The Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team’s defense couldn’t hold up for 40 minutes on Saturday afternoon against Colorado Christian. The Cougars scored 27 fourth-quarter points and beat the Skyhawks on their senior day 71-56.
FLC made multiple runs, including a great start to the game and a run in the third quarter to get back into the game. But in the end, Colorado Christian had plenty of composure against the Skyhawks’ pressure in the fourth; the Cougars found easy looks inside and from 3-point range with their ball movement to pull away.
“The promising pieces are the runs that we go on, the good things that we do,” FLC head coach Lauren Zuniga said. “But we made way too many defensive mistakes, especially when you're not efficient from the field. You have to make it up on the defensive end and we didn’t do a very good job.”
FLC fell to 6-20 overall and 3-15 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after it shot 36% from the field, 30% from 3-point range and 75% from the free-throw line. The Skyhawks have lost six consecutive games and their final nine home games of the season.
Senior forward Eva Kingston led the Skyhawks on senior day with 13 points on 3-8 shooting from the field, 3-7 from 3-point range and 4-4 from the free-throw line. Senior forward Darla Hernandez and junior guard Deniece Ryan each added 10 points.
Colorado Christian improved to 9-17 overall and 7-11 in the RMAC after it shot 42% from the field, 35% from 3-point range and 100% from the free-throw line.
Nicole Bowlin led the Cougars with 18 points on 7-9 shooting from the field, 3-5 from 3-point range and 1-1 from the free-throw line, along with nine rebounds and five assists. Elise Grosdidier added 14 points for Colorado Christian.
“We knew she'd be their leading guard,” Zuniga said about Bowlin. “She’s a shifty capable three-level score; the scout was to slow her down and we obviously didn't do that. We made some mistakes, went under ball screens, lost her in transition and let her get to her right hand with ease.”
The Skyhawks started the game by leading 15-11 after the first quarter. Colorado Christian really struggled to shoot in the first quarter, finishing the first 3-15 from the field. Freshman guard Katie Lamb hit two 3-pointers to lead FLC’s offense early.
FLC struggled with its offense to start the second with numerous turnovers. Bowlin found some open space for the Cougars; she had seven points in the first five minutes of the second, including a 3-pointer to put the Cougars up 22-17 with five minutes left in the half.
Kingston was aggressive in the middle of the second quarter to tie the game at 22. She can be a key offensive contributor as a small-ball center who can shoot the 3-pointer well and also drive against bigger forwards. She had eight points in the first half.
Colorado Christian ended the first half on a 7-0 run with five of those points coming from Bowlin. Colorado Christian led 29-22 at the half as Bowlin was a perfect 5-5 from the field and 2-2 from 3-point range for 12 points.
The Cougars started the second half on an 8-0 run in the first 90 seconds to go up 37-22. Colorado Christian had good ball movement for two 3-pointers while FLC struggled with turnovers early on.
Senior guard Livia Knapp did a great job penetrating in the middle of the third with an array of crossovers and dribble moves. She scored a few times but also had a few turnovers as the Cougars kept their double-digit lead.
The Skyhawks cut into Colorado Christian’s lead with 3-pointers from sophomores Trista Hoobler and Natalie Guanella to cut the lead to 42-34 with 2:30 left in the third. FLC was causing turnovers with active hands and pushed the tempo.
FLC continued its run with defense. Hernandez hit a midrange jumper to make it 42-40 as FLC went on a 14-2 run. Colorado Christian led 44-40 after three quarters.
Colorado Christian extended its lead by attacking the paint to start the fourth. Bowlin drove hard to her right, finished strong plus the foul to put the Cougars up 55-44 with 6:30 left.
The Skyhawks couldn’t get the stops to get back into the game in the fourth. Colorado Christian used its good ball movement to cut through FLC’s pressure and get open looks. Zuniga took out her three healthy seniors with 19 seconds left to a round of applause.
After the game, Hernandez, Knapp, Kingston and injured forward Samantha Wattawa were honored in a senior day ceremony.
“It’s a special group that I'll never forget just because they're my first set of seniors here at Fort Lewis,” Zuniga said about her seniors. “They've helped lay the foundation for what we want to do. Although the record isn’t what we wanted or what they wanted, they definitely are laying the groundwork for the standards and culture that we're trying to establish.”
FLC plays at Chadron State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
