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UMW Women’s Basketball Opens 2025-26 Season at Peggy Sarsfield Basketball Weekend

UMW Women’s Basketball Opens 2025-26 Season at Peggy Sarsfield Basketball Weekend

October 31, 2025
DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western women's basketball program begins its 2025-26 campaign on the road at the Peggy Sarsfield Basketball Weekend in Butte. Due to scheduling conflicts, the Bulldogs will face off against #15 Southern Oregon Saturday in Butte, but will return to Dillon to host (RV) College of Idaho on Sunday.
 
 SCHEDULE 
Saturday, Nov. 1
Game 1: UMW vs. #15 Southern Oregon – 7 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
Butte, Mont.
 
Sunday, Nov. 2
Game 2: UMW vs. (RV) College of Idaho – 2:30 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
Dillon, Mont.
 
 THE PACK PERSPECTIVE 
The Bulldogs are looking to improve on the 2024-25 season, which saw them finish sixth in the Frontier with a 7-21 overall record (2-13 FC).
 
Returners
Head Coach Ryan Sullivan returned eight student-athletes from last year's squad, including seniors Isabella Lund and Keke Davis. Both Lund (9.9 ppg) and Davis (8.4 ppg) were in the top five scorers for UMW in 2024-25.
 
Also back for Western are redshirt-freshmen Brooke Deyak, Kasey Hendren, and Kyle Pancost, as well as sophomore Sammi Love, redshirt-sophomore Mila Hawk, and Junior Ava Bellach. Bellach joins Davis as one of two returners to appear in all 28 games for the Bulldogs last season.
 
Newcomers
UMW bolstered this season's roster with seven newcomers. True freshmen Rina Gottula, Kensi Dorn, and Grace Murgel will add depth in all aspects of the game while transfers Maile Wilcox, Gio Horner, Bailee Sayler, and Tayva Phillips will bring needed experience.
 
 FRESH FACES 
In addition to the seven new players, Western women's basketball also has a new coaching staff. First-year head Coach Ryan Sullivan takes the helm after an accomplished stint at Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Wyoming. Sullivan brought Wes Knox on board to serve as assistant coach.
 
 2025 SEASON SNAPSHOT 
The Bulldogs are on the road for six of their first seven contests in 2025-26. Notable road games include Montana Tech (11/28), Weber State (12/9), Rocky Mountain (1/30), and Carroll (1/31).
 
In total, UMW will host 13 games at home in Straugh Gymnasium. Important contests include Carroll (12/5), Rocky Mountain (12/6), Briercrest (12/18), and Montana Tech (1/23).
 
 PRESEASON RANKINGS 
Montana Western Women's Basketball was tabbed 11th on the 2025-26 Frontier Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. New conference member Dakota State landed in the top spot in the poll, with Carroll and Rocky Mountain sharing second place.
 
 THE OPPONENTS 
Southern Oregon
  • Picked third in CCC preseason poll and landed #15 in the NAIA women's basketball preseason rankings.
  • Returning eight players from the 2024-25 season, including Bridgette McIntyre (10.2 ppg) and Eliza DiGuilio (8.7 ppg), both of whom were in the top five scorers last season.
  • McIntyre led SOU in three-point percentage (.441) and finished third in free-throw percentage (.872), fourth in steals (1.0), and fifth on the team in rebounds. (3.3).
  • Keeley Wright ranked fourth on the Raiders in assists last season (1.8) and was third in field-goal percentage (.500).
 
College of Idaho
  • Tabbed fourth in CCC preseason poll and received votes in the NAIA women's basketball preseason rankings.
  • Brought back 10 players from last season including the top five scorers, Brooke Beresford (10.8), Anna Mooney (9.4), Kylie Waltermeyer (8.9), Mia Austin (8.5), and Taryn Riley (8.0).
  • Those five also ranked two through six in rebounding average for the Yotes last season.
  • Mooney and Riley were first and second on the team in assists at 2.6 and 2.1, respectively. Riley paced the team from beyone the arc, shooting .415 while Mooney was second at .398.
  • Waltermeyer led the team in steals with 1.4 per game.
  • Beresford swatted a team-best 0.8 blocks and led the team in field-goal percentage (.434).
 SERIES HISTORY 
The Bulldogs are 2-1 all-time against the Raiders, with the last matchup between the two sides ending in a 75-56, victory for UMW in Dillon in 2019.
 
Western is 33-6 all-time against the Yotes. In their last meeting in 2023, the Bulldogs took home the 83-65 win.
 
 LOOKING AHEAD 
Following the weekend, UMW head to Lewiston, Idaho, to compete in the Twin Rivers PT Classic Nov. 7-8. They will take on tournament host LC State and Eastern Oregon.  
 
 
For complete coverage of UMW Women's Basketball, be sure to follow us on social media at @umw_wbb (Instagram), @umw_wbb (X), and @Montana Western Athletics (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!
 
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