Fans turnout for Nike N7 matchup at Fort Lewis

DURANGO, Colo.

There are not many nights when Whalen Gymnasium is roaring with Native American basketball fans.

Last Wednesday the Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball teams played in the Nike N7 games against Northern New Mexico College.

The women’s team won 92-46, while the men finished with an 83-60 victory.

But the victories were only icing on the cake for players like Fort Lewis sophomore guard Tanisha Begay.

Begay said the games were important because of who they represent.

“Just coming out here for N7 night, it’s a really big thing because you’re playing for yourself, your background, my town, and representing who I am,” she said. “That’s one of the big things for N7.

“I feel like the fans out here are really supportive and I’m thankful for them,” she said. “We wouldn’t have this type of atmosphere and energy today that we did.”

Fort Lewis was one of 11 college programs selected to participate in national N7 initiative along with Oklahoma State, Nevada, Florida State, San Diego State, Oral Roberts, Mesa Community College, Marquette, New Mexico, Stanford and Haskell Indian Nations University.

Both the men’s and women’s team wore turquoise jerseys provided by Nike N7. The Nike program, which celebrates its 10th year, works to promote physical activity and sport in Native American communities.

Northern New Mexico also is home to a number of Native American student-athletes, including former high school teammates and opponents of Begay.

The Fort Lewis women’s team made a quick 8-3 run to start the competition. Northern New Mexico slowly clipped at their heels but, midway through the first quarter, Begay put up a three-pointer and put the Skyhawks up 11-5.

Fort Lewis continued to work inside and out and took an 18-7 lead after the first quarter. The Skyhawks shot about 27 percent in the first quarter, missing a few open looks.

Fort Lewis head coach Jason Flores said although his team did miss a few he knew they would eventually fall in.

“We missed a lot of easy shots,” he said. “The momentum would have just showed right from the get-go. It was hard to say don’t shoot them. They were good shots, they were wide open, it was just a matter of they weren’t falling. It was going to come around.”

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