Before Haskell Indian Nations University’s game against College of St. Mary, women’s basketball coach Phil Homeratha said he simply would be happy just to come away with a win.

However, Homeratha seemed more preoccupied with other things than happy following a 75-63 victory over the Flames – a team that finished second in the Midlands Collegiate Athletics Conference last year – on Friday night at the Coffin Complex.

“I just said, ‘Hey, we’re going to play man-to-man and try to get on them,’ and I thought that was one of our better games that we’ve had here in a long time,” Homeratha said. “It was a total team effort tonight. And defense won it for us, really.”

Homeratha went with his team’s beloved full-court press defense for most of the game and was able to force 24 turnovers – with a team-high three steals by Kortney Smith.

“You can ask him (Homeratha), he always says we’re the ‘go-getters,'” Smith said. “He doesn’t like to sit back and let the teams come down, walk the ball down the court and get in their half-court offense. This year we’re going and getting them. We’re not going to let you just walk the ball up the court and have your way.

“We’re going to work that clock so there’s only about 15 seconds on the shot clock when you get across half court so you’re going to have to come at us or turn the ball over – one of the two. So that’s pretty much our mind-set.”

But the Indians also were able to prevail due to a new offensive mind-set.

Instead of jacking up three-pointers – their style on offense at the beginning the season – the Indians (9-9, 1-1) spent more time driving the lane, which eventually set up good looks from outside.

Haskell's Margaret Stevens (44) fights for control of the ball against College of St. Mary's Jenna Kreikemeier, left, and Angela Jones. The Haskell women won, 75-63, on Friday night at Coffin Complex.

“I just made up my mind that we’ve got (big) people now, let’s go to the basket,” the Haskell coach said. “Sometimes you change. I should have done it sooner, but I didn’t know. I didn’t know we’d have the two big girls (Margaret) Stevens and (Shanda) Murdoch coming back in, either. So basically I’ve said, ‘Hey, try to get up in there.'”

HINU limited its shots from behind the arc to just 11 attempts, converting seven, making for a 63.6 percent shooting from three-point land – while the Indians went 46.3 percent from the entire field.

Amber Tecumseh had the hot hand from long distance, going 4-for-5 from long range to collect her 12 points – all of which came in the second half.

“I was just letting them fly,” Tecumseh said, “hoping they’d go in.”

Besides leading Haskell in steals, Smith also was tops in rebounds (7) and assists (4) and tied Whitney Warrior for a team-best 14 points.

“I think with this offense now we have more options,” Smith said. “We’re screening and rolling to the basket, and we’re getting our big girls open down low. That inside-outside game is really working for us.

“And we’re quick. I don’t think there’s a team in this league that is as quick as us on a good night.”

Haskell will face York at 3 p.m. today at Coffin Complex.