GUNNISON, Colo. – It was a tightly contested matchup between Western Colorado University women's basketball and Fort Lewis College on Saturday night in Paul Wright Gym. The Mountaineers were unable to come away with a victory in the final home game of the season, falling to the Skyhawks 74-76.
 
Not much separated either squad throughout the entirety of Saturday's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup. Entering the fourth quarter, the Skyhawks led by just three points, 56-53.
 
Western (16-9, 12-9 RMAC) tied the game four times in the fourth, but were unable to take the lead down the stretch. Following a Jessie Erickson layup, the Mountaineers tied the game at 74 points with 1:22 left to play.
 
The Skyhawks made two free throws with 11 seconds remaining, but Western was unable to tie the game for a fifth time in the fourth.
 
Chandler Willis scored a game-high 23 points for the Mountaineers, hitting 7-of-11 three-point attempts.
 
Teammates Erickson, Jadyn Kanzler and Samantha Coleman also scored in double figures against FLC (12-15, 8-13 RMAC). Coleman notched 15 points, making four three-pointers, while Erickson added 12 points, and Kanzler 10.
 
Tammarrah Gothard recorded 10 assists on the night.
 
The Mountaineers have one game remaining in the regular season. Western will face Colorado Mesa University on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Grand Junction. A win would guarantee the Mountaineers a spot in the RMAC Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
 
If Western were to lose against the Mavericks next Friday, they would need help from other teams to ensure a tournament spot.
 
Currently, Western is in a three-way tie for sixth place in the RMAC standings. The top eight teams make the tournament.