The Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team has started the season strong, including a No. 5 ranking for the third consecutive week in the 2015-16 Women’s Basketball Division II South Central Regional Poll.
After completing a four-game road trip in which FLC went 3-1, the Skyhawks (5-1, 1-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) have a defensive matchup on the horizon when they return home against Colorado Mines at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Colorado Christian University at 5:30 p.m.Saturday at Whalen Gymnasium on the FLC campus.
FLC opened RMAC play with a 106-65 win at Adams State last Saturday. In that game, the Skyhawks had season highs in points scored (106), field goals made (37), field goal percentage (58.7 percent), 3-point percentage (42.1), free throws made (24), free throw attempts (33) and blocked shots (7).
“I think we’re a team feeling good about ourselves, which is scary as a coach because we still haven’t done anything yet,” FLC head coach Jason Flores said. “We took care of business last weekend, but we should have. We are getting into conference play, and conference season is tough because you know each (team). We’re happy, but if we stop and enjoy it now then we’ll drop games quickly.”
The Skyhawks currently rank first in the RMAC with 79.8 points per game, first with 42 percent shooting from the field, second with 44.3 rebounds per game and second with a plus-eight rebound margin. Those are great stats, but much of those stats also came against opponents that have a 10-13 combined record.
Despite FLC’s quick start, what has grabbed Flores’ attention is how strong both Colorado Mines (3-2, 1-0 RMAC) and Colorado Christian (3-2, 0-1 RMAC) are defensively, especially when it comes to rebounding.
Senior forward Courtney Martin leads Colorado Mines with 11.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game while leading the Orediggers by playing an average of 30.8 minutes per game. Junior guard Laura Tyree is right behind her with 10.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
The Orediggers are right behind the Skyhawks with 44 team rebounds per game, which is good for a tie for third in the RMAC along with Saturday’s opponent Colorado Christian.
FLC will need to continue to shoot a high percentage, because the Orediggers are the second-best defensive rebounding team in the league.
“(Colorado Mines) has a good point guard and good post player, they’re always solid,” Flores said. “You have to be solid like they are. If you’re not solid, they’ll make you pay for it. That’s their style.”
FLC will have to tough it out over the weekend, which means senior forward Mary Rambo will see a lot of attention. Rambo was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after she recorded a double-double against Adams State with 13 points and 12 rebounds. She has averaged 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season.
“Mary is our most experienced player,” Flores said. “We knew we were going to rely on her experience in the post. Rambo has gotten better every year.”
Sophomore guard Dallas Dickerson has come off the bench all season, but she has led the team with 12 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3-point range. Senior guard Michelle Turner has been a force from long-range all year, shooting 44.8 percent from 3-point range.
Against Colorado Christian, FLC will see a similar team as Colorado Mines. The Cougars are fifth in the RMAC with 56.6 points allowed per game and rank fourth in the RMAC by holding opponents to 33 percent shooting. The Cougars also rank third in the RMAC with 12.3 steals per game and have caused 22.6 turnovers per game.
Junior forward Claire Paxton leads the Cougars with 12.8 points and 6.0 per game. Senior forward Kate Louthan has averaged 10 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals. One player that will surely be on Rambo’s radar is senior center Ali Meyer, who averages eight points and 10 rebounds.
According to Flores, FLC’s size will match up evenly in the post with both the Orediggers and the Cougars.
“(We were) gone for a few weeks,” Flores said. “Always fun to play at Whalen and back at home in the comfort zone. It should be a good night of basketball.”
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
