It may have taken 17 games, but when the Skyhawks finally started to make 3-point shots, an entirely different team came to life.
The Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team (10-7, 7-6 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) made 5-of-12 shots from 3 in the first half, and Kylie Santos scored a career-high 16 points to help lead FLC to a 80-73 victory against Colorado Mines (9-10, 4-8 RMAC) on Saturday night at Whalen Gymnasium.
It was a big bounce-back effort from FLC, which was disappointed in a 62-49 loss to Colorado Christian on Friday in a game in which FLC turned the ball over 28 times.
“(Friday) night, I was so mad. I’m proud that once again they bounced back,” FLC head coach Jason Flores said. “We were much better (Saturday night) than we were (Friday). I wish we could’ve had that back-to-back. Through adversity, they always come through, so far. That’s a true test of character, and they answered the bell.”
Santos scored 11 of her 16 points in the first half, when she made 4-of-7 shots and 3-of-6 from 3-point range. She closed out the final 2 minutes of play with five made free throws in six attempts.
“It was huge,” Santos said of making early shots. “When you’re missing, we try not to let if effect our game, but it kind of trickles down. It was good to get our shooting going, and everything fell into place.
“I think I just didn’t over-think it,” Santos said of the late free throws. “I just shot the ball, and things went my way.”
Kate Bayes added 15 points on 9-of-10 free-throw shooting for FLC. The junior also had five rebounds and five assists.
Skylyn Webb, a sophomore guard from Delta, also played a big role for FLC, scoring 12 points while grabbing 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.
“I just kind of got in a rhythm more in the second half, and they started falling,” Webb said of her shooting.
Mary Brinton, a junior forward from Pagosa Springs, scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds.
“I don’t think we’ve lost all year when we’ve had at least four players in double-figure scoring,” Flores said.
The Skyhawks still turned the ball over 19 times, but they forced 18 Colorado Mines turnovers while recording nine steals.
The Orediggers were led by Taylor Helbig’s game-high 29 points, as she shot 7-of-14 from 3-point land and 10-of-23 from the floor.
Courtney Martin added 14 points for Colorado Mines, and Sam Rusk finished with 10.
Colorado Mines shot 38.5 percent from the floor and made 10-of-22 shots from 3, while FLC shot 38.7 percent and made 6-of-19 3s.
But it was the 47-35 rebounding differential in favor of FLC and the 26-of-29 free-throw shooting that pleased Flores the most. Kaile Magazzeni led FLC with 14 rebounds.
“It was huge all game, and then we coupled it with clutch free throws,” Flores said of the shooting from the charity stripe. “We needed them, because Helbig was going off with 29.”
FLC will have a week to prepare for one road game at 5 p.m. Saturday at Adams State.
“I just think it goes to show we don’t give up,” Santos said of Saturday’s win. “We’re here for the long haul, and I think that’s exciting to see.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
