Written by Dale Strode:
January 20th, 2010. Durango, CO. - The Skyhawks are turning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference inside out.
First, the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team crushed the top two teams in the RMAC East Division with devastating inside play last weekend.
Then, the FLC women crushed a top team in its RMAC West on Tuesday night with a demoralizing outside game.
The Skyhawks, with 21 points from junior point guard Abby Jackson, led from the opening 3-pointer and defeated Adams State 82-50 at Whalen Gym.
The loss knocked the Grizzlies out of a share of first place in the RMAC West, a position now held solely by the Skyhawks, 17-2 overall and 7-1 in conference. The Skyhawks are also undefeated at home with a 5-0 record.
“Their defense did a lot of sagging, and we had people setting good screens, so I had a lot of shots," said Jackson, who hit five 3-pointers against Adams State.
She was 4 of 5 in the first half when the Skyhawks pressed to a 47-20 halftime lead.
“When the first shot goes in, the basket looks bigger and bigger," said Jackson, crediting her teammates with their efforts on both ends of the court.
“Our defense helps so much," Jackson said. “Our defensive intensity turns into offensive intensity."
The Skyhawks, who moved up one spot to No. 10 in the nation in Tuesday's National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll, forced 32 turnovers in the game, including 20 in the first half.
They also hit 7 of 13 shots from 3-point range in the first half, starting with Katie Mackey's first FLC basket of the night a minute into the game.
Jackson hit one. Katie Mihalco hit one.
Jackson hit another one. And another one. And another one.
In the second half, Mackey hit another 3-pointer. Laura Haugen hit one.
And Lauren McCulloch hit one.
“I try to bring energy, especially on defense," said McCulloch, who had eight points and three steals.
“Katie (Mihalco) and I try to get in there and get tips and steals … put pressure on their guards," McCulloch said. The Skyhawks finished with 23 steals against the Grizzlies.
“McCulloch and Mihalco are playing well off the bench. They are doing a great job," FLC head coach Mark Kellogg said.
“And (Tuesday night) we hit 10 3s," Kellogg said. “That's huge."
The Skyhawks hit 10 of 22 shots from 3-point territory.
Defensively, they held Adams State to 1 of 9 from the 3-point line.
The Grizzlies, 12-3 overall and 6-2 in the RMAC, shot only 39 percent from the field in the 32-point loss.
Chloe Cable led Adams State with 11 points. Marissa Peterson added nine points off the bench.
Vera Jo Bustos, the league's third-leading scorer with 15.6 points per game, was held to eight points on 3 of 11 shooting from the floor.
“But (Tuesday night), it was Abby. She ignited us from the very beginning," Kellogg said.
“This is unselfish basketball," Kellogg said after the Skyhawks made 13 shots in the first half with 10 assists.
They finished with 18 assists on 25 baskets.
“That's unselfish. This team will give up a good shot to get a great shot," Kellogg said.
The Skyhawks will hit the road for Silver City and Western New Mexico University in another RMAC game at 6 p.m. Thursday night.
Box Score
dstrode@durangoherald.com
