Any basketball player or coach will tell you an ugly win is better than a pretty loss. Especially in FLC women’s basketball head coach Lauren Zuniga’s case when it was her first game as the Skyhawks head coach.
The Skyhawks’ women’s basketball team never looked great on offense and had long periods of stagnant offensive possessions. But FLC played hard on defense, forced 24 turnovers and showed its scrappy, blue-collar attitude Zuniga talked about in the preseason. FLC held on after a poor third quarter and beat Western New Mexico 53-47 on Friday.
FLC improved to 1-0 overall after its opening win inside Whalen Gymnasium in Durango after shooting 35% from the field, 19% from 3-point range and 63% from the free-throw line.
Western New Mexico fell to 0-1 overall after shooting 36% from the field, 8% from 3-point range and 67% from the free-throw line.
“At the end of the day, a win is a win,” Zuniga said. “Our defense definitely won us the game for sure. Western New Mexico came back; they had a couple of girls who were making big-time plays and it almost felt for a little bit like we didn't have an answer for them. Our girls just dug down deep and figured out a way to get a win.”
Senior forward Darla Hernandez led FLC with 12 points on 5-14 shooting from the field and 2-2 from the free-throw line. Zuniga was happy with Hernandez’s shot selection and said she was missing shots she makes in practice.
Redshirt junior forward Sydney Bevington had 10 points on 5-8 shooting from the field off the bench for the Skyhawks.
Western New Mexico was led by Jade Goynes’ 16 points on 5-11 shooting from the field, 1-3 from downtown and 5-9 from the free-throw line.
The Skyhawks struggled to finish some decent looks early on. FLC allowed Western New Mexico to get inside and finish. The Skyhawks also had issues with turnovers and trailed 5-0 with seven minutes left in the first quarter. Hernandez scored the first bucket of the season thanks to a good inside pass by senior Eva Kingston.
FLC did a good job of causing some turnovers as its half-court offense struggled early. Hernandez gave FLC its first lead 8-7 with a nice midrange jump shot with 3:53 left.
The end of the first quarter was a chaotic sequence of sloppy offense on both sides. Both teams struggled with their handle.
Bevington came in a showed her rebounding prowess and inside scoring for a much-needed spark. FLC led 14-9 after the first quarter and finished the first quarter on an 11-2 run.
“Her and Darla, both are just big-time players for us and they're both so different,” Zuniga said about Bevington and Hernandez. “I absolutely knew Sid was going to be able to come in and be an impact kid. So I couldn't be happier with her, her rebounding capabilities and ability to score.”
FLC continued to have active hands on defense to start the second quarter. The Skyhawks broke the Mustangs’ press with better passing and had some easy finishes. Freshman Claudia Palacio Gámez hit a 3-pointer for a 25-13 lead with 3:23 to go in the first half.
The Skyhawks continued to cause turnovers, force tough shots and control the glass as they took a 30-15 lead into halftime.
FLC started the second half slowly like it did in the first half. The Skyhawks were stagnant on offense and were passing it on the perimeter. Western New Mexico found success by driving to the hoop. An and-one bucket by Goynes plus another trip to the line by Goynes on the next possession cut the Mustangs’ deficit to 32-24 with 6:15 left in the third.
The Mustangs played some bully ball with guard Stephanie Da Silva getting inside. A putback layup by her cut FLC’s lead to 32-31 with less than three minutes left in the third.
“We started the game pretty well defensively,” Zuniga said. “We were scoring, we went into halftime with a 15-point lead and that feels good. It's easy to come out stagnant, thinking you have a cushion when, in reality, 15 points is nothing in basketball. Just learning as a team what it truly takes to win and how hard it is to win on any given night against anybody.”
The Skyhawks started drawing some fouls late and got to the line to stop the bleeding. Hernandez found some space inside late to put FLC up 40-36 going into the fourth.
FLC clung on to its lead into the middle of the fourth quarter. The Skyhawks struggled to get out and run.
Western New Mexico turned the ball over and missed contested shots. A Palacio Gámez finish off a steal gave the Skyhawks a 48-38 lead with 3:48 to go.
Western New Mexico continued to attack and hit its first 3-pointer to cut the lead to 51-47 with 1:34 left but the Mustangs couldn’t convert late to take the win.
FLC plays against Eastern New Mexico today at 6 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
