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Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information CALDWELL, Idaho — The Montana Western men's basketball team (5-2) opened up the Taco Bell Shootout hosted by College of Idaho with a 75-67 loss to Lewis-Clark State this afternoon. Abi Adedo led the Bulldogs after he racked up 19 points, hit seven of nine shots from the field and pulled in six rebounds. How It Happened After multiple lead changes through the first half, Kayden Toldson made a layup and followed up minutes later with a pair of shots from the charity stripe to give UMW a five-point lead. Quincy Taylor drained a shot from the arc with 1:56 left in the first half to help UMW to a 29-22 lead. LCSC capped the quarter by going on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 29 heading into the half. Though neither team hit more nine field goals in the half, the Warriors held an edge over UMW after they hit nine of 26 from the field in comparison to the Bulldogs' seven of thirty. Following the slow start for both teams, the second half was much more explosive for each team with the Bulldogs getting off on the right foot in the second half. Adedo made use of an and one opportunity and followed it up with a bucket from the three-point line to put the Bulldogs out 35-29. LCSC's red-hot Alton Hamilton hit three straight baskets and tied the game back up at 39 with 15:08 to play. The two continued to battle for the lead down the stretch. Michael Haverfield put the Bulldogs up by one for a short lead after he drained a free throw on an and one opportunity. Despite taking the slim 50-49 lead, the Warriors powered through and raced to a 62-53 lead behind a 10-0 scoring run. Despite more than six minutes remaining on the clock, the Bulldogs were unable to climb back in to the game and lost down the stretch by a final score of 75-67. Notables Montana Western added to their losing streak over Lewis-Clark State. The nine-game streak began during the 2018-19 season. As a team, the Bulldogs shot just 37.1 percent from the field. The average is well below their season average of 43.6 percent. Abi Adedo led the Bulldogs after he racked up 19 points, hit seven of nine shots from the field and pulled in six rebounds. Quincy Taylor connected with the hoop tonight, finding a season high 13 points and adding a pair of rebounds. Jalyn Stepney followed with 11 points, three blocks, five rebounds, and a steal. Toldson also added five rebounds. Up Next The Bulldogs are back tomorrow for the second day of the Taco Bell Shootout to face the no. 1 ranked College of Idaho. The Yotes are now 4-1 on the season and just defeated Hope International University (Calif.) to lead them into tomorrow's faceoff.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information DILLON, Mont. — The Montana Western football team (9-2) completed the 2023 season this afternoon after they lost to the College of Idaho Yotes (9-2) in the NAIA Football Championship Series Second Round hosted by Montana Western. How It Happened College of Idaho opened the game with a nine play, 75-yard drive that put them on the board first with 9:57 remaining in the first quarter. The Bulldog offense struggled to get going with a three and out on their opening possession. Despite the slow get off, the Bulldog defense forced a turnover on downs that fueled a scoring drive that closed out the first quarter. Within just four seconds of the second quarter, Michael Palandri hit Dylan Shipley for an 18-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven. The Bulldogs struggled for the remainder of the half, allowing the Yotes to score 21 unanswered points that included a touchdown with just 13 seconds left before halftime. Down 28-7 early in the second half, Eli Nourse sparked a Bulldog comeback when he returned a Yotes punt 85 yards for a touchdown. On the first play of the Yotes' next drive, Romeo Simpson recovered a fumble by COI's Jon Schofield and returned it to the Yotes 33-yard line. The Red and Black capitalized on the field position and scored quickly on a Jake Humphrey touchdown rush to bring the Bulldogs within seven at 28-21. COI would score once more before the end of the frame, taking a 35-21 lead into the fourth quarter. Western again closed the gap to seven after Humphrey took it to the house on a 42-yard rush with 14:32 remaining to play. Momentum remained in favor of Western as Bryer Monson recorded a key sack on third and nine, forcing the Yotes to punt once again. Palandri then connected with Shipley for his second touchdown of the game to tie the game at 35 all and just under 11 minutes in the game. Unfortunately, the tides would turn in favor of the Yotes who would score two consecutive touchdowns to go up 49-35 and leave just three minutes left for the Bulldogs to work with. Palandri gave the Bulldogs some hope when he connected with Nourse in the back of the end zone, bringing the game back within seven at 49-42. A last-ditch effort onside kick was unsuccessful for the Bulldogs and the Yotes ran out the clock to take the 49-42 win. Notables Montana Western closes out the season with their final game on Vigilante Field and their second home playoff game in school history. The Yotes accumulated nearly twice as many total offensive yards in the game, racking up a whopping 621 yards compared to UMW's 355 yards. Palandri led the way with 228 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also added 52 rushing yards. Shipley led the receiving corps with 143 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Humphrey rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Braden Smith led the Bulldog defense with 10 total tackles. Records Eli Nourse broke multiple single season records following his first year for the Bulldogs. He now holds the single season receiving yards record with 1168 receiving yards. He also broke the season passes caught record after he totaled 90 receptions on the season and the yards per punt return average after he recorded 20.9 yards per punt return. Coby Tanioka broke the single season kick return yards record after he totaled 644 yards this season. Tanner Harrell caps out his career tackles for loss with a new Montana Western record of 41 tackles for loss. Click on image for full size

