DILLON, Mont.- Montana Tech started their 2020-21 season off with an important victory over Montana Western, 69-57 on Saturday afternoon in Straugh Gymnasium.
Montana Tech (1-0), who had their preseason contests canceled due to a number of Covid-19 protocols jumped on the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory. The win over the Bulldogs is the first for the Diggers in Straugh Gymnasium since February 14, 2018.
The Orediggers trailed the Bulldogs 16-14 at the end of the first quarter and didn't score in the first 5:17 seconds of the second quarter before rallying back on a 10-to-3 run to go into the halftime traililng Western by only two, 26-24.
Propelling Montana Tech's run were a pair of treys out of
Mollie Peoples and
Mesa Williams. The Orediggers put the hammer down in the fourth quarter outscoring the Bulldogs 24-11 thanks to important low post baskets from
Tavia Rooney, Nia Faletoi, and
Brooke Heggie. The Orediggers shot 56-percent in the third quarter and and 43 percent in the fourth quarter to help the comeback effort.
Rooney led all scorers with 19 points and added 8 rebounds while
Mollie Peoples scored 15 markers.
Brooke Heggie added 10,
Mesa Williams tabbed 8, and
Aubrie Rademacher scored 6 in her Oredigger debut.
Dani Urick and
Celestina Faletoi added 5 points and
Jaden Comings scored 1 point.
Montana Tech shot 41-percent for the contest while Western shot 27.5-percent and finished the game 8-for-38 from three.
The Diggers take on the Bulldogs tomorrow at 2 p.m.
