DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western Men's and Women's basketball teams are preparing for a trip to Chandler, Arizona for the annual Cactus Classic tournament. The tournament will feature 21 teams from six different states across both the men's and women's side of the event. Of the 21 teams, four teams are featured in the NAIA's most recent Top 25 ratings and six more are receiving votes.
Men's Basketball
The Montana Western men's basketball team (6-6) will be playing three games in Chandler, Ariz. The Bulldogs head into the tournament with an overall record of 6-6 with their most recent matchup being their exhibition game against NCAA Division I opponent Idaho State University. Despite leading much of the game, the Bulldogs were unable to hang on to the lead and lost by just eight points. The Bulldogs also just downed No. 12 ranked Montana Tech in an upset win 67-64 on Dec. 3 in Dillon, Mont.
The Bulldogs are currently averaging 67.1 points per game behind a 43.5 shooting percentage. They are led by
Jamal Stephenson who is averaging 13.8 points per game.
Ky Kouba leads the Bulldogs from the three-point line as he averaged 2.5 three-pointers made per game. He is also leading the Bulldogs in rebounding as he averaged 4.0 per game, with a total of 44 on the season.
Friday, December 16th vs. #1 Arizona Christian University at 12:00pm (MT)
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Arizona Christian comes into the tournament riding a No. 1 national ranking and a 9-1 overall record. The Firestorm suffered their lone loss of the season against Westmont College in GSAC conference play a few weeks back in overtime.
ACU averages 80.8 points per game behind a 47.5 shooting percentage. They also shoot 34.2 percent from the three-point line, 40.4 rebounds, and 8.7 steals per game. The Firestorm are led by sophomore guard Trent Hudgens (15.3 ppg, 49.6 pct, 2.2 apg, 3.2 rpg), junior guard Paul Hayden (12.9 ppg, 51.0 pct, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 spg), and senior forward Bryce Davis (12.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 apg).
Sunday, December 18th vs. RV Hope International University (Calif.) at 12:00pm (MT)
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Hope International University comes into the tournament with an overall record of 6-3 and are receiving votes in the national rankings. Their three losses were to NCAA Division III opponent University of Redlands, No. 3 Arizona Christian University, and The Master's University.
As a team, the Royals are averaging 82.0 points per game and have a shooting percentage of 46.0 percent. They are also shooting 36.1 percent from the three-point line, average 38.7 rebounds per game, and 9.8 steals per game. The Royals are led by Jolani Horn (16.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.8 spg) and Charles Neal (16.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 spg).
Monday, December 19th vs. The Master's University (Calif.) at 2:00pm (MT)
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The Master's University comes into the tournament riding a five-game win streak and has an overall record of 9-3. The Mustangs lost earlier this season to the currently undefeated University of Antelope Valley, RV Ottawa University, and No. 3 ranked Arizona Christian.
The Mustangs are averaging 81.8 points per game as a team behind a 48.4 percent shooting percentage. They are also averaging 42.5 rebounds and 6.2 steals per game. The Mustangs are led by five players who are averaging double digit numbers per game. Kaleb Lowery leads TMU in boards as he averages 10.5 rebounds per game.
To view the full tournament schedule,
click here.
Women's Basketball
The Montana Western women's basketball team (6-2) will also be traveling to Chandler, Ariz. to compete in the Cactus Classic. The Bulldogs will also be squaring off with Ottawa University (Ariz.) on Saturday Dec. 17 prior to the tournament.
The Bulldogs are coming off of their first week of Frontier play where they went 1-1 overall. The Bulldogs lost to the No. 9 ranked Carroll College by 11 points, despite being down by just one point with three minutes to go. They bounced back and defeated Montana Tech at home on Dec. 3 by six points.
The Bulldogs are currently averaging 71.1 points per game behind a 42.1 shooting percentage. They are led by senior forward
Brynley Fitzgerald who is averaging 19.3 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Jordan Sweeney also averages 13.4 points per game, 3.3 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Saturday, December 17th vs. Ottawa University (Ariz.) at 2pm (MT)
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Ottawa University enters the matchup with an overall record of 5-7 on their season. As a team, the Spirit average 64.4 points per game with a 35.9 shooting percentage. They are also averaging 44.1 rebounds, 12.8, and 2.8 blocks per game. They are led by freshman forward Tiana Sledge (13.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.1 spg) and sophomore guard Marlee Johnson (10.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.5 spg).
Tuesday, December 20th vs. No. 14 Vanguard University (Calif.) at 4pm (MT)
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The No. 14 ranked Vanguard Lions come into the tournament with an overall record of 6-2 on the season with losses to William Jessup University and the No. 2 ranked Westmont Warriors. The Lions have made the NAIA National Tournament 24 times. In those 24 trips, they have made it to the semi-finals five times. The Lions hung the championship banner back in 2008. Coach Davis has 634 wins at Vanguard coming into this season.
The Lions are averaging 67.4 points per game on a 40.2 shooting percentage. They are also second in the nation in points per game allowed with an average of 47.5. The Lions snag 41.9 rebounds per game, along with 11.4 steals per game. They are led by freshman guard Halle Si'i (19.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.5 apg, 2.3 spg), junior center Melissa Akullu (15.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 2.3 spg), and senior guard Lauren Baumgartner (12.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.1 spg).
Wednesday, December 21st vs. RV Rust College (Miss.) at 2pm (MT)
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Rust College enter the tournament with an overall record of 4-2 on the season and is currently receiving votes nationally. They are averaging 68.7 points per game behind a team 40.7 shooting percentage. The Bearcats are also totaling 44.7 rebounds per game, 8.2 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game. They are led by junior center Katie Blackmon who is averaging 10.0 points per game with a 52.1 shooting percentage. She is also leading the team in rebounds per game with 9.8.
Thursday, December 22nd vs. Benedictine-Mesa (Ariz.) at 12pm (MT)
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The Redhawks enter the tournament at 1-7 overall this season. Their lone win was against GSAC opponent Ottawa University (Ariz.) in the opening game of the season. Since Nov. 4, the Redhawks have yet to win a game, despite losing in four of their games by a margin of just six points or less.
The Redhawks are averaging 62.9 points per game, along with a 37.2 shooting percentage. The Redhawks are led by junior guard Elise Young who is averaging 15.0 points per game and had a 33.3 shooting percentage. She also adds 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 2.0 assists per game.
To view the full tournament schedule,
click here.
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