MANKATO, Minn. — Alison Rosel led four Fort Lewis players in double figures as the Skyhawks held off a late surge from St. Cloud (Minn.) State for a 74-69 victory in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Tournament on Friday.
Rosel scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to pace the Skyhawks (27-3), who earned a No. 2 seed after winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title.
Fort Lewis rallied from a two-point halftime deficit after leading just once in the first 20 minutes. Abby Jackson’s two free throws midway through the second half gave the lead back to the Skyhawks and they never trailed again.
Talisha Barlow led St. Cloud State (22-9) with a career-high 28 points. Katie Mackey added 19 points for Fort Lewis.
Winona State 78, CSU-Pueblo 55
Winona (Minn.) State held CSU-Pueblo scoreless for nearly four minutes to start the second half and eliminated the Thunderwolves from the first round.
CSU-Pueblo (20-9), hampered by 23 turnovers, got 13 points apiece from Amanda Bartlett and Rachel Espinoza. Winona (20-6) will face Fort Lewis in the second round today at 7 p.m. The Denver Post