Submitted by: Mel Rice Public, Relations Officer The Beaverhead Search and Rescue was paged out at 9:45 AM on the 23 of November. It was reported there was an overdue hunter in the Scudder Creek area in the Grasshopper Valley. Before anyone could be deployed the alarm was cancelled. Friday night, November 24, at 10:00 PM the search managers were paged again for an overdue 15 year old young man. He, his father, and other family members from Kentucky were hunting in the Woody Mountain area of Warm Springs Creek outside of Jackson. At 4:00 PM the young man told his father he was going to look at something. After wondering out of sight he never returned to the vehicle. His gear was very limited for the weather conditions. The dad said the young man had a compass but didn’t know how to use it. At 10:50 PM the Peterson hasty team living in the Big Hole headed for Warm Springs Creek to meet up with the deputy Sheriff. At 11:00 PM the deputy was with the father and the two of them were heading back to the last known point. Between 11:00 PM and 11:30 PM hasty teams were deployed from Dillon to Bull Creek and to Warm Springs Creek by Jackson to meet up with the dad and deputy Sheriff. At approximately 12:30 AM the lost young man was located by the Sheriff. He was close to the road and used his head lamp to signal the deputy and dad of his location. When finally picked up, the lost man was in good health but a little cold and shaken. It was 6 degrees Fahrenheit at that time in Jackson. Dad, son, and family were reunited. By 12:50 AM all hasty teams had been notified of his location and were returning to Dillon. All teams were accounted for and home by 2:30 AM. Members involved in the search were: · Team 1: MD Peterson, Sam Peterson · Team 2: Steve Mock, Adam Norlander · Team 3: Shane Puyear, Parker Puyear, Kolby Malesich · Team 4: Cody Schnee, John Helle · Team 5: Lawrence Morrisroe, Joe Reyes, Dan Cahill · Team 6: Clint Rouse, Parke Scott, Trevor Hyland · Command Ops: Mel Rice, Chuck Maddox Sometimes it seems silly to take all the right gear with you even when it is going to be just a quick check of something. This is a great example of that. He was just going to check something out right over there. 8.5 hours later the young hunter was pretty happy to see someone. Don’t take things for granted; always plan for the worst scenario. “In the Business of Saving Lives”, your Beaverhead Search and Rescue.

The University of Montana Western is pleased to announce Jaime Ochoa as Registrar & Senior Director of Enrollment Management and Chrissy Stokes as Director of Admissions. Jaime Ochoa – Registrar & Senior Director of Enrollment Management Originally from Aberdeen, Washington, Jaime served as Assistant Registrar at Whitworth University from 2017-22 before coming to Montana Western. In this role, she was the academic evaluator for graduate and continuing studies, VA certifying official, and oversaw the academic catalog publishing process. In 2022, she started at UMW in the role of Registrar where she oversees catalog production, certifies student-athletes with the NAIA/NIRA, builds the course schedule, and helps to ensure that policies and procedures are followed. Over the summer, she began serving as both the Registrar & Interim Senior Director of Enrollment Management. “With Jaime’s unwavering dedication in both these roles, I’m truly looking forward to what lies ahead, and I’m certain that her expertise and collaborative approach will empower Montana Western to excel in our enrollment and retention objectives,” said Dr. Johnny MacLean, Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. Jaime and her husband, Louie, have three daughters, ages 23, 19, and 5. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Business Analytics degree from the University of Montana. In her free time, she enjoys running and being outdoors as much as the weather allows. “I’m thrilled to continue serving in the role of Senior Director of Enrollment Management while continuing my duties as the Registrar at Montana Western. I’m eager to not only meet, but exceed our enrollment goals, all while providing support systems to ensure the overall success of UMW students from admissions to graduation,” said Jaime. Chrissy Stokes – Director of Admissions Completing her bachelor’s degree in social science with an emphasis in psychology from Montana Western in 2013, Chrissy began working in the Admissions Office as an Admissions Representative in 2015. She previously served as the Associate Director of Admissions before serving as Interim Director of Admissions beginning this summer. “We look forward to Chrissy serving in this new role and are excited for the enthusiasm and leadership that she will bring to this position,” said Senior Director of Enrollment Management, Jaime Ochoa. “Growing up in the small town of Valier, Montana, I wanted to find a university where I would be more than just a number. I found my home at Montana Western and thrived in a learning environment with small class sizes and a very welcoming community. Since 2015, I have really enjoyed being able to connect with students and families and introduce them to all the opportunities that are available at Montana Western,” Chrissy said.

Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) has recognized thirteen student-athletes for the Montana Athletes in Service Award (MAIS), including Montana Western's Tanner Harrell. Each year, Montana Campus Compact recognizes one student-athlete from each MTCC Affiliate Campus across the state who has dedicated their efforts to serving the community while also pursuing their college degrees and certificates while participating in college sports. MTCC is excited to announce the following MAIS award winners for 2023: Tanner Harrell – University of Montana Western – Football Madison Miller – Salish Kootenai College – Women’s Basketball Brynne Hitchcock – Montana State University – Alpine Skiing Ben Held – Carroll College – Football Sydney Hansen – Montana State University Northern – Women’s Basketball Jaylee Azure – Fort Peck Community College – Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Cross Country Trajon Cotton – University of Montana – Football Kasidy Yeoman – Montana Technological University – Basketball Tyann Graham – Miles Community College – Women’s Basketball Seth Buckman – Flathead Valley Community College – Logger Sports Lexis Hogan – Little Bighorn College – Women’s Basketball Lauren Rodacker – Dawson Community College – Volleyball, Track Kaitlyn Landwehr – Montana State University Billings – Cheerleading & Stunt Team The recipients were honored at halftime of the 2023 Brawl of the Wild game at Washington Grizzly Stadium on November 18. Montana Western recipient Tanner Harrell, current Association of Student-Athletes President (2023-24) and former Association of Student-Athletes representative (2021-23), actively contributes to the community by volunteering at a local elementary school and as a volunteer for freshmen move-in day. He is also a generous volunteer with Engine 18—an organization established in memory of Bulldog football team member, M.J. Simkins. Recognized as an excellent community member, Tanner lends a helping hand by assisting with moving people into homes, supporting the local elderly, and painting benches at the local special needs home. Additionally, he plays a significant role in community holiday events as Santa Claus. In the sports community, Tanner runs a podcast for Bulldog Athletics titled “ Barkin’ With The Dawgs ” and volunteers as a PA announcer at home events. “These student-athletes have all taken on serious volunteer commitments in addition to their studies and athletics, and those selfless acts should inspire us to be our best selves and to give back to our communities,” said Josh Vanek, Montana Campus Compact’s Executive Director.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING November 28 th , 2023 3:00 PM ~ AGENDA ~ 1. Approval of November 2023 Claims 2. Public Comment on Items of Significant Public Interest Not on The Agenda And Within The Jurisdiction of The City 3. Adjournment Committee Members: Don Hand, Chairperson Dan Nye Russ Schwandt

The Montana Western Fine Arts Gallery, in partnership with the Glass Club, are proud to present this year’s Holiday Art Show and Sale opening Wednesday, December 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and running through December 16. Join us to celebrate the holiday season with a variety of one-of-a-kind works of art made by UMW students, faculty, and staff. Items on display and for sale will include photography, paintings, drawings, textiles, glass artwork, crafts, and more. All proceeds will go directly to the artists. Payments will be accepted by cash or check only. The gallery will be accepting submissions from UMW students, staff, and faculty on December 11 and 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Artists are invited to submit up to five distinct works in the medium(s) of their choice and drop them off in person to the Fine Arts Gallery in Main Hall. For more information, please contact Montana Western Fine Arts Gallery Coordinator, Jennifer Boysen: jennifer.boysen@umwestern.edu .

