Easy shots came in bunches for the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team Monday. In the spirit of the holiday season, the Skyhawks were in a giving mood.
FLC piled up 29 assists on 39 made baskets and cruised to a 93-46 win against Northern New Mexico on New Year’s Eve inside Whalen Gymnasium on the FLC campus in Durango. It was a similar result to when the Skyhawks beat the visiting Eagles 92-46 at home Nov. 14. But FLC shot only 39 percent in that game, though it had 21 assists on 29 made field goals. This time, FLC shot an incredible 59.1 percent.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve shot it like that,” FLC head coach Jason Flores said. “To shoot 60 percent is pretty hard to do in a game. A reason why is a lot of those came on easy looks from assists. That lends to a higher shooting percentage when you’re making the right pass, sharing the ball, scoring off a pass out of rhythm; it all makes a difference.”
For the second consecutive game against the Eagles (1-14), the Skyhawks (6-5, 3-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) used their size advantage inside to score at will. Jordan Carter led the way with 24 points to give her 45 points this year against the Eagles. Alyssa Yocky added 18 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Sydney Candelaria made her first six shots and finished with 17 points from her guard position, as FLC’s top-three scorers combined to shoot 25-of-34 from the floor.
With Carter and Yocky scoring with ease inside, it opened up more outside shots for FLC, too. And the offense was run brilliantly by guard Kayla Herrera, who finished with five points, five rebounds and 11 assists.
“She really had good command,” Flores said of Herrera. “She’s getting better and better in her role as a point guard. The other thing that’s helping her is that other people are also stepping into that role and letting her bump to the wing a bit. When she’s not running the (point) all the time and has some help, it really helps her out.”
Cheyenne Livingston led the Eagles with 16 points, while Katelyn Yuzos scored 11. The Eagles played with a shorter bench than the previous meeting.
FLC outrebounded the Eagles 38-22 and had a 50-22 advantage scoring in the paint and 22-2 edge in fastbreak points. FLC also forced 23 turnovers that led to 32 points. Northern New Mexico tried to shoot 3s from outside to avoid the potent interior defense of FLC but could make only 4-of-24, while FLC made 10-of-28 from 3.
“The only stretch in the game where we didn’t shoot really well was when we were taking early 3s,” Flores said. “Sometimes basketball is pretty easy. You get high percentage shots inside. Then, people worry about that and collapse, and the 3-point shots come open for a way higher percentage.”
FLC will get ready for a long road trip Friday to Metro State University-Denver and Saturday Chadron State College in Nebraska to resume RMAC play.
“There really is something to be said about getting hands on the ball in a game in front of people, especially after the holiday break,” Flores said. “It’s different than a practice and gave us the game experience we need with this team. It’s gonna help us moving forward as soon as this weekend.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
