When the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team takes the court for its Dec. 2 home opener at Whalen Gymnasium, fans on the perch will have to keep their programs handy to keep track of all the new faces.
FLC head coach Jason Flores announced the remainder of his signing class last week after losing much of last year’s squad in the offseason. The newly introduced group includes five transfer students and two more incoming freshmen in addition to three already signed in the spring.
“It’s a great group that collectively fits our style of play,” Flores said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “We want players who can play multiple positions, and the girls in this group fit that mold. We have a lot of quality players competing for playing time, so it’ll be a scrappy battle to get into the rotation.”
Ten new players will be on display in the upcoming season, while only three of the eight returning from last year saw the court with regularity. College transfers Taylor Blue, Briana Clah, Caitlin Duree, Shelby Patterson and Natalie Stilwell will add collegiate experience. Incoming freshmen Alannah Forde and Kaitlyn Romero join spring signees Jordan Carter, Olivia Gray and Jordyn Lewis as the long-term future of the program.
“We have a lot of options with this class,” Flores said. “Blue can play anywhere, she’s a good scorer and rebounder. Patterson and Clah can play either guard position and both can handle point. Stilwell and Carter will allow us to take advantage of some teams in the post. We’re hoping that some of the freshmen can contribute right away. We’re really excited.”
It’ll take time for Flores to find the right mixture of players to put on the floor with all the new teammates. The Skyhawks lost underclassmen guards Sydni Brandon and Dallas Dickerson in the offseason. Emily McCue, a 2014 graduate of Durango High School, and junior transfer Victoria Trowbridge also chose not to return. McCue and Trowbridge transferred for academic purposes, and Brandon plans to turn her focus toward the Skyhawks’ women’s track and field team where she was successful a year ago.
Talent can be replaced, but the Skyhawks will have to figure out a way to get the job done without a number of graduated seniors who weren’t just good ballplayers, but high-quality leaders and the heart and soul of last year’s team. Kate Bayes, Mary Rambo, Simone Ruedin, Kylie Santos and Michelle Turner will certainly be missed, but the new faces will have a few returning Skyhawks to guide them along the way.
Grand Canyon University transfer Astrea Reed was Fort Lewis’ top scorer last season after averaging 13.7 points per game. Reed also dished out a team-high 81 assists and led the team in minutes played. She can create her own shot at will, and, when it’s falling, Reed has the ability to dismantle opposing defenses.
The Skyhawks will rely on senior Ande Lampert and sophomore Alyssa Yocky inside. Yocky only started three games last season, but showed flashes of brilliance down the stretch. She led the team in rebounds and fought through injuries to play a key role in the team’s surprise run to the finals of last year’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
Lampert, a 6-foot-4 senior from Boulder, scored in double figures twice and developed a nice mid-range jump shot as the season progressed. Defensively, she led the team with 20 blocks, and her presence in the paint alone disrupted some of the top bigs in the RMAC.
“We like to give our seniors the space to take charge and lead the program,” Flores said. “We’ll miss the seniors from last year, but it’s time for a new group to take pride in leading like they did. That’s what good programs do.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
