DILLON, Mont. -- Despite 17 points from Brooklynn Hankwitz and 13 from Hadley Humphreys, the Montana Tech women's basketball team dropped a 72-68 Frontier Conference decision at Montana Western Thursday evening.

Tech (11-6, 2-2 Frontier) trailed in the early going but appeared in control headed into halftime, when the Orediggers led 42-34.

Montana Western (7-9, 2-2) got back into the game in the third period. After an Aubrie Rademacher free throw grew the Digger lead back to eight at the 8:02 mark, the Bulldogs charged back to take the lead with a 14-3 run. A couple layups — one by Humphreys and another from Hankwitz — got Tech back in front, however, and the Orediggers headed into the final period with a 54-52 advantage.

The fourth was a dogfight. Humphreys opened the quarter with a basket to grow the lead to four, but the Bulldogs quickly retook the lead. Brooke Badovinac helped the Orediggers get back into it, tying the game at 63 with a 3-pointer with 4:02 to go. Western took the lead for good on its next possession, thanks to a Trinidie Nichols layup, and hung on for the home win.

Tech won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding its host by a 43-27 margin, but the Diggers were hamstrung by 15 turnovers. Hankwitz added six rebounds and two assists to her line, while Humphreys totaled five boards, five assists, and two steals. Hallie Neibauer scored 12 points and four rebounds off the bench.

Kenzi Pedersen led all scorers with 20 points for Western.

The Orediggers will return home to take on 23rd-ranked Providence Saturday at 2 p.m. as Frontier Conference play continues.

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