DILLON— The Montana Tech Orediggers used a 46 point second half to defeat previously undefeated (RV) Montana Western in Straugh Gymnasium Thursday night, 70-65.

The win over the Bulldogs in Dillon is the first for Montana Tech's Women's team since the 2010-2011 season and the second win against a team featured in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches' Poll.

Sparked by a third quarter where the Diggers outscored Western 26-to-15 Montana Tech was able to overcome a 37-24 halftime deficit.

After Western made two threes in the opening moments of the third quarter, Montana Tech went on a 10-0 run in the next two minutes. In that stretch Martha Dembek made two threes and a two point bucket while Hattie Thatcher added a pair of free throws to bring the Diggers within striking distance.

Montana Tech took their first lead of the game on a Hattie Thatcher layup with 5:56 left in the contest.

Martha Dembek and Hattie Thatcher scored 27 and 20 points respectively in the Digger victory. Dembek was a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe and snagged nine rebounds for Montana Tech.

The Diggers shot just 33.3 percent from the floor but made 28-of-34 free throws on the night while holding Western to just 36.1 percent shooting.

Aniese Palmore scored 19 points to lead Montana Western.

Montana Tech improves to 8-7 overall and 2-2 in Frontier Conference play while Western drops to 13-1 and 2-1 in conference.

Montana Tech is back in action when they travel to Rocky Mountain College to take on the Battlin' Bears Saturday night.