Jeremy Crawford
Mar 12 min
Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information photo credit Terri Haverfield
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Montana Western women's basketball team (17-12, 8-7) overcame a slow start to take down the Montana Tech Orediggers by a final score of 69-47.
After scoring just six points in the first quarter and falling to a 26-21 halftime deficit, the Bulldogs were able to turn it around in the second half and ride a combined 48 points to a comeback win.
"Our ladies did a great job of overcoming a slow start. We locked in on defense and used that to carry our offense," Head Coach Britt Cooper said.
How it Happened
After a four-minute stretch of neither team finding the basket, the Orediggers were the first to capitalize. MT ran on an 8-0 run to kick off the game and held the Bulldogs to just six points in the first quarter.
Jordan Sweeney connected with the net on a three-pointer to start the second quarter and woke the Western offense up. UMW would go on to outscore the Diggers 15-8 in the second frame and trail 26-21 at the half.
The halftime break was enough to get Western fired up as Shainy Mack hit a triple from the start of the third quarter. Sweeney followed with a layup and Joelnell Momberg utilized an and one opportunity to tie the game up at 29.
Western remained electric, riding a 16-0 scoring run to take a 56-36 lead into the final six minutes of the game. The lead was enough to keep the Bulldogs out in front for the remainder of the matchup.
Freshman Ava Bellach made a layup and capped scoring in the game as the Bulldogs finish on top by a final score of 69-47.
Notables
After hitting just seven for 24 in the first half, the Bulldogs came out with a vengeance in the second half and shot 62 percent from the field.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs forced 19 turnovers and put up 19 points on them.
Sweeney led this evening with 21 points, six rebounds, and an assist.
Momberg followed with 18 points after she hit three of six from the three-point line. She also added eight rebounds and two steals.
Mack put up 11 points and grabbed five steals in the effort.
Up Next
The Bulldogs move on to the Frontier Conference semifinal to be played tomorrow evening at 7:00pm. The Bulldogs are set to take on the No. 14 ranked University of Providence.
To view tournament information, click here.