On paper, Saturday should have been an easy win for the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team, but that’s why they play the game.
The Skyhawks found out what type of team they were by having to battle against a team that is already out of postseason play. Fort Lewis held on strong for their third win in a row by beating the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls, 89-80.
“I was really nervous about people looking at (New Mexico Highlands) record because they have a lot of skilled players,” Fort Lewis head coach Jason Flores said. “They can get on a roll, and that’s what we allowed in the first half. We allowed them to get a lot of easy 3s on us. They did a great job, they knocked down a lot of shots. We could have played better defensively, but they were playing well.”
Fort Lewis (11-7, 7-6 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) opened with an 8-0 run to start the game, as New Mexico Highlands (3-15, 1-12 RMAC) couldn’t buy a basket by going 0-for-10.
New Mexico Highlands’ rough start didn’t last long. After Fort Lewis built a cozy 18-6 lead, the Cowgirls finally found the basket at the five-minute mark in the first quarter. Michelle Traynham and Kaylani Maiava helped the Cowgirls chip away the early Skyhawk lead.
Dallas Dickerson came off the bench for FLC and dropped 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
“They were contesting pretty hard,” Dickerson said. “They forced me to expand my game a little bit.”
Fort Lewis’ bench once again outscored its opponent 48-36. The Skyhawks also won the battle down low, 36-24, in points in the paint. The Skyhawks not only won the rebounding battle 50-40, but also had 23 second-chance points.
“They were face-guarding harder in the second half,” Fort Lewis guard Astrea Reed said. “I’m a strong driver, and when people move, I can dish the ball where I want.”
Reed finished with 15 points and three assists.
Alyssa Yocky contributed a double-double by way of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Mary Rambo was a few rebounds shy of a double-double of her own with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Traynham ended the game with 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists for New Mexico Highlands. She also went 6-for-10 from the 3-point line. Maiava added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
By the beginning of the second quarter, the Cowgirls stopped looking like a three-win team and gave the Skyhawks a full game.
New Mexico Highlands took advantage of the Skyhawks when Fort Lewis hit a cold streak midway through the second quarter. Highlands took its first lead of the game at 38-36. While the Cowgirls fed Maiava down low, the Skyhawks pushed their up-tempo offense keeping the score hanging in balance.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Fort Lewis was looking to close it out, but Traynham nailed a 3-point shot to give her team momentum and dreams of an upset.
Fort Lewis, however, wore down New Mexico Highlands by hitting key free throws and taking advantage of missed Cowgirl shots.
Free throws have been an issue for Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks began the game shooting 64 percent from the charity stripe but shot 83 percent in the second half.
“We always want to be above 75 percent as a team,” Flores said. “We just have to keep knocking those down. We got some stops and were putting up points consistently.”
Kate Bayes had eight points and five rebounds, Sydni Brandon had six rebounds, three assists and three points. Emily McCue finished with six rebounds.
With 10 games left in the regular season, the Skyhawks viewed Saturday’s home win as a momentum builder. Fort Lewis will host Regis at 5:30 Friday at Whalen Gymnasium.
“I think we’re starting to peak right now and we’re starting to play as a team offensively and defensively,” Reed said. “A lot of people are stepping up and making plays.”
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