Join us as the University of Montana Western's Glass Program hosts a presentation highlighting the experiences of two UMW students who recently studied at the renowned Pilchuck Glass School. The presentations will be held on Thursday, November 30, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the UMW Emerick Art Studio located on the corner of Poindexter and Atlantic Street. Students Heather Reedy and Gabriel Sommers received the Mary Baker Emerick scholarships to the Pilchuck Glass School in the summer of 2023 where they had the opportunity to work with some of the best instructors in glass in the world. The Pilchuck Glass School, located in Stanwood, Washington, stands as a global hub for glass art education, renowned for fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration among artists from diverse backgrounds. From May through September every year, Pilchuck’s Summer + Fall Program offers a series of courses as well as residencies for established artists in all media. Heather, who is pursuing a BA in Glass at UMW, studied the ages old Muranese technique of murrine while at Pilchuck. Murrine is a time-honored glassworking tradition that traces its origins to the renowned glassmaking island of Murano, Italy. Dating back centuries, this intricate method involves creating patterns or images within a glass object by fusing together different colored glass rods, which are then sliced to reveal cross-sectional designs. Gabriel, a glass minor, had the opportunity to study constructing small glass furnaces based upon historical models out of clay and brick. Heather and Gabriel will share their experiences in a detailed presentation and discussion that is free and open to public. A social and light refreshments will take place before the presentations. The UMW Glass Program would like to thank the University of Montana Western Foundation for making this event possible. “As a prior artistic director of Pilchuck Glass School, I spent nine years creating immersive and innovative summer programs in a variety of glass and interdisciplinary processes. My experience in that role drew me to teach at Montana Western and to the block system as an alternative concept in higher education. I’m grateful to UMW’s Foundation and the Emerick Trustees for helping to establish a pathway between Pilchuck and Montana Western. Their support will allow two students each summer to take classes at Pilchuck and share their experiences with the university and community,” said Associate Professor of Fine Arts and Glass Program Coordinator, Ruth King. For more information, please contact Special Events and Alumni Coordinator, Jolene Robbins: jjolene.robbins@umwestern.edu or 406-683-7303.

Montana’s general deer and elk hunting season is wrapping up Nov. 26, 2023. So far this season, more than 8,100 hunters have appeared at regional game check stations. Harvest results at the regional check stations are slightly down compared to a year ago while the number of hunters reported is slightly higher. As the season wraps up, Montana hunters can thank landowners for access and share stories through a new online portal . Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering this opportunity to say thank you to landowners who have provided access and helped to make your hunting season great. FWP will collect these expressions of gratitude and share them with the specific landowners at the end of the season. Notes can be submitted online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/thank-a-landowner . Other general hunting seasons underway include black bear (Sept. 15-Nov. 26), bighorn sheep (Sept. 15-Nov. 26), moose (Sept. 15-Nov. 26), mountain lion (fall season without dogs, Oct. 22-Nov. 27), mountain goat (Sept. 15-Nov. 26), turkey (Sept. 1-Jan. 1), and wolf (Sept. 15-March 15, 2024). While the general hunting season ends after this week, hunters will still have opportunities into winter. Certain areas have continued elk hunting opportunities , and there is also Montana’s muzzleloader heritage hunting season for deer and elk, Dec. 9-17, 2023. Check stations are open on weekends during general deer and elk hunting season from 10 a.m. to approximately 1.5 hours past sunset. The regional stations are located at U.S. Highway 2 West of Kalispell, Montana Highway 83 north of Swan Lake, Highway 200 west of Thompson Falls, and Highway 93 near Olney. Hunters must stop at any check station they encounter whether they harvested an animal or not. The counts at the stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken. For an estimate of big game harvests from years’ past, visit https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/harvestReports . For a summary of the latest check station results in northwest Montana, click here . Muzzleloader Heritage Hunting Season The Muzzleloader Heritage hunting season is Dec. 9-17, 2023. During the muzzleloader heritage season, a person may take a deer or elk with any unused license or permit that is valid on the last day of the general hunting season (i.e., Nov. 26, 2023). Hunters can use plain lead projectiles and a muzzleloading rifle that is charged with loose black powder, loose pyrodex, or an equivalent loose black powder substitute and ignited by a flintlock, wheel lock, matchlock or percussion mechanism using a percussion or musket cap. The muzzleloading rifle must be a minimum of .45 caliber and may not have more than two barrels. During the muzzleloader heritage season, hunters may not use a muzzleloading rifle that requires insertion of a cap or primer into the open breech of the barrel (inline), is capable of being loaded from the breech, or is mounted with an optical magnification device. Use of pre-prepared paper or metallic cartridges, sabots, gas checks or other similar power and range-enhancing manufactured loads that enclose the projectile from the rifling or bore of the firearm is also prohibited. Many of Montana’s Wildlife Management Areas have seasonal closures from Dec. 2 through May 14. Before heading to the field, hunters should review the regulations for each hunting district they plan to hunt. A list of WMAs and seasonal closure dates are available