ST. JOSEPH’S, Mo. — Allison Rosel’s 22 points and 11 rebounds and Laura Haugen’s 19 points propelled the Fort Lewis women’s basketball team to a 79-64 victory over Franklin Pierce in the Division II national semifinals Wednesday night.
The Skyhawks (35-3), ranked No. 6, continue to make history as the first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women’s team to play for a national championship. Fort Lewis became the first RMAC women’s team to reach the Elite Eight and then the Final Four. The Skyhawks also became the first RMAC women’s team with 35 wins by beating Franklin Pierce.
Fort Lewis hit 53.8 percent of its shots (28-of-52), including a sizzling 11-for-23 performance on 3-pointers. Haugen made four 3-pointers.
Fort Lewis’ defense also stepped up, limiting the No. 2-ranked Ravens (32-2) to 33 percent shooting (21-of-63). Fort Lewis held Franklin Pierce star Johannah Leedham to a season-low 13 points. She made only 5-of-22 shots.
Katie Mackey contributed 11 points and Abby Jackson added 10 for Fort Lewis.
The Skyhawks play for the national title Friday night against Emporia State (29-5), which beat Gannon 97-94 in overtime in other semifinal.
