Skyhawks Women’s Basketball Falls to Western Colorado, 78-61

The Fort Lewis College (FLC) women’s basketball team faced a challenging return from their three-week break, losing 78-61 to Western Colorado at home on January 5, 2026. The defeat marked a tough start to the new year, as the Skyhawks struggled offensively and defensively throughout the game.

FLC managed to keep the game competitive during the first three quarters by forcing turnovers. However, they faltered in the fourth quarter as Western Colorado capitalized on their 3-point shooting and free-throw opportunities. The Skyhawks’ defensive lapses and excessive fouling, with six players accumulating three or more fouls, hindered their performance.

Head coach Lauren Zuniga expressed disappointment post-game, stating, “We have super high expectations. When it becomes game time, that should be your opportunity to showcase everything that we’ve been working on. Especially defensively, because that’s what we really take pride in. We just didn’t do that tonight. We were just one step behind.”

With the loss, FLC’s record fell to 9-4 overall and 2-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The Skyhawks struggled statistically, shooting only 35% from the field, 18% from 3-point range, and 50% from the free-throw line. Their free-throw percentage has been a persistent issue, ranking them last in the conference. Zuniga noted that the team practices free throws extensively, but the results have yet to translate into games.

Skyhawks sophomore guard Katie Lamb led the team with 11 points, shooting 4-11 from the field and contributing seven rebounds. In contrast, Western Colorado improved to 6-5 overall and 4-1 in the RMAC, shooting 40% from the field, 44% from 3-point territory, and 74% from the free-throw line. Their efficient performance included 38 free-throw attempts, significantly outpacing FLC’s 18.

Western Colorado’s leading scorer before the game, Ivey Schmidt, dominated with 25 points, making 5-13 from the field, 4-4 from 3-point range, and 11-12 from the free-throw line, along with eight rebounds. The Mountaineers established an early lead, ending the first quarter at 19-15 after starting strong with 6-9 shooting from the field.

As the second quarter progressed, FLC struggled with ball possession, committing turnovers that allowed Western Colorado to extend their lead. Despite a brief resurgence, with Lamb cutting the lead to 33-28, the Mountaineers responded with a tough inside basket by Addison Harding, closing the half at 36-28.

The Skyhawks began the second half with more defensive intensity, enabling them to narrow the gap to 39-35. Yet, Western Colorado countered effectively, with Schmidt drawing fouls and increasing her team’s lead to 50-37 midway through the third quarter. Zuniga commented on Schmidt’s performance, noting, “We knew how good she was… but she shot above her average, which is the complete opposite of what you want.”

FLC finished the third quarter with a strong effort from freshman guard Josie Davis, whose hustle led to offensive rebounds and turnovers for the Mountaineers. Davis’s contributions culminated in a buzzer-beating layup that brought the Skyhawks within 53-45 at the end of the quarter.

However, the start of the fourth quarter proved problematic for FLC. Early fouls by junior Makaya Porter and missed opportunities allowed Western Colorado to pull away further. Zuniga remarked on her team’s struggles with fouls, saying, “A few of them we could have done without… but I didn’t hate them… at some point, it will hopefully show up for us.”

Looking ahead, the Skyhawks will seek to rebound when they host Westminster on Saturday, January 7, at 1 p.m. in another RMAC matchup.