layups on consecutive Skyhawks possessions, and each time FLC committed a silly foul against the CCU rebounder to send the Cougars to the foul line. Lourdes Gonzalez, who had 13 points and eight rebounds for CCU, made the first two free throws, and Tsoungui would make the next two to give CCU a 61-60 lead with 48 seconds to play.
“Giving them free points with the clock stopped helped them with momentum,” Griego said. “On top of that, it puts us in a situation where we have to execute even better on offense. We can’t foul and have the clock stopped when we have the lead.”
FLC’s Jordan Carter, who had 10 points and eight rebounds, couldn’t make a tough jump shot to give FLC the lead, and the Skyhawks would have to send Christy to the foul line with 14.2 seconds to play. She went 1-of-2 to give her team a 62-60 lead.
Out of a timeout, FLC junior point guard Katrina Chandler would drive right to the basket and score a layup to tie the game with 7.8 seconds to play. FLC would play solid defense leading to Candelaria’s big blocked shot to force overtime.
“We felt like we had a good mismatch,” Griego said of Chandler’s tying layup. “We drew up a play to get her defender moving and catch her off guard and then attack the basket. Katrina had options to pass or take it to the basket. She saw the opening, got her shoulders downhill and made it.”
Two big 3s, one from Ferris on her only attempt of the night, and another by Brookelyn Hurlbut, had Regis up 70-68. Tsoungui would then block a Candelaria shot and run the floor to score a layup to give CCU its big lead of the game at 72-68 with one minute to go in overtime.
But Candelaria, who had a monster game for FLC with 15 points, 10 rebounds and four steals, would make two free throws followed by a layup for Carter to tie the game with 7.8 seconds to play.
“(Candelaria) is in a really good rhythm right now. She plays so hard offensively and defensively,” Griego said. “She’s a tough kid to handle, and we’re glad to have her on our team.”
Tsoungui then made her heroic shot. After a short video review by the referees, the basket was ruled good.
Jordan Vasquez had a huge game for FLC, as the freshman forward scored a game-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting and a perfect 4-of-4 at the foul line to go with five rebounds. Chandler added nine points and five assists.
Tsoungui finished with 10 points and four assists. Christy also had 10 points. Both teams shot 27-of-65 (41.5%) from the field and each team made six 3-pointers. FLC won the rebound battle 44-37 but had 13 turnovers to only nine assists. FLC was 12-of-16 at the foul line to 14-of-21 for the home team.
FLC will try to regroup on short rest before Saturday’s afternoon game at Regis.
“The biggest thing for us is rest,” Griego said. “We have to stay together and make sure we are prepared for another really tough RMAC road game.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
