It’s hard to hang with the high-powered Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team with a full roster, but, with only seven players dressed, it was nearly impossible for Western New Mexico.
The Mustangs put forth an admirable effort and led for much of Monday night’s non-conference game at FLC’s Whalen Gymnasium. However, as the clock ticked away, the Skyhawks’ up-tempo style zapped the life out of the shorthanded visitors en route to a 65-49 victory. FLC had four players finish in double figures with Kayla Herrera’s 16 points leading the way. Alyssa Yocky had 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Shelby Patterson chipped in 11 points and Briana Clah had 10.
“Western New Mexico really wanted to slow down the game, and we allowed it to happen with missed shots and turnovers early,” Fort Lewis head coach Jason Flores said. “They like to use the shot clock and create one-on-one opportunities, which can be frustrating. We wanted to get out and go, so, the game was going to go either way. We were able to get it going in our favor.”
When they weren’t struggling to get up and down the floor, Western New Mexico proved to be a dangerous bunch. The Mustangs (4-7) got out to a fast start and led by as many as seven points in a closely contested opening half. The visitors exhibited extraordinary toughness and stamina to make up for the absence of bodies, but the lack of reserves for first-year head coach Lauren Unger cost the team at the end of each half. The Mustangs’ lead, and their energy, evaporated in the waning minutes of the opening half and the score was tied at the intermission.
“Fort Lewis is a hard place to play with the elevation and we’re obviously hurting,” she said. “We lost a few players for violating team rules and academic ineligibility, so it’s been tough. I’m putting the girls on the court who I feel will play their hearts out and I feel like they did that for as long as they could. Fatigue just got us in the end.”
After temporarily catching their breath at halftime, the Mustangs came out strong in the third quarter and grabbed a five-point lead. Slowly, but surely, the elevation and a thin bench caught up to them – and Fort Lewis took advantage.
FLC (9-2, 4-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) ran off an 8-0 run at the end of the third quarter, and the tired Western New Mexico team couldn’t recover. Clah scored six consecutive points to start the fourth quarter, which gave the home team a double-digit lead.
With the Mustangs clearly a step slower than they were to open the half, FLC pushed the pace.
“I was kind of tired in Saturday’s game, so I was worried that it would affect me again (Monday),” Herrera said. “I actually came out stronger and it was tough early, but we fought through the wall coach tells us to fight through, and I could feel them wearing down.”
The Mustangs’ obvious physical fatigue turned into sloppy, mental lapses, and FLC finished the game on a merciless 33-12 run that broke the game wide open. The Skyhawks have won four in a row and will carry some positive momentum into the holiday break.
“9-2 at the break is great, but we have some work to do still,” Flores said. “We have communication issues on defense and, with the newness of this team, every play is helpful in gaining experience. Overall, we’re starting to get into a groove and understand each other better, which is something we can definitely build off of.”
FLC will be back in action at 5:30 p.m., Dec. 30, on the road at Chadron State.
jfries@durangoherald.com