online at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management-areas. Northwest Montana (Region 1) Reminders Elk hunting is brow-tined bull only in Region 1 (northwest Montana) except in Hunting District 170, unless a hunter has an antlerless elk permit. Certain hunting districts also allow hunters who posses a Permit to Hunt from a Vehicle (PTHFV) to harvest an antlerless elk (check regulations for specifics). A brow-tined bull is defined as, “any elk having an antler or antlers with a visible point on the lower half of either main beam that is greater than or equal to four inches long." Hunters who purchased the limited 199-20 either-sex white-tailed deer B license can only use that license within the Libby CWD Management Zone. For more info, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/cwd. Hunting at Bad Rock Canyon Wildlife Management Area near Columbia Falls is open only to youth through a limited drawing. Starting Dec. 2, Bad Rock Canyon WMA will be closed to all public access through May 15 at noon to protect big game winter range. Mule deer buck hunting in the North Fisher portion of Hunting District 103 near Libby is permit-only with the 103-50 permit. Many private lands that were historically owned by corporate timber companies have changed ownership, and hunters should review the Block Management Program for Region 1 to view available public access opportunities and restrictions on private lands. Visit https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/landownerprograms/block-management. Hunters should “Be Bear Aware” and properly store food and carcasses. Hunters should avoid hanging carcasses near houses or garages. Carcasses should be suspended at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet out from any upright support. Hunters are encouraged to carry bear spray and know how to use it. More food storage and safety information are available on the FWP website at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/be-bear-aware. The toll-free hotline for reporting wildlife poaching, property damage, and violations of Montana fish and game laws is in operation 24 hours a day. If you witness a fish and game violation, or property vandalism, you can report the crime by calling 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668); or report a violation online at fwp.mt.gov. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Chronic Wasting Disease Testing for chronic wasting disease (CWD) is voluntary throughout the state. FWP can assist hunters with sample collection and submission, or hunters can submit samples themselves. CWD is a fatal disease that infects members of the deer family, including elk, moose, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Hunters play a key role in minimizing the spread of CWD and providing data. In northwest Montana, hunters can bring their harvested animal to the FWP office in Kalispell, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. FWP staff will also assist with CWD sample collection at weekend game check stations across the region when possible and safety allows, based on traffic at the station. Stopping at game check stations remains mandatory. A CWD sampling station in Libby will operate Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 2 hours past sunset at the Montana Department of Transportation shop on U.S. Highway 2 south of town. Hunters are not required to stop at the Libby CWD sampling station. FWP will cover the cost of testing hunter-harvested animals for CWD. Hunters who want their animal sampled should leave 2 to 4 inches of the neck below the low jawbone and base of the skull to ensure lymph nodes are present and not inadvertently left with the carcass. Samples cannot be collected from frozen heads. To help prevent the spread of CWD, all carcasses, including the head and spinal column, must be disposed of in a class II landfill after butchering and processing. Dumping carcasses is illegal, unethical and can spread diseases, including chronic wasting disease. This requirement applies to all deer, elk, and moose carcasses harvested by hunters or as vehicle-killed salvage. For a list of proper landfills for disposal, instructional videos, and more info on CWD in Montana, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/cwd .

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information DILLON, Mont. – The Frontier Conference has announced its postseason football awards for the 2023 season. Montana Western had eight players receive all-conference honors, and two individuals given yearly awards. The all-conference teams are chosen in voting by the league's coaches. Montana Western quarterback Michael Palandri was chosen as the Offensive Player of the Year. This is the third consecutive season a Bulldog quarterback has been voted as the Frontier's top offensive player. Palandri leads the conference by passing for 273.1 yards per game and with a 169.0 pass efficiency rating. He has 25 touchdown passes to three interceptions. After guiding Montana Western to a 9-1 record and the conference title, Ryan Nourse was selected as this year's Frontier Conference Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs closed the regular season with eight straight victories to win their first outright conference crown since 1995. Montana Western leads all conference teams with seven First Team All-Frontier selections. Montana Tech had five named to the first team with Carroll and College of Idaho receiving four each. College of Idaho has a Frontier-best 11 selections to both the first and second team. Bulldog first team all-conference selections: Michael Palandri – QB (Maple Valley, Wash. / R-SO) Eli Nourse – WR (Dillon, Mont. / FR) Marcus Lombard – OL (Laie, Hawaii / R-JR) Reese Artz – DL (Battle Mountain, Nev. / R-SR) Tanner Harrell – DL (Shepherd, Mont. / R-SR) Kameron Rauser – LB (Townsend, Mont. / SR) John Mears – K (Belgrade, Mont. / R-JR) Bulldog second team all-conference selections: Rocco Beccari – OL (Kalispell, Mont. / JR) Montana Western Champions of Character selection: Zack Rouse - LB (Saint Maries, Idaho / SR) The full list of All-Conference selections can be found HERE.

