.png)
Fort Lewis College’s women’s basketball team is off to a fantastic start to its 2025-2026 season, especially when comparing it to last season.
The Skyhawks struggled in head coach Lauren Zuniga’s first season, finishing 5-22 overall against Division II competition and 3-17 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Players left the team during the season, the Skyhawks didn’t have any consistency on the court, and FLC lost its final eight games, with six of those eight losses were by 10+ points.
This season, FLC is 9-3 overall and 2-2 in the RMAC with 16 regular-season games left. The Skyhawks started the season with four consecutive wins and haven’t looked back.
So, the question has to be asked: What’s different from last year? Here are the biggest differences so far that have led to this early-season turnaround.
Scoring has been a strength for the 2025-2026 team, averaging 72.3 points per game, good for third in the RMAC. It’s quite the upgrade from last season, when FLC finished 12th in the conference out of 15 schools with 63.6 PPG.
There are a few differences on offense for the Skyhawks. One is continuity and another year playing under Zuniga. Last season, the Skyhawks were figuring out how to run Zuniga’s offense. This season, the returners have a better grip on what she wants and how to lead the new players.
Having returners is a big deal for a new coach. Players like sophomore Katie Lamb, junior Natalie Guanella, sophomore Claudia Palacio Gámez and junior Sarah Chick know the challenges of playing in the RMAC and playing for Zuniga. They’re key for Zuniga as she knows how to use them better the longer she has them.
Another difference is having impact freshmen and transfers who can impact winning. Lamb was an impact freshman last season, and the Skyhawks have three this year in guards Josie Davis, Savanna Dotray and forward Alemaualii Fonoti.
All three players impact winning and the offense with their maturity and skillset. Fonoti can score in the paint with her strength, while Davis is a very efficient scorer for a freshman who rarely takes a bad shot. Dotray is a versatile offensive player with her length and scoring ability from inside and outside.
Makaya Porter is an impact transfer for the Skyhawks. The wing has great versatility on offense with her three-level scoring; she’s second on the team with 10.8 PPG.
The final big difference is simple: The Skyhawks have better players on offense to compete in the RMAC than last year. Unlike last year, FLC has a true low-post threat in Fonoti. FLC has size at the point guard position in Palacio Gámez and on the wing with Porter and Dotray. Last season, FLC struggled on offense in part because it was smaller and less athletic than most RMAC teams.
Rebounding was a big issue for the Skyhawks last season, finishing 12th in the conference with a rebounding margin of -3.9 rebounds per game.
FLC didn’t have the size and athleticism to match up well on the glass last season, especially in RMAC play. The Skyhawks’ offense also didn’t help the rebounding margin, since they were missing a lot of shots, leading to more rebounds for their opponents.
This season, FLC is fifth in the RMAC with a +2.3 rebounding margin per game. The Skyhawks have been fantastic on the offensive glass, ranking second in the conference with 16.0 offensive rebounds per game.
The Skyhawks are so much stronger and more athletic than last year. Fonoti has a great presence inside, and Porter isn’t afraid to mix it up on the boards. A big difference this year is having Davis, who leads the team with 5.8 RPG. It’s an incredible number for a guard, let alone a freshman guard. Davis has great length and height at the guard position that she uses well.
Since the Skyhawks have more height, length and athleticism this year, it’s no surprise to see FLC block more shots this year.
Still, it’s a huge change from last year, considering FLC was 14th in the conference last season with 1.46 blocks per game, and this year, the Skyhawks are tied second in the conference with 3.0 BPG.
The added height, length and athleticism with Porter and Davis have also led to more block shots, with Porter being one of the best shot blockers in the conference.
Blocking shots also makes opponents think twice about taking some shots, helping the defense and leading to more winning.
FLC’s defense is a big reason for the team’s improvement, and the team’s ability to steal the ball sticks out.
Last season, the Skyhawks were a solid team in the steals department, ranking fifth in the conference with 8.68 steals per game. This season, FLC has taken it to another level.
FLC leads the conference with 14.33 SPG, almost three more SPG than second-place New Mexico Highlands with 11.73 SPG.
It sounds like a broken record, but FLC’s increased height, length and athleticism help the Skyhawks disrupt passing lanes and strip opposing ball handlers even more this year. The Skyhawks have guards back from last year’s squad who know what Zuniga wants on that end. Zuniga, being in Year 2 as the head coach, also helps her formulate better scouting reports and defensive game plans, leading to more steals.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
