by DENVER, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team kept Regis to just a 28 percent clip from the field and after scoring the first points 39 seconds in, never looked back in claiming the 66-49 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Friday night.
The 49 points is the lowest FLC (8-10, 4-8 RMAC) has held an opponent this season in conference play since limiting South Dakota Mines to just 44 points. The Skyhawks also kept UC-Colorado Springs to 50 points and had three 46-point defensive games against Southwest and Northern New Mexico (twice). The strong defensive effort started right away as the Skyhawks kept the Rangers (9-8, 5-7 RMAC) to just five points on 2-13 shooting over the first 10 minutes, including a 1-8 clip from three-point range. On the other end, FLC took advantage of the strong defense outscoring Regis 14-5 in the first quarter. Regis came into the game averaging 65 points per contest.
After that strong start, the Skyhawks never looked back. The Rangers only threatened once early in the second quarter when they pulled back to within two at 18-16. A 7-0 run followed for FLC to push the lead back to nine. FLC outscored the Rangers in all four quarters, going plus-nine in the first, plus-one in the second, plus-three in the third and plus-four in the final quarter.
FLC also used strong advantages on points in the paint (36-16), points off turnovers (10-3) and in fastbreak points (6-0).
Kayla Herrera (Chippewa) opened the scoring 39 seconds in with a layup. That started a 6-0 run with Alyssa Yocky and Hanna Valencia adding layups to close the run nearly three minutes in. A Jordan Carter layup off a solid assist from Sydney Candelaria pushed the lead to 10-2 near the midway points of the quarter. Following a three-pointer by Regis, FLC finished the quarter on a 4-0 run with Candelaria drilling a three-pointer and Valencia adding a free throw for the 14-5 lead.
The Rangers slowly worked their way back into the game over the first three minutes of the second quarter, as following a three-pointer by McKenaa Bishop, the lead was trimmed to 18-16 forcing an FLC timeout.
A big 7-0 run followed and the Skyhawks would remain in control the rest of the way. Carter hit a jumper, Herrera sunk a three and Yocky added a layup off an assist by Herrera for the 25-16 lead with three minutes to play in the half.
FLC would add a point to the lead before halftime when Yocky stepped back and hit a three-pointer for the 29-19 lead at the break.
The teams nearly went the first three minutes of the second half without scoring before a Whitney Jacob layup and subsequent foul shot brought the Rangers to within seven. Aubre Fortner got FLC on the board in the second half at the 7:17 mark with a layup and that opened the flood gates for the Skyhawks, as they went on a quick 9-0 run. Yocky added a layup, Herrera hit a jumper and then a Kaitlyn Romero long ball closed the run that took just under two minutes and moved the lead out to 38-22.
FLC kept the lead in that range the rest of the third, with a Valencia layup keeping the Skyhawks with a 48-35 lead entering the final quarter.
The Skyhawks closed any thought of a possible comeback in the fourth quarter when FLC went on a 9-0 run to start the quarter. Carter opened the scoring 20 seconds in. Around free throws by Candelaria and Tanisha Begay, a Yocky three-pointer accounted for the spurt that left FLC with a commanding 57-35 lead.
The teams would trade runs down the stretch before a pair of foul shots by Valencia closed the scoring to give FLC a 66-49 win.
Herrera led the way with 17 points on 7-13 shooting, she also grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists and added two steals. Yocky collected 12 points on 5-8 shooting, eight rebounds and added a block and a steal. Fortner and Carter just missed out on double-figures with Fortner going for nine points and Carter adding eight. FLC committed just eight turnovers while shooting 44 percent (23-52) from the field, 5-15 (33) from three and 15-22 (68) at the foul line.
