by Dale Strode
Herald Sports Writer
December 13, 2009. Durango, CO. - The Skyhawks defended their home court, all right.
They also defended their No. 7 national ranking. And a bit of their defensive honor.
One night after their stifling defense squelched Chadron State 84-35, the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team increased the pressure Saturday night in a stunningly one-sided 81-35 win over Nebraska-Kearney at a festive Whalen Gymnasium.
“That's as well as we've played all year," Fort Lewis head coach Mark Kellogg said.
“If we can hold teams to 35 points, we can win a lot of games," he said, crediting a start-to-finish effort from the Skyhawks.
The start?
Two quick forced turnovers and two 3-pointers from Abby Jackson.
“When we can get stops like that, and then get those dagger 3s - those quick 3s - we can go," Kellogg said. “That's how we want to play … create offense with our defense."
By halftime, the Skyhawks had Kearney in a Lopers-in-the-headlights trance, blinded by a 41-10 deficit.
They limited the Lopers to 4-of-20 shooting from the field, while converting 15 of their own 33 shots.
“(Friday night), we were disappointed we didn't put 40 minutes together, so we wanted to start fast (against Kearney)," said senior guard Lauren Haugen, who was honored for scoring the 1,000th point of her FLC career.
She credited the rejuvenated defense with the back-to-back home wins.
“All week, that's all we've been working on in practice," said Haugen, who had eight first-half points.
Jackson, with another 3, had nine first-half points.
Allison Rosel scored nine in the first 20 minutes; Katie Mihalco added five.
Dana Schreibvogel, who finished with a team-high 14 points, scored six in the opening half.
“Our transition, when we get steals and then get early baskets … that's the most fun," said Schreibvogel, who also had six rebounds as the Skyhawks improved to 11-1 overall and 3-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
The finish?
Kellogg employed the Skyhawks' young guns with seven minutes to play, showcasing the future of Fort Lewis women's basketball.
“I wish I could play them more," Kellogg said of freshmen Alex Easterbrook and Andrea Owens and sophomores Stephanie Beeman, Janna Santistevan and Hayley Hollenga.
They added to FLC's already 40-point lead.
Hollenga scored a season-high four points, including her first shot off the backboard after a season of shooting off the back post for the nationally ranked FLC women's soccer team.
Twice she had steals, chasing down Lopers from behind.
“That's the Hayley move. She does it all the time in practice," Kellogg said, adding that Hollenga has only been with the basketball team for a couple of weeks.
She was one of 12 Skyhawks to score in what likely was a record-setting victory over Kearney, 2-6 overall and 2-2 in the RMAC.
Katie Mackey, with a pair of 3s, had 12 points. Mihalco and Jackson each finished with nine.
Kelsey Lane was Kearney's leading scorer with nine. Vanessa Leeper, a former Colorado Springs-area prep standout, added seven.
The next game for the FLC women will be Dec. 22 against Northern New Mexico in Española, N.M.
by Dale Strode
Herald Sports Writer
