This Week's Matchups
 
Frontier Conference Game #3
Montana Tech vs. #20 Rocky Mountain College
Jan. 9, 2020, 5:30 P.M. MST
First Interstate Arena, Billings, Mont.
Live Video 
Live Audio 

Frontier Conference Game #4
Montana Tech vs. #24 Montana Western
Jan. 11, 2020, 5:30 P.M. MST
Straugh Gymnasium, Dillon, Mont.
Live Video 
Live Audio 

Full Game Notes

Scouting the No. 20 Battlin' Bears
The Battlin' Bears of Rocky Mountain College are ranked No. 20 in the NAIA's latest poll and enter January with a 9-3 overall record. The Battlin' Bears are led in scoring and rebounding by Markaela Francis (17.2 PPG, 10.3 RPG) who recently was named the Frontier Conference Player of the Week after notching her 1,000th career point in Rocky's 88-55 victory over Mount Royal University. Rocky, who is coached by Wes Keller (sixth season), has boasted back-to-back 20 win seasons for the first time in school history. The Battlin' Bears are 11th in the nation defensively allowing opponents just 34.6% shooting from the floor.
 
Scouting the No. 24 Bulldogs
The Bulldogs of Montana Western are No. 24 in the NAIA and the defending NAIA National Champions. The Bulldogs are 8-5 overall and 1-1 in Frontier Conference play. Western, who is coached by Lindsay Woolley (eighth season), is 6th in the nation shooting 46% from the field. The Bulldogs are led by Paige Holmes (10.4 PPG), Gracey Meyer (10.3 PPG), and Jenni Weber (10.3 PPG). The Bulldogs are averaging 75.5 PPG and surrendering 56.5 PPG.

More Player of the Week Honors
Oredigger freshman Tavia Rooney was named the Frontier Conference's Player of the Week on Dec. 23 after averaging 15.6 PPG and 13.6 RPG  at the Phoenix Frontier Classic. Rooney and her counterpart Mesa Williams have each won the award twice so far this season.
 
League's Leading Combo
Montana Tech's Mesa Williams leads the Frontier Conference averaging 18.29 PPG while Tavia Rooney leads in rebounding (12.07 RPG). Williams is shooting 48.9% from the floor and 48.4% from three. Rooney is leading the Frontier Conference in double-doubles (8) and has had double-doubles in her last four games.
 
National Rankings
The Orediggers are receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the first time since January of 2017. The entire Frontier Conference was featured in the poll led by No. 11 MSU-Northern, No. 13 L-C State, No. 20 Rocky, No 24 Montana Western, and No. 25 Carroll College. University of Providence and Montana Tech are each receiving 6 votes in the poll.
 
Great Start
Montana Tech's 11-3 overall and 1-1 Frontier Conference record is the best for the program under Coach Carly Sanon.