After forfeiting his team’s game at Adams State last weekend, Chadron State women’s basketball coach Travis Brewster has been suspended for three games because of the forfeit, according to a statement from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

“The choice by the Chadron State women’s basketball team to voluntarily forfeit the contest was unacceptable and contrary to the RMAC Philosophy Statement, Ethical Conduct Policy and spirit of the game,” the statement read. “The decision was also wholly unfair to participating student-athletes. As a result, Chadron State head coach Travis Brewster shall be suspended for three games and the program shall be fined $5,000 for the violation.”

Fort Lewis College beat Chadron State 71-58 the night before.

Chadron State was losing badly against Adams State last Saturday, down 27-2 after the first quarter.

With the Eagles down 63-22 with 3:22 left in the third quarter, Brewster had enough. He called timeout and pulled his team off the court citing ‘player safety.’ Chadron State had five players on the court and had played 11 players in the game up to that point.

But there are no official stats from the game, despite the unofficial stats found on Adams State’s women’s basketball page.

“Per the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rule Book – Rule 5, Section 3, Article 5 – the game officials properly declared a forfeit, resulting in a 2-0 win by Adams State,” according to the RMAC statement. “The NCAA rule also states that because three full quarters were not completed, there are no official game statistics. However, coaches and teams shall have their respective win and loss counted against their records.”

Brewster will miss road games at University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Regis University, and a home game against South Dakota Mines.

Chadron State is 5-10 overall and 11th in the RMAC at 3-8.

bkelly@durangoherald.com