BISMARCK, N.D. -- Halle Haber scored 21 points, Olivia Nielson added 19 off the bench, and the No. 14-ranked Montana Tech women's basketball team opened 2026 with a 96-76 road win at Bismarck State Friday evening. 

The Orediggers (11-1, 7-1 Frontier Conference) scored their most points of the season behind a 48-percent shooting effort from the field and a perfect 14-for-14 effort at the free throw line. 

Tech jumped out to an early lead with a 19-9 run to start the game and led by 11, 31-20, after the first quarter. Nielson scored 10 in that opening frame, and Haber had nine points in the first 10 minutes of play. 

The Orediggers extended their lead to 52-35 by halftime and cruised to the win. 

Liv Wangerin added 13 points, eight rebounds, and six assists for Montana Tech, and Kylie Konen scored seven points along with five rebounds and four blocked shots. 

Kennedy Stormer led Bismarck State (1-11, 1-7) with 23 points. 

Montana Tech will continue its year-opening road trip Saturday with a 5 p.m. Mountain time tip at Dickinson State. 

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