BUTTE, Mont. -- The Montana Tech women's basketball team returned to its winning ways Thursday evening, opening the home portion of its Frontier Conference schedule with a 65-55 win over MSU-Northern.

Hadley Humphreys scored 13 points to go with eight rebounds, both team-highs for the Orediggers (10-5, 1-1 Frontier), while Brooke Badovinac and Aubrie Rademacher scored nine points each. Brooklynn Hankwitz and Liv Wangerin added eight points apiece for Tech.

After a few back-and-forth early minutes, Montana Tech took control, closing the first period on a 15-6 run. The Orediggers continued to pull away in the second, leading 41-19 by halftime. Humphreys was the catalyst; the junior scored 12 of her 13 points in the first half.

Tech withstood some hot third-period shooting by Northern and closed the quarter with eight straight points, pushing the lead back over 20. The Skylights began to chip away again in the late going. A Maddie Williamson free throw cut the hosts' lead to just nine, but the Orediggers allowed their guests to get no closer.

Taya Trottier led the way for the Skylights (10-5, 1-1) with 13 points.

Montana Tech will stay home for another conference game Saturday at 2 p.m. against No. 21-ranked Carroll College.

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