PUEBLO — Fort Lewis turned Metro State inside-out Saturday during the championship game of the women’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout.
Senior guard Abby Jackson scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and center Jenna Santistevan contributed her first double-double as the Skyhawks, ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II coaches poll, beat the No. 10 Roadrunners 65-57 at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.
The Skyhawks, who played for the Division II national championship last season, improved to 28-2 and won the RMAC Tournament for the first time in school history.
“It feels pretty good to finally get one of these (championships) after all of these years of trying,” Fort Lewis coach Mark Kellogg said. “Metro is, by far, the best defensive team we’ve seen all year, and to beat them is a tribute to our kids.”
Jackson did not score the last time the teams met (a 73-47 Fort Lewis win). Her point total was the outside complement Kellogg was looking for.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect that from her,” he said.
Santistevan, a junior, had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Fort Lewis junior Dana Schreibvogel, the Shootout’s MVP, finished with 13 points.
NCAA Division II pairings will be announced tonight, with the Skyhawks most likely hosting the Central Regional.
“Fort Lewis is solid,” Metro State coach Tonya Haave said. “We’re going to get another shot at them. I should say I hope we get another shot at them.”
FORT LEWIS (28-2)
Jackson 6-12 4-4 20, Santistevan 6-8 2-2 14, Schreibvogel 6-11 0-0 13, Garcia 3-9 1-2 7, Kuchar 1-3 3-4 6, Paiz 1-3 3-5 5. Totals 23-46 13-17 65.
METRO STATE (27-2)
Benson 7-11 0-0 18, Bratton 4-7 2-4 10, Wood 4-7 0-1 9, K. Valencia 2-8 2-2 6, Cervantes 3-12 0-0 6, Kohn 1-2 0-0 3, B. Valencia 1-6 0-1 3, Drexler 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 23-57 4-8 57.
Halftime — Fort Lewis 30-28. 3-point goals — Fort Lewis 6-14 (Jackson 4-8, Schreibvogel 1-1, Kuchar 1-2, Paiz 0-2, Garcia 0-1); Metro State 7-14 (Benson 4-7, Kohn 1-1, B. Valencia 1-1, Wood 1-3, K. Valencia 0-2). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Fort Lewis 30 (Santistevan 11, Paiz 11); Metro State 32 (Bratton 7, K. Valencia 7). Assists — Fort Lewis 12 (Garcia 4), Metro State 14 (Cervantes 5). Total fouls — Fort Lewis 13, Metro State 14. A — 1,080.
