CANYON, Texas – Colorado Mesa fought back to within one with just 3.2 second to play but could not get the tying free-throw to fall in a 68-65 loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith in the NCAA South Central Region quarterfinals at the First United Bank Center.
 
Erin Reichle, a 91 percent free-throw shooter, made her first free-throw but her second hit the back of the iron and rimmed out and UAFS corralled the rebound to seal the Mavericks fate.
 
Colorado Mesa trailed by as many as 10 in the second half and actually tied the game at 64-64 with a pair of Shanna Halalilo free-throws with 1:43 to play in the game.
 
The Mavericks outrebounded the Lions 41-39, made more three-point baskets 10-4, committed fewer turnovers 21-22, and were tied in field goals made 22-22 but Arkansas-Fort Smith shot 31 free-throws to Colorado Mesa's 13. The Lions converted on 20 of those while the Mavericks made 11-of-13 from the line.
 
Arkansas-Fort Smith finished the game with a 32-16 edge in points in the paint and scored 26 points off the Mavericks 21 turnovers. Most of those helped the Lions to a 10-0 edge in fast break points.
 
At halftime, the Mavericks trailed 39-30. Reichle led all scorers with 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field. They trailed by as many as 12 in the half and gave the Lions 20 points in the paint.
 
Reichle finished the game with 14 points, four assists, and two rebounds to close out her sophomore season. She made 3-of-8 from beyond the arc and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. Her miss was just her tenth miss this season.
 
Ashley Stevens finished with 11 points and four rebounds. She was 3-of-4 from beyond the three-point line.
 
Leanndra Gilbert had eight points and seven rebounds.
 
At halftime, the Mavericks trailed 39-30. Reichle led all scorers with 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field. They trailed by as many as 12 in the half and gave the Lions 20 points in the paint.
 
Colorado Mesa closes the season with a 23-6 record.