A trio of Fort Lewis College seniors have had a special season, which was recognized Tuesday around the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
The RMAC announced its all-conference teams, and FLC seniors Christie Groh, Ashley Kuchar and Erika Richards all were honored.
“We put a lot on their plate this year, and they produced throughout the season pretty consistently,” FLC head coach Jason Flores said. “I am pretty proud of the fact they are academic and athletic all-conference players. It is safe to say not everyone has all their all-conference players also all-academic players.”
Kuchar and Richards were selected to the first-team thanks to stellar offensive seasons. It was the second all-conference honor for Kuchar, who was named to the second team a year ago.
Kuchar ranked eighth in the conference with an average of 15.2 points per game. She also was fourth in the conference in assists and steals, with an average of 4.4 assists per game and two steals per game.
“It feels good to be rewarded and know your hard work has paid off in school and basketball,” Kuchar said.
Richards earned her second all-conference accolade and her first since her sophomore season when she was named to the third team. She was fifth in the conference with 16.8 points per game. She also was second in the conference in free-throw percentage at 89.1 percent.
Both players surpassed 1,000 points at FLC this season.
“I didn’t make it last year, and that was tough,” Richards said. “I played hard every single game, so I think I deserve it.”
Groh was named to the second team one year after receiving a third-team distinction. The 6-1 forward was ninth in the RMAC in points per game and rebounding with averages of 14.7 points and 6.6 rebounds.
“It feels pretty good. You do your best, and that’s all you can do,” Groh said.
Flores was happy to see his three seniors recognized and said they will be tough to replace next season.
“When you talk about what they are leaving behind, those are pretty high standards,” Flores said.
Colorado Mesa’s Sharaya Selsor was named the RMAC women’s basketball Player of the Year after averaging 24.9 points per game while ranking in the top five in field goal, free throw and 3-point percentages.
New Mexico Highlands’ China Smith and Colorado Christian’s Christina Whitelaw split the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Laura Tyree of Colorado School of Mines was the conference’s Freshman of the Year. She averaged 9.1 points 2.9 assists per game.
Colorado Mesa head coach Taylor Wagner was named Coach of the Year after leading the Mavericks to a 25-1 regular season and 21-1 RMAC record.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
Richards the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week
Scoring 37 points against the top-team in the conference is a good way to get noticed.
Fort Lewis College senior Erika Richards was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
The 5-9 guard from Mesa, Ariz., scored a career-high 37 points Saturday night when the Skyhawks upset the No. 2 ranked team in the country, Colorado Mesa. She converted on 11-of-17 shots from the field and 5-of-8 3-point attempts while making 10-of-13 free throws.
Richards scored another 20 points Friday night against Western State. She averaged 28.5 points in the two games with 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the two victories. She shot 56.7 percent from the field and 8-of-13 from 3-point distance.
It was the first offensive player of the week award this season for Richards, who joins fellow seniors Christie Groh and Ashley Kuchar as the only Skyhawks to earn the honor this season.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
