Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information
BUTTE, Mont. – After a two-game slide, the Bulldog women's basketball team got back in the win column and defeated the Montana Tech Orediggers (10-7, 1-3) tonight by a final score of 75-55.
After taking a narrow 30-26 lead into the half, Montana Western (10-7, 2-2) outscored the Orediggers 45-29 in the second half to run away with the game. Five Bulldogs surpassed double-digits in scoring.
How It Happened
Montana Western was hot from the start, hitting 63.3 percent from the field and drained three shots from the arc in the first quarter alone.
With the Orediggers taking a two-point lead two and a half minutes into the second quarter, Isabella Lund broke the scoreless streak and Jordan Sweeney hit a triple to give UMW the lead once again.
Oredigger Challis Westwater answered and brought the game back to one point, but the Bulldogs would pull away down the stretch as Western went on a 6-0 run. UMW would take a four-point lead into the break at 30-26.
Western found their stride in the third quarter, running on to score 28 points in the third and holding the Orediggers to 14. Shainy Mack led the way after she hit three triples in the quarter.
UMW would take as much as an 18-point lead in the fourth before the Orediggers pushed back. A three from MT's Ally Cleverly sparked a 9-0 run that brought the game back within single digits.
Despite the scare, Lund's four-point play ended the hope for the Orediggers and UMW closed the game on their own 13-0 run.
Notables
Western's defense forced the Orediggers to 14 turnovers in the game. The Bulldogs were able to convert those to 25 points in the game.
UMW hit 50.8 percent from the field tonight. This is the first night the Bulldog's have surpassed 50 percent shooting from the field since Dec. 19 against Benedictine-Mesa (Ariz.).
Five Bulldogs hit double-digits in scoring, with Sweeney leading the way with 19 points. She also added seven assists and four rebounds.
Mack followed with 18 points and three rebounds.
Maddy Moy, Joelnell Momberg, and Lund each hit double-digits. Moy also led the Bulldogs with six rebounds and Lund led with three steals.
Up Next
Montana Western moves to 2-2 in conference play and will return to Dillon for a matchup with Rocky Mountain College. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. in the Straugh Gymnasium.
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