DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western women's basketball program (7-8, 5-6 FC) heads to the Midwest this week for matchups at Bellevue (7-9, 3-8 FC) and #7 Dakota State (14-3, 9-2 FC).
 
SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 16
@ Bellevue – 4 p.m. MT/ 5 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Jan. 17
@ Dakota State – 4 p.m. MT/ 5 p.m. CT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
UMW split last weekend, falling to (RV) MSU-Northern 63-40 before earning a win against then-(RV) Providence 60-46.
 
Against the Skylights, Western shot 27.1 percent (16-59) from the floor, 21.4 percent (3-14) from three, and 62.5 percent (5-8) from the foul line. The team registered 34 rebounds, seven assists, 11 steals, and two blocks. Bailee Sayler led the team with 10 points while Keke Davis grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Brooke Deyak and Sammi Love shared the team-lead in assists with two apiece. Isabella Lund snagged a game-high three steals. Davis and Sayler both posted a block in the game.
 
Against the Argos, the Bulldogs shot 40.3 percent (25-62) from the field, 29.2 percent (7-24) from downtown, and 75.0 percent (3-4) from the charity stripe. They tallied 45 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals, and five blocks. Davis paced the team in both points (11) and steals (three) while also earning a game-high nine rebounds. Lund and Deyak tied for the game-high with four assists apiece. Kyle Pancost swatted a game-best four blocks.
 
THE PACK PERSPECTIVE
The Bulldogs are averaging 64.2 points, 38.2 rebounds, and 13.1 assists per game. They are shooting 39.3 percent from the floor, 32.8 percent from downtown, and 67.0 percent from the foul line. Additionally, Western is posting 8.9 steals and 3.1 blocks per game on the campaign.
 
Two Bulldogs are putting up double figures in scoring; Isabella Lund (12.6), Bailee Sayler (11.3). Keke Davis is pulling down a team-high 6.6 boards.  Lund also tops the team in assists (3.5) and steals (2.3). Sayler swats 1.3 blocks per game. Davis is shooting a team-high 47.4 percent from the field while Sayler leads in both three-point percentage (40.6) and free-throw percentage (84.0)
 
FROM DOWNTOWN
In the Frontier, UMW sits fourth in three-point percentage (32.8). Additionally, the team has hit at least six threes in all but two contests in 2025-26.
 
911? THERE'S BEEN A ROBBERY
Western has posted 10 or more steals in four of the last six games compared to just once in their first six outings of the season.
 
DEYAK'S DISHES
Brooke Deyak matched her career-high with four assists against Providence, including three in the fourth quarter to help seal the win for the Bulldogs.
 
NOT TODAY!
Kyle Pancost swatted a career-best four blocks against the Argos. She has tallied multiple blocks in four games this season.
 
TURNING THE TIDE
Ava Bellach posted nine fourth-quarter points, all from beyond the arc, against Providence to shift the momentum in UMW's favor for the win.
 
SHARING THE WEALTH
Every player who saw the court against the Argos scored and grabbed a rebound in the game.
 
SAYLER FOR THREEEEE!
Bailee Sayler ranks fifth in the Frontier in three-point percentage (40.6) and has made four or more threes in six games this season.
 
HOW MAY SHE ASSIST YOU?
Isabella Lund ranks third in the Frontier in assists (3.5). She has posted three or more assists in 11 games this season.
 
CRASH THE GLASS
Keke Davis was one rebound shy of a double-double against Providence, putting up 11 points and nine boards. She has five or more rebounds in 11 games on the year, including each of the last six contests.
 
JEWEL THIEF
Isabella Lund leads the Bulldogs and ranks second in the Frontier in steals per game (2.3). She has 11 multi-steal games on the campaign including seven straight.
 
THE OPPONENTS
Bellevue (7-9, 3-8 FC)
 

• The Bruins are posting 64.3 points, 37.8 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 6.1 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 39.9 percent from the floor, 34.0 percent from three, and 69.3 percent from the foul line.
• Zakiyyah Muhammad paces the team at 12.1 points per game, followed by Joy Beran (10.8).
• Muhammad also leads the team in rebounds (7.7) and blocks (1.0) per game.
• Drasoni Kyles dishes out a team-high 2.4 assists per game while Beran snags a team-best 1.1 steals.
• As a team, Bellevue sits 23rd in the NAIA in three-point percentage.
• Individually, Emma Russell is eighth in the nation in three-point percentage, shooting 47.8.

 
#7 Dakota State (14-3, 9-2 FC)

• The Trojans are putting up 81.8 points, 43.1 rebounds, 17.9 assists, 11.2 steals, and 4.2 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 32.2 percent from distance, and 62.3 percent from the line.
• Tabor Teel leads the team in points (15.9), rebounds (10.8), assists (4.2), and blocks (1.6).
• Caitlin Dyer (12.1) and Cierra Watkins (11.3) are also scoring in double figures.
• Watkins is tallying a team-high 2.0 steals per game.
• As a team, Dakota State is ranked in the top 25 in the NAIA in multiple categories, including sixth in three-point attempts (522), 10th in three pointers per game (9.9), 16th in both assists per game (17.9) and field goals per game (30.3), 19th in points per game (81.8), and 25th in blocks per game (4.2).
• Individually, Tabor Teel is sixth in the nation in defensive rebounds (141), seventh in total rebounds (184), 17th in rebounds per game (10.8), 21st in total assists (72), and 25th in total blocks (27).
• Watkins sits 25th in the country in field-goal percentage (58.1).

 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first-ever meeting between Western and Bellevue.
 
UMW are 1-0 all-time against Dakota State, with the Bulldogs earning the 60-56 victory in the lone meeting between the two sided (12/21/21).
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the weekend, UMW returns home to take on #12 Montana Tech in a rivalry matchup. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. MT.
   
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.

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