It’s that time of the year again when it seems like everything is on sale and at a great price. Sometimes it can get a little overwhelming trying to figure out who has the best deals. How far you must travel to get those deals. Sometimes the best deals are at your local hometown stores, and best of all you don’t have to worry about traveling on the already congested roadways or maybe your boss doesn’t believe in letting you have the Friday after Thanksgiving off. Here in Dillon The Bookstore has a little bit of everything for your holiday shopping list. This year’s theme is Books for Everyone. With a large selection of books ranging from novels, kids’ books, cooking books, autobiographies, and plenty more you are sure to check off a few of those people on your holiday wish list. Did you know that the bookstore also carries calendars, magnets, stickers, sheet music, board games, and so much more. If they don’t have it Debbie can usually get it ordered in. Click on Image for full size Therapie Spa has so much to offer for those shoppers as well. If you have been running all week stop into therapy Spa and take advantage of the many services, they offer. Tanning beds, infrared sauna and so much more. Therapie Spa also has a large selection of small kid’s items that would make great stocking stuffers, they have the multi scarf, Montana Copper mugs and so much more. We have included pictures below of just a few things these local businesses offer to help with your Holiday List.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information LA GRANDE, Ore. — The Montana Western men's basketball team has extended their win streak to three games after they defeated Walla Walla (Wash.) this afternoon 81-59. "Our guys stepped up this weekend and we got great contributions from everyone," Head Coach Pat Jensen said. "This team has a lot of depth and it can be a different guy every night." How It Happened UMW got out to a scorching start after Jalyn Stepney hit back-to-back threes to get the Bulldogs out to a 17-2 score in the first six minutes of the game. The Bulldog men went on to hit seven threes and 21-40 from the field across the half to take a commanding 51-22 lead. Stepney and Christian Pitcher led the Bulldogs through the first half. Stepney put up 14 points with four made three-pointers and Pitcher had 11. Michael Haverfield drained a shot from the arc to give UMW their largest lead of the game at 57-27 with 17:51 left in the game. Despite the lead, the Wolves were able to steal some momentum to cut the lead back down to 16. Though fighting through a lull in scoring, the Bulldogs cut down on Walla Walla scoring opportunities by forcing five turnovers and grabbing three steals across the second half. Notables As a team, UMW capitalized by scoring an impressive 31 points on turnovers. The well-rounded game saw the Bulldog bench put up 42 points combined. Montana Western also put up 38 points from the key, with 16 coming on fast break opportunities. Three Bulldogs reached double digits in tonight's win with Stepney leading the way. He posted 20 points and went 6-15 from the field. Pitcher followed with 13 and Quincy Taylor had 12 points. Kevin Bethel was a key role player, creating opportunities for the Bulldogs behind eight assists and nine rebounds. Up Next UMW takes the week to prepare for a big weekend ahead where they will play in the Taco Bell Shootout hosted by College of Idaho. The Bulldogs will first see a contest with the Lewis-Clark State Warriors on Friday at 3pm MT.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has released the pool assignments and schedule for the 2023 NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs (22-6 overall) advanced to the tournament's 24-team final site Saturday with a three-set sweep over host Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Texas) in the Opening Round. Their first visit in school history to the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, begins Nov. 29 with a 12 p.m. MT match against Concordia (24-3), and they will play at the same time Nov. 30 against Midland (16-11). The fourth-ranked Concordia (Neb.) powered through a competitive first set and ran away from visiting Judson University (Ill.), 25-19, 25-14, 25-17, in their home opening round matchup. The Bulldogs of Concordia enter with a 24-3 record and a conference record of 14-2. Midland (Neb.) proved to be too much for Kansas Wesleyan in the NAIA Opening Round as they came away with a four-set victory (25-15, 25-13, 22-25, 25-13). It will be the Warriors' tenth trip in program history, the first coming in the 2013 season. The eight pool champions open bracket play with the Dec. 2 quarterfinal round. The semifinals are set for Dec. 4, and the championship for Dec. 5. Full bracket information for the tournament can be found here.

