DILLON — The University of Montana Western women’s basketball team traveled to Havre, Mont. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 to take on the Montana State University-Northern Skylights.
In January 2013, the Bulldogs beat the Skylights in Dillon, Mont. and had one of their best basketball games of the season winning 75-49. However, beating the Skylights in their own gym would prove to be more difficult.
Montana Western ended the first half up 13 points and had one of their better shooting nights as they shot 44 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. The Skylights, however, were not ready to give up. Northern came out in the second half and chipped away at the Bulldog lead until they finally had it cut down to two points with 1:33 left on the clock.
Montana Western came up with a couple big defensive stops down the stretch, including a forced a Skylight turnover with 39 seconds left and then another turnover with only 11 seconds left, which led to the Bulldog win with a score of 56-54. Montana Western ended the night shooting 42 percent from the field and 29 percent from the three-point line. The team will have to get better from the free throw line however, as they only shot 47 percent from the charity stripe.
Sammi Bignell and Alecia Wilson led the team in scoring with 12 points apiece while Roxy Thurman added nine points and Kaci Matthies chipped in seven points. Wilson and Bignell also led the team in rebound with both of them grabbing six boards.
The win pushes Montana Western to a 5-8 conference record, which means the team is tied for fifth place with Rocky Mountain College in the conference standings.
The Bulldogs will try to carry over this win as they take on the Carroll College Saints this Saturday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Straugh Gymnasium.
— Montana Western Sports Information
