DICKINSON, N.D. -- The 14th-ranked Montana Tech women's basketball team jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 75-59 Frontier Conference victory at Dickinson State Saturday evening. 

Hadley Humpherys set the pace for the Orediggers (12-1, 8-1 Frontier) with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Halle Haber scored 13 points and Brooke Badovinac and Olivia Nielson added 11 each. 

Montana Tech wasted no time getting the upper hand, starting the game on an 13-2 run. Humphreys began the barrage with a layup in the opening minute, and Nielson drained a 3-pointer at the 6:15 mark in the first period to extend the lead to double digits. 

DSU (4-9, 2-7) cut the lead down to three in the opening quarter, but another Orediggers run helped Tech to a 23-13 advantage headed into the second period. 

Tech earned more separation just before halftime, when Avery Carlson sank a 3 and Badovinac converted a layup at the buzzer. The Orediggers led 42-28 at the break. 

The Oredigger offense went cold in the second half, shooting just 10-for-26 from the field in the final 20 minutes, but the team earned 11 points at the free throw line and held the Blue Hawks to just 31 points after the break to seal the win. 

Saturday's victory put Montana Tech alone atop the Frontier Conference with an 8-1 record in league play. The Orediggers sit a game ahead of Dakota State, MSU-Northern, Rocky Mountain, and Carroll in the standings. 

Tech has won seven straight games and will return home to play host to MSU-Northern and Providence next weekend as conference play continues. 

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