Haskell Indian Nations University coach Phil Homeratha has been preaching his press defense to his women’s basketball team all season.

Wednesday night, it worked in a dominating 91-36 victory over Manhattan Christian College.

“When we play that hard press and we come back out of a zone, for some reason people don’t shoot very well,” Homeratha said. “If I can keep you occupied down the floor, then your big girls can’t get down the floor on me.”

The Fightin’ Indians improved to 6-5, while the Crusaders fell to 2-8.

The Indians forced 26 turnovers, many of which came off the zone press that Homeratha likes so much.

“Our defense helped our offense again by forcing those turnovers and turning them into something positive,” senior point guard Amber Tecumseh said.

Thanks to the speed of guards Kortney Smith and Melissa Haag, the Indians were able to collect 13 steals.

Coming into the contest, the Indians were shooting just over 38 percent from inside the three-point line. That changed, thanks to solid shooting by junior forward Whitney Warrior, who went 8-for-10 from the field and finished with 18 points.

“Whitney Warrior came alive for us in the second half,” Homeratha said. “That was what I was looking for.”

Warrior scored the first eight points of the second half for Haskell and also pulled down eight rebounds.

Haskell shot better than 52 percent, while holding Manhattan Christian to just 25 percent from the field.

When Haskell was not getting points in transition, it was getting points either inside from Warrior or from the outside, with the team connecting on 11 of 20 three-point attempts, thanks to good ball movement.

“If the ball moves, that does so much for you,” Homeratha said. “I hate to do a lot of things off the dribble. Once you move, people are going to get open.”

Freshman Rayna Stevens came of the bench to hit all five of her three-point attempts and finished with 17 points.

Haskell 91,

Manhattan Christian College 36

Manhattan College 20 16 – 36

Haskell 42 49 – 91

Manhattan Christian – Chandler Hiebsch 2, Rachelle Deshazo 6, Susie McGraw 18, Lindsay Sekoch 8, Bethany Juhl 2.

Haskell – Whitney Warrior 18, Amber Tecumseh 5, Kortney Smith 15, Melissa Haag 13, Sade Horsechief 2, Rayna Stevens 17, Shara Brown 15, Kari Two Lance 6.