The scoring struggles of a year ago are a distant memory for the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team.
The Skyhawks took down the Adams State Grizzlies 106-65 in the opening game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule Saturday in Alamosa.
“Good way to start the conference,” FLC head coach Jason Flores said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “Scoring in triple figures and having six players in double figures, that’s fantastic.”
Sophomore guard Dallas Dickerson and senior guard Michelle Turner each had 14 points in the game. Mary Rambo, Astrea Reed and Simone Ruedin all added 13 points and Kate Bayes chipped in 11.
Sydni Brandon and Ande Lampert each scored eight points off the bench for FLC, too.
“Definitely more balanced, that’s for sure,” Flores said. “We have newcomers pitching in. Last year, we had to win games on defense. This year we’re doing it with both.”
FLC built a 55-35 lead at halftime and continued to pour it on, outscoring the Grizzlies 29-11 in the final quarter.
The Skyhawks had 21 assists as a team to 16 turnovers. They also had seven blocked shots, led by three from Rambo, who also had three steals and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Rambo had five offensive boards to seven on the defensive end.
Ruedin also had seven rebounds for the Skyhawks.
FLC shot 8-of-19 from behind the 3-point line and 58.7 percent from the field in the game. It held Adams State to 35.6 percent shooting and 5-of-15 from behind the 3-point line.
Johnette Brown led the Grizzlies with 16 points and four rebounds. The Grizzlies turned it over 21 times.
FLC is now 5-1 and 1-0 to open RMAC play.
The Skyhawks will welcome Colorado Mines and Colorado Christian to Durango next Friday and Saturday, respectively.
“We’ve still been sloppy in areas, and that will be something I use to get the team’s attention this next week in practice,” Flores said. “The conference grind is just that. We haven’t done anything yet. It’s so early; we have to improve and stay hungry.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
