Fort Lewis College’s women’s head basketball coach Taylor Harris faced one of his former teams, Regis University, on Friday.
Harris worked as an assistant for Regis head coach Molly Marrin, for four years before leading Miles Community College to a 23-1 record in 2020-2021.
Marrin came to Durango one win shy of 100.
Fort Lewis seemed poised to deny Marrin the milestone victory and led the entire first half and went into the fourth quarter tied 48-48. Regis, however, pulled away in the fourth to win the game, 68-58.
The Skyhawks were hot from behind the arch in the first half, with Sydney Candelaria knocking down a trey to start the game. Jana Conejero and Kelsey Sorenson also knocked down 3-pointers in the first quarter while Fort Lewis rebounded well to limit Regis’ scoring opportunities. FLC led 17-16 after the first.
In the second quarter, FLC made another five shots from deep and led by as many as six. Alyssa Adams opened the frame with a 3-pointer. Candelaria knocked down a pair of 3’s, including one a couple feet beyond the line. Claudia Vidal then swished a three, and Piper Terry sank a trey to give FLC a 32-27 lead. Sorenson added a couple of baskets in the paint in the final minute, and FLC went into halftime leading 36-32.
Regis took its first lead of the game about three minutes into the third quarter, 38-36. After that, however, the teams traded the lead nine times in the quarter only to finish the frame tied at 48. Adams, Conejero, Candelaria and Sorenson all hit shots that gave FLC the lead.
Regis went on an 11-2 run to start the fourth and extended its lead to as many as 14, 66-52. Sorenson and Adams made some late buckets to cut the lead to 66-58, but FLC wouldn’t get any closer.
Candelaria and Sorenson both scored 19 points to lead Fort Lewis. Adams scored seven while Vidal and Conejero both scored five. Sorenson also snagged nine rebounds for the Skyhawks.
Regis’ Josey Ryan scored 21 to lead all scorers.
Fort Lewis will be back in Whalen on Saturday when the team hosts Colorado School of Mines at 5 p.m.
FLC is now 2-9 overall, 1-4 RMAC. Regis is 7-3, 3-1 and Mines is 9-1, 4-0.
