Most Skyhawks women’s basketball fans wouldn’t have guessed that senior forward Ashten Martinez would make one of the most important plays of the season, but that’s exactly what happened in Fort Lewis College’s 53-49 win at CSU Pueblo on Thursday.
With the game tied at 49, the Skyhawks got the ball with 30 seconds left. It seemed like a good bet that FLC’s leading scorer this season, sophomore guard Katie Lamb, or the leading scorer for FLC in the game, junior guard Natalie Guanella, would get the ball and make a play
However, it was Martinez. Despite averaging less than four points per game, she used a great ball fake on the left block to get space to finish with 12 seconds left. After CSU Pueblo missed a 3-pointer, Lamb was fouled and sealed the 53-49 win with two free throws.
It was the most important win of head coach Lauren Zuniga’s tenure so far and the most important win for the program in years. FLC has clinched a spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time in eight years with one game remaining in the regular season. It’s an incredible turnaround for a team that finished with five wins against Division II foes and last in the RMAC last season.
“The ladies found a way to win,” Zuniga said. “Our first half was critical, we forced 17 turnovers … it means everything to me, because our team deserves the chance to showcase all their hard work in the tournament. We want making the tournament to be the standard, and this team has set that stage.”
FLC improved to 17-10 overall and 10-9 in the RMAC after it shot 40% from the field, 7% from 3-point range and 67% from the free-throw line. Guanella was the lone Skyhawk in double figures with 11 points on 4-6 shooting from the field, 0-1 from 3-point range and 3-3 from the free-throw line.
CSU Pueblo dropped to 13-14 overall and 9-10 in the RMAC after it shot 33% from the field, 24% from 3-point range and 71% from the free-throw line. Genesis Sweetwine led the ThunderWolves with 13 points on 4-9 shooting from the field, 3-5 from 3-point range and 2-2 from the free-throw line.
There was fantastic finishing in the paint for both teams early in the first quarter. The Skyhawks and the ThunderWolves both went up strong and were rewarded. A transition 3-pointer by Lamb gave FLC a 9-4 lead with 7:15 left in the first quarter.
CSU Pueblo responded with some good passing and finishing in the paint. The ThunderWolves had a pressing defense that caused some turnovers and allowed CSU Pueblo to take a 13-12 lead into the second quarter. It was a messy first quarter with seven turnovers for FLC and six for CSU Pueblo.
“Pueblo did a good job of taking certain things away,” Zuniga said. “They slowed the game down and threw a few different defensive looks at us. It took us a little bit to settle in on offense. But I did really like our paint touches.”
The second quarter was a true back-and-forth affair. CSU Pueblo took an early four-point lead, but FLC responded thanks to the hustle of Guanella. She was everywhere, forcing multiple turnovers in the backcourt and getting to the rim. Guanella looked like she was powered by an unlimited battery. Two free throws by her gave FLC a 22-20 lead with 4:30 left in the half.
Despite Guanella’s positive contributions, it was still a super sloppy second quarter by both teams. They looked like they had two bowls of popcorn at the movies before the game with the butterfingers the teams had. FLC did a better job getting the ball inside late, and a layup by freshman guard Josie Davis gave FLC a 28-23 halftime lead.
CSU Pueblo threatened to take the lead early in the third quarter with good ball movement, but FLC held on by getting in the paint and to the free-throw line. Three consecutive points from freshman forward Savanna Dotray gave FLC a 38-32 lead with 3:40 left in the quarter.
There was a scary moment in the third quarter when Davis went down with a foot injury and did not return. Zuniga said her status will depend on how she feels tomorrow. FLC took a 43-41 lead heading into the fourth.
FLC really targeted freshman forward Alemaualii Fonoti late in the third and early in the fourth. Like most teams, CSU Pueblo didn’t have the size to match up with Fonoti one-on-one, so that opened things up for other Skyhawks when the ThunderWolves brought help. However, Fonoti’s aggressiveness cost her after she was called for an offensive foul, her fourth personal, with 6:20 left.
Without Fonoti, FLC lost that inside presence and missed some jump shots. Its defense was good enough to hold the lead, the game slowed down, and a free throw by Dotray gave FLC a 49-48 lead with 2:30 left.
Lamb fouled Wynter Jones with 37 seconds left, leading to Jones hitting one of two free throws. Zuniga wanted her team to move the ball with the game tied and get into the paint. She didn’t care who scored, and it was Martinez who got the job done.
“Just so happy for her and the team,” Zuniga said. “She has been more than capable of doing that all season. She was poised and made the right read. Just a senior doing senior things. She deserved it!”
FLC will wrap up the regular season at Colorado Christian on Saturday at 1 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
