Their three leading scorers from a season ago are gone, and that’s just fine with the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team.
After losing forward Christie Groh and guards Ashley Kuchar and Erika Richards from last year’s team that went 16-11 and 13-9 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Skyhawks are ready to rebrand themselves this season.
“What I’m proud of is I think our effort and team unity and playing as a team is probably better right now than it was last year, just because we did have three people who were dominant scorers,” FLC head coach Jason Flores said Tuesday night while watching the Skyhawks’ men’s team’s 3-0 start to the regular season. “Now, we have more ball movement, and everyone is involved instead of two or three people watching the others score a ton.”
Flores said it still is a process trying to find a reliable scoring threat, but he is more pleased with the depth on this year’s team.
The Skyhawks went 1-1 on their season-opening road trip in Texas, a trip that was clouded by a tough travel schedule after the team’s original flight out of Durango was canceled.
They will get a chance to play on their home floor inside Whalen Gymnasium for the first time this season at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Eastern New Mexico (4-1).
“They’ve got five games under their belt, and they’re gonna be able to really shoot it,” Flores said of the Eagles, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic team. “They have athletic players, and it will be a good challenge for us defensively having to get out on shooters.”
FLC opened the season with a closed scrimmage against Denver University and an exhibition at Brigham Young University. The trip to BYU was eye-opening for some of the players.
“It kind of humbled us a bit. When we played BYU, it showed us we need a lot of work,” FLC junior guard Kylie Santos said of playing up during their exhibition schedule. “We went in thinking we were a little better than we were at first.”
This year’s team will be more centered around post play rather than 3-point shooting guards such as Kuchar and Richards of a year ago. Mary Brinton, a junior forward from Pagosa Springs, was a preseason first-team All-RMAC selection. This season, she is averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
“Things are different, losing a few players and bringing in players and freshmen getting a lot of time,” Brinton said. “We have a different offense and defense. It’s kind of fun; I’m not going to lie about that. There is more responsibility on me and the forwards, but it’s motivating.”
Brinton said the depth is a major strength this year for the Skyhawks. Though Flores would like two or three guards to step up out of the group of six that all will play, the team is happy to have plenty of players to lean on.
“We work better as a team, meaning we’re less selfish, not trying to get our points,” senior forward Kailie Magazzeni said. “We’re trying to get the best shot for the team. Working better together is the biggest attribute of this team.”
Magazzeni earned the first RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honor after averaging 7.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 2.5 steals per game during the two-game road trip.
“It definitely fueled (my confidence),” Magazzeni said of the honor. “I’m pretty stoked and excited for the rest of the season.”
Because FLC doesn’t expect to score as many points as last year, at least early in the season, defense will be a major factor in the Skyhawks winning games.
“We have to be more focused on D and lock people down,” Brinton said. “We won’t score as many, so we have to have lock-down D.”
FLC has two new players who could emerge as stars throughout the season. Simone Ruedin, a junior guard from Eitham, Australia, transferred from New Mexico State, and freshman guard Dallas Dickerson, one of three Alaskans on the roster, proved her ability last weekend with nine points against University of Dallas.
Still, guards such as Erin Curry and Michelle Turner figure to see plenty of time along with Santos.
It all will come down to ball movement.
“We’re not a very good one-on-one team. When we’re dribbling the ball all the time, we’re not very good,” Flores said. “We have to move it and get assists on scores. Right now, we’re not getting that as much as I would like.”
Last year, FLC’s season came to an end on its home floor in the first round of the RMAC Tournament. That lingers in the mind of Brinton, and she is ready for a rebound.
“Last year, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. I’m excited to see what we can do this year and how we match up with the rest of the RMAC,” Brinton said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
