DURANGO – The Colorado School of Mines women's basketball team allowed a season-worst 44 first half points to Fort Lewis Saturday and could not recover in the second as the Skyhawks won their 10th game in 11 meetings with the Orediggers, 80-73, at Whalen Gymnasium in Durango.
After shooting 35.1 percent (13-of-37) and 14.8 percent (4-of-27) behind the arc in yesterday's home loss to Colorado Christian, the Skyhawks opened Saturday's contest with a vengeance, jumping out to a 9-0 lead in the opening 2:25.
FLC hit on nine of their first 15 looks and finished the half 17-of-33 (51.5 percent) and 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) from distance, eventually building a 16-point advantage before entering halftime leading 44-31.
The Orediggers (11-8, 8-5 RMAC) got as close as seven on four occasions in the second half, the latter coming on a traditional three-point play from sophomore Taylor Helbig with 29 seconds left for the final margin.
Helbig realized new collegiate-bests with game-highs of 28 points and five three-pointers, going 9-of-20 from the floor, 5-of-7 on threes and 5-of-5 at the free throw line. Her 12th double-digit performance in the last 13 games and fifth of 20 points or more moved her into second on the team and 14th in the RMAC in scoring at 13.1 per game.
Allie Grazulis and Angie Charchalis each recorded double-doubles – sixth and first, respectively, of the season – combining for 25 points and 20 rebounds.
The leading rebounder in the conference at 9.9 per game, Grazulis collected her team-leading ninth game of double-digit boards to go along with 15 points and three steals. She went 5-of-11 overall and led a 19-of-24 (79.2 percent) team effort at the charity stripe, sinking 5-of-7.
Charchalis surpassed former teammate Brecca Gaffney (2006-11) for fourth on the all-time Mines career scoring list with 10 points. In addition to 10 rebounds, she also had two assists and one block and is now 67 points back of Kelly Hadley (1983-87) in third with 1,282 career points.
Five Skyhawks reached double figures as Fort Lewis equaled its season-high output, finishing 30-of-65 (46.2 percent) and 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from distance.
Christie Groh topped the balanced attack with 15 points; Alex Easterbrook had 15, Katerina Garcia scored 12 and Erika Richards added 11, while Mary Brinton led the bench with 10 points in 12 minutes of work.
With the January slate complete, Mines returns to Lockridge Arena next weekend for a pair of conference bouts, beginning with current USA Today Sports/WBCA Division II No. 4 and unbeaten Colorado Mesa (17-0, 13-0 RMAC) at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1.
