By MT Tech Sports Information

BUTTE, Mont. – The Montana Tech women’s basketball team struggled on offense and the No. 15 Montana Western Bulldogs ran away with a 71-47 victory.

The Orediggers (7-14, 3-8) dropped their third game of the season to the Bulldogs (21-3, 9-2) who won their fourth straight game.

Tech hit just 2 of 13 in the first quarter as Western rushed out to a 16-9 lead after the first quarter. The Bulldogs widened the margin to 38-17 at halftime shooting 50% from the field in the first half. Tech went 5 for 26 from the field before the break.

The Tech offense found traction in the second half, but the deficit was too large to overcome. The Orediggers finished the game shooting 31.4% from the field and hit 4 of 14 from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs finished shooting 47.5% from the field and made 11 of their 29 three-point attempts. Western had the advantage on the boards outrebounding Tech 36-29 and finished with 18 assists.

Aubrie Rademacher led the Orediggers with 11 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Rademacher shot 4 for 9 from the field and hit 2 for 4 from three-point range.

Tavia Rooney had 10 points and six rebounds.

Brynley Fitzgerald led the Bulldogs with 26 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Fitzgerald finished with four assists and two steals.

Emily Cooley had 10 points and six rebounds.

Montana Tech has another ranked opponent this week when the No. 22 Rocky Mountain Battlin’ Bears come to the Mining City Saturday. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.