GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's basketball hosted Fort Lewis College in their annual Play 4 Kay event. On the night, four Western women scored in double-digits. But, the Skyhawks, ranked number two in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, proved a tough test for the Mountaineers as they fell 56-74.
 
Samantha Coleman lead Western (7-17, 4-14) with 13 points, shooting 50% from three-point land. Nine of Coleman's points came from behind the arc. The 13 point effort was the second highest of Coleman's Western career. 
 
Both Chandler Sturms and Keelie Lawler put up 11 points for the Mountaineers. Sturms finished the night just shy of the double-double, pulling down eight rebounds alongside her 11 points. In her first game since November, Lawler was a perfect three for three from the floor and hit four out of five free throws.
 
Lawler's presence off the bench was a spark for the Mountaineers in the second quarter. With Western down nine, Lawler subbed in and rattled off seven points in the next six minutes. Throughout the quarter, Western played their best basketball, shaking off a slow start and cutting the lead to one at the 7:29 mark.
 
While shooting 46% from the floor in the first half, Western stayed within striking distance despite 17 turnovers. Western trailed Fort Lewis (19-5, 3-5 RMAC) 30-35 at the break.
 
In the third, Western came out swinging with five quick points from Sturms in the first minute of play to knot the game at 35. But Western could not break the tie and Fort Lewis rebounded in the fourth.
 
The buckets wouldn't fall for Western late while Fort Lewis went a perfect 16-16 from the free-throw line in the second half to pull away for the win.
 
Western returns to the court tomorrow night in a Senior Day celebration against rival Adams State University.