No. 7 Fort Lewis outlasts Mountain Lions

DURANGO, Colo. - Playing the nation's No. 7-ranked team on its home floor proved to be a little more than the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team could handle.

But just barely.

Behind 41 points by reserves Katerina Garcia and Stephanie Beeman, the nationally-ranked Fort Lewis Skyhawks defeated the Mountain Lions 81-65 Friday at Whalen Gymnasium in a game that was much closer than the final margin.

After a layup by Hannah Knight, UCCS (4-2, 0-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) trailed by just four points with 3:42 remaining. Beeman hit consecutive 3-pointers, each assisted by Garcia, to extend Fort Lewis' lead to 69-59 with just over three minutes left.

From that point, the Mountain Lions were forced first to gamble defensively, then foul, in an unsuccessful attempt to bridge the gap.

Beeman was 5-for-6 on 3-pointers, leading the Skyhawks to a 46.2 percent (12-for-26) performance. Each time the Mountain Lions would rally, a 3-pointer would take the air out of them.

Sammi Gentile led UCCS with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Ashley Miller and Jessica Brown each added 10 points. Jeri Pikul had a team-best four assists and Brown had four steals.

Garcia had 21 points and Beeman 20 for Fort Lewis (4-1, 1-0 RMAC).