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FLC women struggle at Adams State

Jason Flores keeps waiting for his real team to show up, and for more than one game at a time.

The head coach of the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team was frustrated again Saturday night in Alamosa, where his Skyhawks fell 77-74 to the Adams State Grizzlies, who were in a three-way tie for last place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.

“We didn’t play great. It’s frustrating and upsetting,” Flores said. “It’s more mental. It’s not like we didn’t play hard, we just didn’t play smart.”

FLC (10-8, 7-7 RMAC) put itself in a hole before the game even started, with Kate Bayes, Kaile Magazzeni, Skylyn Webb and Simone Ruedin sitting on the bench the entire first half as they served a disciplinary benching. Still, FLC led 36-35 at halftime without two starters in the lineup along with two key bench players.

“Sitting people in the first half of this game didn’t help us,” Flores said. “Freshmen gave us minutes, and we had to go deep on the bench. I credit them for playing hard, but I’m disappointed we weren’t able to come into this game a full go.”

FLC junior forward Mary Brinton tried to pick up the slack, scoring 16 of her game-high 22 points in the first half. She also finished with a game-high 13 rebounds for a double-double.

But Flores said his team didn’t do a good enough job continuing to feed Brinton in the paint.

“She should’ve had 35 points,” Flores said. “We should’ve went inside more, but it’s hard when you’re turning it over and not getting those possessions. It’s a tough learning lesson, but hopefully we do learn from it.”

FLC turned the ball over 25 times to 19 for Adams State (3-15, 3-11 RMAC). Key turnovers down the stretch helped the Grizzlies hold on for the win.

FLC went up 73-71 with 1 minute, 19 seconds to play on Brinton layup, but a turnover followed by a foul sent Adams State to the free-throw line, where Lena Jaycox hit two free throws to tie the game.

Out of a timeout, Adams State’s Emilie Klint converted a layup to give the Grizzlies the lead for good. Desiree Anderson iced the game from the free-throw line as she scored a team-high 17 points. J’nae Squires-Horton added 15 points and five rebounds, and Jaycox finished with 10 points.

Kylie Santos had 14 points and four assists for FLC, and Magazzeni added 10 points in the second half.

Results across the conference Saturday would have seen FLC jump ahead of three teams in the standings with a win, but FLC still finds itself in a logjam and just outside the top eight, with only eight teams qualifying for the conference tournament.

The Skyhawks will try to turn it around on a New Mexico road swing next weekend at New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico.

“It was an opportunity lost. It’s hard because if you win this game it gets you in a really good spot. Now we’re still scrambling,” Flores said. “We’re fighting just like everyone else in the conference.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com



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