HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Tech women's basketball team outscored no. 19 Carroll College 32-14 in the second half erasing a 14-point first-half deficit to earn a 48-44 victory at the PE Center Thursday night.
The Diggers connected on just four field goals in the first half but shot 52.0 percent (13-25) in the second half. Tech defense played a huge role limiting Carroll to shot 32.7 percent for the game and just 23.1 percent in half number two. The Digger defense limited the Saints to shoot 10.5 percent (2-19) from beyond the arc.
Following a sluggish first half, the Diggers connected five of their first seven shots in the second half to pull within eight (34-26). The Saints' Cassidy Haashley hit a jumper to give CC the 38-30 edge with 12:28 remaining, however the Montana Tech defense would limit Carroll to just one field goal for the next seven minutes.
Senior
Kabri Emerson pulled Tech to within four (38-34) after hitting back-to-back buckets midway through the half. Forward
Kayla DeWit hit a layup with 4:55 to tie up the contest at 42 all. Following a Carroll miss,
Hattie Thatcher drove down the lane and hit a mid-range jumper to give Tech their first lead of the contest at 44-42. Late in the half Carroll's Bailey Snelling hit two free throws pulling the Saints within two. Following a miss free throw by Tech with 13 seconds left, Carroll pushed down the court but Tech's defense forced a turnover. The Saints fouled Emerson who hit both free throws in the one-and-one to seal the victory for Tech.
The Diggers (9-17, 1-10 Frontier) earned their first conference win of the season thanks to a balanced offense. DeWit was the only Tech player to score in double figures with 10 points. Thatcher chipped in with nine points, a career- and team-high 11 rebounds in 37 minutes of action.
Martha Dembek added six points and seven rebounds.
Carroll (16-9, 7-4 Frontier) was paced by Snelling who had a game-high 12 points.
The Diggers look to build off the victory when they head to Billings Saturday to take on Rocky Mountain at 5:30 p.m.
