Mountain Lions stun Fort Lewis

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (7-10, 5-5 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) came back from an eight-point second half deficit to shock the Fort Lewis Skyhawks (13-5, 7-3) 41-38 Friday evening at the Lions Den.

B.J. McNeally led the Mountain Lions with 13 points and scored the final five points of the game for CU-Colorado Springs. First she canned a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to give the Mountain Lions a 39-35 lead with 1:55 remaining. Amy Mohr answered on the other end for the Skyhawks with a conventional 3-point play to cut the lead to 39-38.

The Skyhwawks had two chances with under 1:00 remaining to take the lead but were unable to capitalize. McNeally then iced the game with five seconds left with a pair of three-throws.

“This feels very nice tonight,” said McNeally who also had five assists and three rebounds. “We havenâ€^TMt won at home for a while.”

It was CU-Colorado Springs first win at home since a 59-44 victory of Colorado Christian on Dec 12.

On a night where the Mountain Lions were playing one of the best offenses in the RMAC, their defense was incredible.

The Mountain Lions held Fort Lewis 35 points under its season average as the Skyhawks shot just 28 percent for the game and committed 16 turnovers.

Fort Lewis came into the game leading the conference in 3-point shooting percentage at 38 percent. Friday, the Skyhawks shot 13.3 percent (2-for-15) from be the arc as the Mountain Lions contested every shot.

CU-Colorado Springs also played great interior defense.

“We focused on (Fort Lewis center Amy) Mohr tonight," said Julie Richards, who had eight points, nine rebounds and two blocks. “She is their leading scorer so wanted to slow her down.”

Mohr, reigning RMAC player of the week, came into the game averaging 18.1 points per game. The Mountain Lions held her to just 12 points on 4-for-13 shooting.

“(Elise Hazelwood) and I just did a good job of moving out feet and staying in good defensive position,” said Richards.

Fort Lewis led 25-19 at halftime at pushed its lead to 33-25 with 14:14 to go. CU-Colorado Springs limited the Skyhawks to just a single field goal over the next ten minutes and took its first lead of the game, 34-33, on a Richards layup with 4:33 to go. CU-Colorado Springs never trailed the rest of the game.

After a pair of tough losses in their last two home games, this win isnâ€^TMt only huge in terms of the conference standings. Itâ€^TMs also huge for the teamâ€^TMs psyche.

“We just lost a heartbreaker here to Mesa State, one that we had in our grasps,” said McNeally. “To beat a team as highly ranked as Fort Lewis is pretty big for us.”