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DENVER, Colo. - The Metro State women's basketball team stunned No. 3 Fort Lewis 75-65 on Friday night at home in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season opener. It was Metro State's first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 10, 2007 when the Roadrunners knocked off No. 16 Regis. Metro State improved to 4-1 overall this season and 1-0 in the RMAC, while FLC dropped to 8-1 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC.

Leandra Sands (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Wilson H.S.) scored a career-high 28 points to lead Metro State, hitting 10-of-14 from the field and 4-of-6 from the outside. She helped seal the victory by hitting 4-of-5 at the line in the final minute. Her 28 points was the most for a Metro State player since Megan Sinclair (Victoria, Australia/Avila College) scored 28 last winter in a win against Chadron State on Feb. 6.

Rae Bean (Lakewood, Colo./Bear Creek H.S.) and Jalyssa Caesar (Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City North H.S.) provided an inside presence, combining for 26 points and nine rebounds. Bean had 14 points, three rebounds and three blocks, while Caesar had 12 points and six rebounds. Chelsea Williamson (Boulder, Colo./Boulder H.S.) chipped in with eight points and Brandi Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) added seven. Kristin Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) led Metro State with a game-high five assists.

Metro State led the entire game after a 3-3 tie four minutes into the game. The Roadrunners, despite committing seven turnovers in the first 5:30 of the game, opened up a nine-point lead at 12-3 with 12:38 remaining in the half as Sands hit a pair of 3-pointers and had a jumper in the lane. The Skyhawks entered halftime with some momentum, however, closing the half on an 8-2 run as they hit a pair of threes in the final two minutes.

Metro State led 29-26 at half, shooting 47.8 (11-of-23) percent from the field, while FLC hit just 33.3 (9-of-27) percent in the first half. The Roadrunners committed 14 turnovers to keep Fort Lewis in the game.

The Skyhawks cut Metro State's lead to just one point less than a minute into the second half as Katie Mackey converted a pair of free throws to make it 29-28. Metro State maintained a one-point lead at 39-38 with 14 minutes left and led by two at 43-41 a minute later.

Caesar hit back-to-back layups and Williamson converted two free throws to stretch the lead back to 49-41 with 11:30 to play.

FLC again fought back as Metro State led 53-51 with under eight minutes to go, but Metro State went on an 11-3 run to lead 64-54. Sands buried a 3-pointer and Caesar made a fastbreak layup after forcing a turnover with 5:24 left to close the run.

The Skyhawks went on a 6-0 run with 2:46 remaining to cut the lead to 69-65, but Mackey's jumper with 1:32 left was the final basket of the game for FLC. Sands and Williamson combined to hit 6-of-7 at the line in the final minute.

Metro State shot a season-high 55.3 (26-for-47) percent from the field and enjoyed a 31-26 rebounding advantage. FLC converted 42.0 (21-for-50) percent of its shots, including 6-of-15 from the outside. The Skyhawks forced 24 turnovers.

Mackey led FLC with 13 points.

Metro State hosts Adams State at 5 p.m. on Saturday.