As if a 51-point victory wasn’t good enough, the return of Alyssa Yocky was an extra gift for the No. 16 Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team before it breaks for one week for Christmas.
The junior forward played in her first game this season in her return from offseason ankle surgery. Yocky scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 14 minutes played of a 95-44 home win for FLC (10-1, 5-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) on Monday against Northern New Mexico. She added two assists and a blocked shot.
“It was good to see her get some minutes,” FLC head coach Jason Flores said. “We got to rest some other people with nagging injuries and get them back for the second half, but you could see the dynamic she will add to the team. ... She is going to spread people even thinner and gives us another threat.”
FLC freshman Vivian Gray got the night off after a great start to the year. Kayla Herrera, a sophomore guard, scored 13 points and finished with 11 rebounds, with six coming on the offensive end. She also had three assists.
“She’s been frustrated with the way she’s been playing,” Flores said of Herrera. “She’s a good kid and wants to do so much to help the team. It’s great to see her break out and hit some 3s. Other than that, she did what she always does stuffing the stat sheet with rebounds, assists and scoring. She brings a lot.”
Astrea Reed finished with nine points and three rebounds in only nine minutes played. Briana Clah had 12 points and three rebounds, and Tanisha Begay added 11 points in 16 minutes off the bench.
Jordan Carter started in place of Gray and had four points and six rebounds.
FLC led 20-8 after the first quarter, and 46-24 at halftime and never slowed down. Melanie Secody led Northern New Mexico with 13 points.
The Skyhawks will be off for more than a week before returning home to face Chadron State (3-8, 1-5 RMAC) at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
