Basketball teams that shoot 34% from the field usually don’t win games by double-figures, but Fort Lewis College women’s basketball proved to be the exception on Tuesday afternoon.
The Skyhawks’ length and intense pressure were on display against St. Edward’s at home. FLC pulled away in the second half for a 78-67 win to remain unbeaten.
FLC’s defense was hit or miss in the first half, resulting in a close game and a one-point lead at the half for the Skyhawks. The second half was an example of what head coach Lauren Zuniga wants out of her team: tempo and defense. FLC pushed the ball off turnovers and rebounds for easy scores inside. The Skyhawks got to the free-throw line and cruised to an easy victory in the fourth quarter after forcing 28 turnovers.
“We had a couple dips as far as our pressure went,” Zuniga said. “We were looking maybe a little fatigued or whatever the case might’ve been, we let our foot off the gas a little bit. We came out of halftime and really picked it up. I would attribute it to being tenacious.”
FLC improved to 3-0 overall after it shot 19% from the 3-point line and 69% from the free-throw line.
Sophomore guard Katie Lamb led the Skyhawks with 18 points on 7-16 shooting from the field, 2-9 from 3-point range and 2-3 from the free-throw line. Lamb also tied a team high with six steals. Junior guard Malia Ulery finished with 13 points off the bench on 3-7 shooting from the field, 1-4 from 3-point range and 6-6 from the free-throw line. Freshman forward Alemanualii Fonoti added 12 points off the bench, and sophomore guard Claudia Palacio Gámez added 11 points.
St. Edward’s dropped to 1-2 overall after it shot 44% from the field, 46% from 3-point range and 92% from the free-throw line. Kiana Bennett finished with 16 points to lead the Hilltoppers.
Both teams were aggressive in getting to the free-throw line early. Lamb had FLC’s first six points as FLC led 13-8 with 3:30 left in the first. The Skyhawks were pressing and trapping full-court early in the game, speeding up St. Edward’s.
FLC’s pressure was a double-edged sword late in the first quarter. The Skyhawks did create some turnovers with their trapping. But when they didn’t, the Hilltoppers had fast-break opportunities for easy buckets. FLC senior guard Deniece Ryan did a nice job using her speed to penetrate the paint late in the first as St. Edward’s led 16-15 after the first quarter.
The Skyhawks’ jump shooting was on display early in the second quarter. Ulery made a corner 3-pointer, Palacio Gámez made a nice fade-away in the lane, and Lamb made a jumper. St. Edward’s couldn’t take advantage of FLC’s press early in the second quarter, and the Skyhawks led 26-23 with 6:15 left in the second quarter.
Outside shooting was hard to come by late in the second quarter, and both teams found success inside. FLC made a concerted effort to get the ball into the post to Fonoti, and it paid off with some trips to the free-throw line. FLC’s press gave it some additional possessions. Lamb ended the first half on a good note with an open 3-pointer off a nice pin down from Fonoti. FLC led 35-34 at the half.
FLC did a good job of pushing the pace to start the third quarter. Josie Davis showed why Zuniga was so high on her coming out of high school. The freshman from Idaho showed her composure and length with three finishes from 15 feet and in to put FLC up 45-40 with 5:23 left.
The Skyhawks extended their run with some great finishes inside. Ulery had a beautiful spin move and finish before Ryan found a look inside for the finish for a 49-42 lead with three minutes left.
“Just sticking to what we want to do, knowing that if we pressure and turn them over, that will lead to easy points for us to help maintain a lead,” Zuniga said about the third quarter. “Defensively, we picked it up just because we didn't shoot it very well.”
St. Edward’s had stretches of the game where it couldn’t handle FLC pressure, and the end of the third quarter was one of those stretches. Hilltoppers’ ball handlers couldn’t get separation in the back court and were sloppy with the ball. FLC also had its best shooting quarter at 44% and led 59-44 after three quarters.
FLC maintained its double-digit lead in the fourth quarter in part due to its defense, but it was getting some high-quality shots inside with post touches and finishes from Fonoti. The strong center can establish such deep paint positioning that her finishes are relatively easy, with how she uses her body.
“She's a great post presence for us,” Zuniga said about Fonoti. “She's still kind of finding her footing, too, as a freshman, but when she's feeling confident, you can definitely see the difference … She's helped us be better than we were last year, for sure.”
FLC will hit the road to play at Angelo State on Saturday at 2 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
