Box Score POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE ON YOUTUBE

Wayne, NE – In a battle between the NCAA tournament newcomers University of Mary and the veteran 12^th-ranked Fort Lewis College, the sixth-seeded Marauders were unable to overcome costly second-half turnovers, fouls and the quick scoring runs of the third-seeded Skyhawks in a 69-58 loss to open the NCAA Division II Central Region Women's Basketball Tournament.
 
Seeded sixth in the Central Region tournament, the Marauders made their first appearance in an NCAA tournament today. It was the squad's first national tournament appearance since advancing to the second round of the NAIA championships in 2005. The Skyhawks are in the NCAA tournament for the fifth straight season and the sixth time in school history.
 
The game turned on a 14-3 run by the Skyhawks with less than five minutes remaining in the game as Fort Lewis turning a four point lead into a 15 point advantage. The Marauders committed five fouls, turned the ball over twice and made just one of four shots during a four minute span.
 
For the game, the Skyhawks held a 22-13 advantage in points off turnovers, including a 17-5 edge in the second half. The Marauders turned the ball over 22 times to 15 for the Skyhawks. Fort Lewis also had a big advantage at the line, making 19-of-26 free throw attempts to a 7-for-10 effort for U-Mary.
 
Defensively the Marauders limited the Skyhawks to a 35.2 shooting percentage while knocking down 38.6 per cent of their own attempts.
 
Down by as many as 11 points in the first half, the Marauders nailed three straight treys to enter intermission even at 25-25. Trailing 25-19, Shaunna Knife knocked down a three-pointer with 2:41 on the clock off a feed from Mia Gilreath. After a defensive stop, Ali Collins would drain a shot behind the arc off another assist by Gilreath. Collins followed with a steal and returned the favor by setting Gilreath up on a three to even the game with under a minute left in the half.
 
The Skyhawks wasted no time reclaiming the lead in the second half, scoring the first seven points of the final period. Eventually Fort Lewis would lead by 12 before a three pointer by Kayla Schmidt and a basket by Knife closed the U-Mary deficit to four points.
 
Once the Marauders pulled within 49-45 with 5:13 left to play, the Skyhawks used a 14-3 run over the next 4:06 to pull away. Katerina Garcia nailed a three to start the run, followed by a Stephanie Beaman jumper and a basket by Erika Richards in the paint following a Marauders turnover to build a 56-45 lead. Collins would connect on a three-point play but a layup and five free throws pushed Fort Lewis to a 63-48 lead and just 66 seconds remaining.
 
Knife led the Marauders with 16 points. The junior forward made 2-of-3 shots behind the arc and pulled down five rebounds. Collins and Linda Murray both added 12 for U-Mary. Collins hit two treys, made five assists and had two blocks and two steals on the defensive end.
 
In addition to her 12 points, Murray also had eight rebounds and two blocks. Schmidt pulled down eight rebounds herself and scored six points on two three-pointers.
 
Dana Schreibvogel led the Skyhawks with 16 points and nine rebounds. Ashley Kuchar had 13 points and Garcia 12 as both knocked down three treys for FLC.

The Marauders finish the season 19-10 overall. Fort Lewis improves to 26-4 and will play the winner of the Minnesota Duluth and Metro State contest in the Central Region semifinals.
 
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