Ever wonder why most bars above Dillon have apartments? Ever wonder why Dillon has so many drinking establishments? I know growing up in Dillon you always heard the rumors of Dillons past and how prostitution ended in the late 70's. My family owned the Club Bar in the late 60's early 70's and my dad has quite a few stories about the dealings of the working woman and the people who would visit them. On November 16, the Beaverhead County Museum hosted a history lesson on houses of commercial affection and watering holes of Dillon. To say it was eye opening and entertaining is a somewhat boring way to describe this event. Hosted by Kristy Pozega, Mark McGinley, and Lee Graves they started with the early history of bars in Dillon, along with the working women who lived either upstairs in them or in another place known as the island. Lee would start the presentation by discussing some of the stories involving the ladies and their customers and the situations they would get into. From dodging one's wife to thinking you would become rich by falling out a backdoor, only to find no one wanted to admit they were with you when this happened. The stories he told can be traced back to some publications on the matter to people who witnessed it as well as old news articles. Kristy started the night off discussing some of the madams of Dillon and the places they owned and worked at. Many of these women made a very large sum of money and were quite generous to those in need. But they also were not accepted by a lot of the townspeople. She discussed the history of bars in Dillon, their location, how they made it through prohibition, and the relationship they had with prostitution. Many of the bars still stand in the same place today; they have just gone through some name changes and remodels. While others look almost the same. The night was a great way to hear about Dillons unspoken past along with getting a very unique history lesson. Don't worry if you missed out on this presentation; the museum has plans to host other presentations later in the year on various topics. Also according to Kristy she loves to talk history as she styles and clips hair.

Friday, November 19, 2023, first responders received a call of a single vehicle accident on Blacktail Road MM5. The truck was traveling into town when it took a turn too fast and rolled. Police and first responders were on scene to assist in the wreck. The driver of the vehicle sustained no injuries but was arrested for suspected DUI.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information WAXAHACHIE, Texas — The Montana Western volleyball team (22-6) traveled to no. 19 Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Texas) this afternoon and defeated the Lions in a 3-0 sweep. The Bulldogs win their fourth straight game and advance to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. How It Happened The Bulldog women took a commanding lead early in the first set, riding an 8-1 scoring run to take an 13-6 lead. Jordan Olson pounded a kill from the right-side down the stretch for an 18-11 lead. Her kill sparked a UMW run that saw a block from Martin and Olson and a kill for Martin. Despite allowing the Lions to pull three late points, Martin ended the Lions' last-ditch effort with a kill from the middle. Frame two featured both teams battling point-for-point with neither team taking more than a one-point lead early in the set. UMW utilized a service error to tie the game and kills from Martin and Jaiden Perez gave UMW the lead at 16-13. Though a SAGU timeout broke the rally, UMW got right back in the game and Perez recorded another kill capping off another quick 3-0 run. The Bulldogs outscored the Lions 6-3 down the stretch to take a 25-19 win and ride a 2-0 advantage into the final frame. Though claiming a quick lead following a pair of blocks in the front row, the Lions jumped back in the game and held a 14-11 lead over UMW. A kill from KayLee Kopp tied the game at 14 all. A kill from Peyton Vogl paired with an attack error put UMW back in the lead. The Lions fought their way back in the game and knotted the game at 18 all. UMW finished the game by outscoring SAGU 8-2 down the stretch to finish the sweep. Notables The Bulldogs outhit SAGU by a whopping .309 to .068 in the matchup while racking up 44 kills as a team in the game. SAGU totaled just 27 total. Today's win over SAGU marks the first win in postseason play for UMW and their first win in school history over SAGU. Martin led the way with 10 kills and three blocks. She hit .500 in the game with just one error. Vogl was a key contributor leading with five blocks. She also added seven kills. Kaylee Fritz and Taylor Petersen combined for 30 assists and 10.0 assists per set. Kelsey Goddard totaled 12 digs and three aces. Up Next The Bulldogs advance to the 2023 NAIA Volleyball Championships in Sioux City, Iowa that will be played from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5 at the Tyson Events Center. Matchups will be announced Sunday Nov. 19 at 4pm MT.