Fort Lewis College women’s basketball showed its offensive capabilities in the second half against Westminster which Skyhawks head coach Lauren Zuniga has been looking for all season. The Skyhawks scored 47 second-half points in their 78-55 win over Westminster Saturday afternoon.
The 23-point win was FLC’s largest win over a Division II opponent this season. It snapped a five-game losing streak against Division II teams, it was FLC’s best scoring game against a Division II team and it was the Skyhawks’ first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road win.
“I was really happy with their resiliency and their response,” FLC head coach Lauren Zuniga said. “It would have been easy to come, be tired and lose the game. But luckily, we were resilient, our focus was there and we were really prepared. Obviously it helps when you make shots too.”
FLC improved to 5-9 overall and 2-4 in the RMAC after it shot 45% from the field, 32% from 3-point range and 80% from the free-throw line.
Senior guard Livia Knapp had one of her best games in a Skyhawks uniform and finished with 13 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and 1-1 from 3-point range. Knapp had four assists and one turnover.
“We know that she's been capable of this all along,” Zuniga said about Knapp. “We've been staying positive and hopefully giving her a bunch of confidence. Luckily, she stepped into her own power tonight; she had a ton of poise and a ton of confidence in herself. It’s everything we needed from her. She was a great leader and was super vocal on the floor; two things that didn't necessarily show up on the stat line.”
Sophomore guard Natalie Guanella had 12 points off the bench on 5-7 shooting from the field, 1-2 from 3-point range and 1-2 from the free-throw line. Senior forward Darla Hernandez had a nice game with 11 points on 5-11 shooting from the field, 1-1 from the free-throw line and seven rebounds.
Westminster fell to 3-11 overall and 2-4 in the RMAC after it shot 32% from the field, 17% from 3-point range and 65% from the free-throw line.
Teuila Nawahine and Nisa Ellis each had nine points to lead the Griffins.
The Skyhawks struggled in the first quarter and were down 12-5 with four minutes left. FLC got good looks but couldn’t convert. FLC’s guards penetrated and kicked out to open shooters, but the open looks weren’t falling. Westminster feasted in the paint and inside the 3-point arc early on. Westminster led 19-12 after the first quarter.
FLC bounced back beautifully in the second. The Skyhawks kept up their defensive intensity and turned the Griffins over. FLC started making shots it was missing in the first and was moving the ball well. A Knapp midrange jumper tied the game at 19 with 6:20 to go in the second as FLC started the second quarter on a 7-0 run.
“The last few games, we have shared the ball well but you obviously don't get the assist if the ball doesn’t go through the hoop,” Zuniga said. “A lot of the girls have been putting time in on their own and we'll continue to preach that their hard work is going to pay off. Tonight, luckily, it did.”
Hernandez gave FLC its first lead from the free-throw line 22-21 with 4:12 left in the second. The Skyhawks continued to penetrate really well. Senior forward Eva Kingston hit a corner 3-pointer off penetration and Guanella found a layup inside. FLC led 31-28 at halftime.
The good vibes continued in the third as FLC started the third quarter on an 11-2 run. The Skyhawks were communicating and moving their feet on defense really well.
Freshman guard Claudia Palacio Gámez scored eight consecutive points during the middle of the third as FLC stretched its lead. The Skyhawks went on a 26-5 run during the third quarter and led 57-38 going into the fourth.
A 3-pointer by freshman guard Katie Lamb gave FLC its largest lead of the game when FLC led 78-50 with 2:07 left.
FLC returns home to play South Dakota Mines on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com