Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Four players scored in double figures as No. 12 Fort Lewis College (1-0 overall) opened its 2010-11 campaign with an 86-56 win over Eastern New Mexico (0-1) tonight in Whalen Gymnasium.

The Skyhawks — the defending NCAA Division II runners-up and three-time defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions — were led by Dana Schreibvogel's 15-point, nine-rebound performance. Abby Jackson (14 points, five assists), Erika Richards (14 points) and Jenna Santistevan (13 points, five rebounds, four assists) also scored in double figures.

“I thought our defensive effort was great in the first half,” sixth-year head coach Mark Kellogg said of the opening frame in which Fort Lewis built a 41-14 halftime lead and held the Zias to 26.3 percent shooting (five of 19 from the field). “We were really active and had a lot of steals, which led to some easy baskets for us.”

The Skyhawk skipper thought his team has some advantages over the 2009-10 squad that went 35-4 and featured five seniors with a vastly different look. “I think we're a little longer, a little lankier than we were in the past, which helps us take up space,” he said.

“Jenna and Dana were very good offensively early in the game, which helped us get going.”

Fort Lewis scored first on a Mary Rose Paiz layup 1:17 into the game and never trailed. The Zias managed to tie the score at 3-3, but a Schreibvogel put-back of her own missed shot 3:05 into the half gave FLC a lead they'd never relinquish. The Skyhawks led by as many as 39 points at one point in the second half.

Kellogg also praised his team's trademark passing. “We had 25 assists on 28 baskets. When we do that, we're tough to beat,” he said.

Fort Lewis forced 38 turnovers and had 21 steals, including four by Andrea Owens.

Eastern New Mexico was led by Precious Herrin, who had a double-double and led all scorers with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Krista Ford added 10 points for the Zias.

One area in which Kellogg pointed to for as a need for improvement was second half intensity on the defensive end. Eastern New Mexico shot a blistering 60.9 percent from the field in the second stanza and scored 42 points.

The Skyhawks return to action at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20 when they face No. 7 West Texas A&M in Whalen Gymnasium.