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information LAKELAND, Fla. — The Montana Western women's basketball team (4-3) fell in a close matchup against the St. Thomas University Bobcats (4-2) to close out their trip to Florida. Joelnell Momberg hit a career-high five three-pointers. How It Happened The Bulldogs opened the game with a hot start, shooting 61.5 from the field to take a 24-22 lead into the second quarter. A layup and a three from Joelnell Momberg opened the game up for the Bulldogs to take a seven-point advantage. Momberg struck once again from the arc to continue to stretch the Bulldog lead. The Bobcats closed out the half on a quick 4-0 scoring run to close the gap to seven with UMW leading the game at 43-36 heading into the half break. St. Thomas opened the half with a 6-0 run, cutting the game down to a one-point deficit and forcing a Bulldog timeout three minutes into the third quarter. UMW finally got on the board after Kyla Momberg dished it out to Joelnell Momberg for a three-pointer. Sweeney extended the Bulldog lead to three as she hit a jumper from the top of the key with 5:12 on the clock. Joelnell Momberg and Shainy Mack answered the call and hit back-to-back threes for a 56-47 UMW lead with 2:30 left in the third quarter. The Bobcats made a push late in the third and cut back into the lead, with UMW carrying a 57-53 lead into the final ten minutes. St. Thomas kept knocking at UMW's door, hitting another three-pointer at the start of the fourth. With momentum on the side of the Bobcats, STU's McDonald gave the Bobcats the first lead of the half behind a three-pointer. STU added another three to give the Bobcats the lead at 66-59. Joelnell Momberg drained her fifth three-pointer of the game to break the STU 13-0 scoring run. Down 71-62 with 4:14 on the clock, the Bulldogs were unable to overcome the red-hot Bobcats. Despite last ditch efforts, UMW fell to St. Thomas by a final score of 84-74. Notables The Bulldogs led through the first three quarters but failed to keep up with the Bobcats as they outscored UMW 31-17 in the final frame. Joelnell Momberg hit a career high five three-pointers and dropped another career-high of 19 points in the matchup. Sweeney continued to lead the Bulldogs as she went a perfect nine for nine at the charity stripe and led the Bulldogs with 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal. Kyla Momberg tacked on seven rebounds. Up Next The Bulldogs will take a break from game play and will return to play on Dec. 8 as they travel to take on MSU Billings. The matchup is set for 6 p.m.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information DILLON, Mont. — The no. 8 ranked Montana Western football team and Frontier Conference champions are set to take on the No. 11 College of Idaho in the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series, the national office announced on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs will welcome the Yotes to Dillon on Saturday, November 25 at 1 p.m. The game is part of an eight-game slate across the NAIA with a trip to the quarterfinals up for grabs. The Bulldogs fell short to C of I in their regular season meeting after the Yotes converted a 25-yard touchdown pass as time expired to take the win. The rematch is set for 1:07pm MT on Saturday Nov. 25. Details on the matchup can be found here.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information LA GRANDE, Ore. — The Montana Western men's basketball team moved to 4-1 on the season this evening after they earned a hard-fought victory over Eastern Oregon (1-4). "Really proud of our team for staying together and winning on the road. We had a great week of preparation, and it showed in our performance tonight," Head men's basketball coach Pat Jensen said. How It Happened The first half set the tone for the Bulldogs as they built up a sizeable lead in the opening minutes of the game. A jumper from Abi Adedo combined with a jumper from Jalyn Stepney gave the Bulldogs an 11-point lead with 12:31 left in the half. The Mounties closed the gap and the two teams remained knotted through the first half at 47. The Bulldogs used a quick run with a three from Christian Pitcher paired with a double from Michael Haverfield to take an eight-point lead at 68-60 with 11:00 left in the matchup. The Mounties fought their way back and the two teams would continue to clash, battling for a favorable position with neither able to grab a sizeable lead. Stepney got the ball to fall in the bucket for some key points down the stretch, giving the Bulldogs a lead of six points with just 20 seconds remaining. Quincy Taylor sealed the victory by hitting a pair of free throws for the 89-83 win. Notables The Bulldogs extend their win streak to three games over the Mounties, with tonight's being their second win this season. Stepney led the way with 33 points for the Bulldogs, shooting 10-15 from the field and hitting 11 of 12 free throws. Kevin Bethel dished out four assists. Adedo added 16 points with five boards. Jacksen Burckley led the way with six rebounds. Up Next The Bulldogs will remain in La Grande, Ore. for another game today against Walla Walla University (Wash.). Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. MT.