LA MIRADA, Calif. — The rides at Disney Land and Six Flags will be a little bit more fun than usual for the Montana Tech women's basketball team this weekend.
The Orediggers will be all smiles as they head to play after closing out the Biola University Holiday Classic with a 79-61 win over Hope International Friday night.
“I told them it's business until Friday, then we get to go play,” Tech coach Kerie DePell said.
The Orediggers were all business in the second half Friday, using a trapping defense to open a 45-38 halftime lead.
“We let them hang with us in the first half,” DePell said. “In the second half we came out firing.”
Senior Brianne McClafferty came off the bench to lead four Orediggers in double figures with 20 points.
McClafferty, who didn't start while DePell tinkered with her lineup in preparation for the Frontier Conference season, also grabbed 10 rebounds as the Orediggers outrebounded Hope 59-25.
“She was outstanding,” DePell said of McClafferty.
Freshman Mandy Machinal scored 18 points, while Tabitha Tomlinson scored 11 and Kelsey DeWit posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
Dannielle Devenny added nine points for Tech, and Bryn Hasquet scored seven.
Tomlinson dished out seven assists in the victory that closed Tech's non-conference schedule at 5-7.
Lauren Salazar scored 21 to lead Hope, which fell to 3-11.
The Orediggers closed the Biola with a 1-2 showing, losing to a pair of ranked teams in Vanguard University and Azusa Pacific.
Next week, the Orediggers open the Frontier season by welcoming Westminster College and Lewis-Clark State College to the HPER Complex. Both teams are ranked.
DePell said she's hoping Friday's win will be a stepping stone to starting the Frontier season on the right foot.
“Hopefully it will give us confidence going into a big weekend,” she said
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http://mtstandard.com/sports/college/tech-women-end-year-in-style/article_95fa5c14-3370-11e1-b915-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1iPfOxrw7
Tech Falls to No. 11 Azusa Pacific
LA MIRADA, Calif. — The Montana Tech women's basketball team gave a good effort, but fell 84-65 against No. 11-ranked Azusa Pacific in La Mirada, Calif. Thursday.
Tech head coach Kerie DePell noted that her team gave a nice second half push before Azusa Pacific pulled away.
“We were down 12 or so with about five minutes left,” she said. “It could have gone either way, then they went on a run.”
Azusa Pacific held a 42-35 lead at halftime. The Cougars outscored the Orediggers 42-30 in the second half.
Amber Williams was the high scorer of the game for Azusa Pacific with 31 points. Her 11-for-22 shooting from the floor was a big part in the Cougars 42 percent shooting performance as a team.
The Orediggers were led in scoring by freshman Mandy Machinal with 21 points. Senior Brianne McClafferty tallied 14 points in 26 minutes of action.
The Orediggers had a 10-point game from sophomore Bryn Hasquet.
After the game, coach DePell was happy with how her team fought.
“I am really proud of our girls,” she said. “We're so young and being able to compete at a high level with a team that's No. 11 in the country, that was good for us.”
DePell noted the play of McClafferty as she came off of the bench and was in the flow of the game right away. She also credited Hasquet for her defensive play.
“Just another good team effort,” DePell said. “We're getting better every time we step on the court.”
The loss put Tech at 4-7 for the season.
The Oredigger women return to action Friday with a game against Hope International University at the Biola tourney.
Read more:
http://mtstandard.com/sports/college/tech-western-women-fall-on-the-road/article_4dcf6348-32a9-11e1-ab84-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1iPgL6LD9
