UMW Women’s Basketball Survives Late Push from (RV) College of Idaho, Earns 78-75 Victory

UMW Sports

DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western women's basketball program (2-0) held off a late surge from College of Idaho to take the 78-75 win Sunday afternoon in Straugh Gymnasium.

"Super proud of our effort this weekend," head coach Ryan Sullivan said. "We played two quality teams from the Cascade and to go 2-0 with this being our first live reps is really incredible. I'm really proud of the girls and how they have bought in. We need to get a lot better but it's great to learn and win at the same time."

STAT BREAKDOWN

Western shot 48.2 percent (27-56) from the floor, 50.0 percent (9-18) from distance, and 68.2 percent (15-22) from the foul line in the contest.

The Bulldogs pulled down 34 rebound and tallied 13 assists, two blocks, and five steals. They put up 34 points in the paint, seven off turnovers, nine second-points, and 20 bench points.

NOTABLES

Kyle Pancost was one rebound away from a double-double.

Five Bulldogs scored in double figures.

Four Bulldogs shot 50.0 percent or better from the floor.

LEADERBOARD

Isabella Lund paced the team in points (17), assists (four), and steals (two). She shot 50.0 percent (4-8) from the floor, 50.0 percent from three (1-2) and 80.0 percent (8-10) from the line.

Ava Bellach (13), Bailee Sayler (12), Keke Davis (11), and Pancost (12) rounded out the top five scorers for Western.

Pancost tied for the game-high with nine boards, followed by Bellach and Sayler with five apiece.

Sammi Love and Sayler each swatted one block for the Bulldogs.

GAME SUMMARY

The visitor's led by as many as seven early in the game, but the Bulldogs pulled ahead 22-19 at the end of the first thanks to a Sammi Love buzzer-beater three.

UMW increased their lead to as many as 12 at the four-minute mark of the second quarter and led by nine, 45-36, as the teams headed to the locker rooms.

Western shot 55.2 percent (16-29) from the field, 50.0 percent (6-12) from three, and 77.8 percent (7-9) from the foul line in the first half.

The Bulldogs led by 12 twice more in the third quarter, and settled for an eight-point lead, 57-49, at the end of the frame.  

The Yotes chipped away at the lead all throughout the fourth, even retaking the lead 68-67 with less than three minutes remaining in the game. The Red and Black didn't waver, however, pulling ahead again by three and fighting off a last-ditch shot from CI to seal the win.

THE OPPOSITION 

The Yotes shot 39.1 percent (27-69) from the floor, 43.8 percent (14-32) from three, and 63.6 percent (7-11) from the charity stripe. They registered 41 rebounds, 18 assists, three blocks, and eight steals. Anna Mooney led the game with 21 points, all coming from beyond the arc. Mia Austin (13) and Kylie Waltermeyer (10) were also in double figures. Maiya Hardy tied for the game high with nine rebounds. Riley Beck earned two blocks and three steals to lead the team. Four players tallied three assists each.

LOOKING AHEAD

Up next, the Bulldogs travel to Lewiston, Idaho to compete in the Twin Rivers PT Classic where they will face of against host LC State (11/7) and Eastern Oregon (11/8).