Written by Durango Herald Sports Staff:
January 22nd, 2010. Silver City, NM. - After back-to-back 30-point-plus victories against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference leaders Colorado School of Mines and Adams State, No. 10 Fort Lewis College returned to the road Thursday night to defeat Western New Mexico 79-52.
“I know. Only 27, right?" FLC women's basketball coach Mark Kellogg said in jest.
“We played well," he said. “It was back and forth early, both teams were scoring points. … We knew they were going to come out with a lot of energy and give us their best punch early."
Fort Lewis led 41-32 at the half Thursday night in Silver City, N.M., then the nationally ranked Skyhawks made a couple of game-changing halftime adjustments, Kellogg said.
“We changed the way we defended a bit, and then we just relaxed and shots started to fall," he said.
Fort Lewis (18-2 overall, 8-1 RMAC) finished the game 53 percent (27 of 51) from the floor, 46 percent (6 of 13) from 3-point range and 83 percent (19 of 23) from the free throw line.
Western New Mexico (4-10, 4-4) shot 39 percent from the floor and 12 percent from 3, and the Lady Mustangs were forced into 20 turnovers.
Allison Rosel scored a game-high 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting and 7-for-8 from the free throw line for the Skyhawks.
“That's a very efficient line," Kellogg said.
Audrey George scored 16 points for FLC.
“So that's pretty good on the inside," Kellogg said of his starting post players' production.
Abby Jackson had 11 points and four assists, and Laura Haugen scored just two points but had six steals in 23 minutes.
“She was very active on defense," Kellogg said of Haugen, and the coach also singled out sophomore Dana Schreibvogel for her defense.
“That was the best I've seen her play on defense since she arrived here," he said.
“We really defended, that's what pleased me most.".
Katie Mackey, Lauren McCulloch and Mary Rose Paiz added six points each, and Paiz added four rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot in the win.
FLC averaged 75 points in its latest three-game, three-win home stand, and its average margin of victory was 29 points.
“Those three home games spring-boarded us," Kellogg said. “We wanted to carry that momentum from home and take it with us on the road.
“I think this is the best we've played since I've been here," said Kellogg, who has a program-best 102 wins in just 4½ years at FLC, his first head coaching job.
Fort Lewis will host RMAC rival CSU-Pueblo and N.M. Highlands next Friday and Saturday, respectively, at Whalen Gym.
Box Score
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