Dillon, Mont. – The No. 20 Montana Western Bulldogs (23-7, 11-7) flexed their muscles Tuesday night. Dominating the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears (13-18, 5-13) 76-47 in the opening game of the Frontier Conference playoffs.
The Bulldogs, who won their first playoff game in three years, received a solid team effort, and easily dismissed the Battlin' Bears.
After trading baskets on the first few possessions, the teams seemed to be feeling each other out, even though this was the fourth time they had faced each other this season.
The Bulldogs started to distance themselves from the Bears.
Jill Jacobs (Camano Island, Wash.)
Sierra Bignell (Avon, Mont.) and
Cierra Lamey (Wise River Mont.) each hit clutch three's late in the second quarter. After shooting just 29 percent in the first half. The Bulldogs shot 57 percent int he second half. "We started to hit shots." head coach
Lindsay Woolley said.
The Bulldogs added to their lead early in the third, and never eased up. "Our bench hit some shots, and continued to score," coach Woolley added, "it gave us an opportunity to give our starters a much needed rest."
Aniese Palmore (Santa Monica, Calif.) hit three straight from beyond the arc early in the third, finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Taylor Howlett (Spokane, Wash.) scored 12 and had five assists. Lamey and Bignell each had 10 points.
Dani Baker (Missoula, Mont.) was perfect shooting 3-3 and 2-2 from downtown, scored eight. Baker and Bignell each had season highs in points.
Darby Schye (Malta, Mont.) scored four points, three rebounds, and three assists.
The Bulldogs will travel to Havre, to take on the No. 12 MSU-Northern Skylights on Friday March 3, in the semi-final round of the conference playoffs. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
