HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Western women's basketball program (8-12, 6-10 FC) earned a near wire-to-wire win over (RV) Carroll (15-7, 13-3 FC) 63-51 Saturday evening in Helena.
The win marks the Bulldogs' first road win over the Fighting Saints in exactly six years, with the last victory in Helena coming Jan. 31, 2020.
"I thought we played really well this weekend," head coach
Ryan Sullivan said. " We stepped up to the challenge in both games on a very hard road trip and hand a chance to win both. To get a split on this one is big, as a lot of teams in our league have struggled to do so."
STAT BREAKDOWN
UMW shot 37.8000 percent (17-48) from the field, 39.1 percent (9-23) from beyond the arc, and 74.1 percent (20-27) from the foul line.
Western earned 31 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, and two blocks.
The Bulldogs posted 14 points in the paint, 18 points off turnovers, four second-chance points, and 18 bench points.
LEADERBOARD
Isabella Lund put up a game-high 23 points, followed by
Bailee Sayler with 18.
Sayler pulled down a team-best six boards
Tava Phillips dished out a team-high three assists.
Keke Davis earned a game-high three steals while she and
Ava Bellach each swatted a block for Western.
NOTABLES
Lund and Sayler shot a combined 52.4 percent (11-21) from the floor, 75.0 percent (6-8) from downtown, and 86.7 percent (13-15) from the line.
Davis posted her third multi-steal game in a row.
Lund scored over 20 points for the fourth time on the campaign.
Sayler drained four threes for the second-straight contest and sixth time this season.
The Bulldogs committed the third fewest turnovers of the season (11)
Western increased its streak of 10 or more assists to eight straight games.
UMW held Carroll to under 30.0 percent shooting from three, the eighth time this year that an opponent has shot less than that mark.
GAME SUMMARY
The hosts scored two free throws in the opening minute of the game, and then the Bulldog defense did not let them score again until there was just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Western led by as many as 11 in the period and was up 17-8 at the end of the first.
The Bulldogs stretched their lead to 14 mid-way through the second frame before the Fighting Saints cut the deficit to five with two to go.
Five-straight points (including a three from near half court) from Sayler to end the half put the Red and Black back up 10, 31-21, as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
UMW shot 38.5 percent (10-26) from the floor, 41.7 percent (5-12) from three, and 100.0 percent (6-6) from the line in the first half. The team registered 17 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in the opening 20 minutes.
The two sides traded buckets after the break, both scoring nine points to keep Western's lead at 10, 40-30, with 10 minutes remaining.
Carroll did not go quietly, clawing back within two halfway through the fourth.
A timely three from Sayler forced the hosts to foul to stay alive, but the Bulldogs were clutch at the line and drained all 12 free throws in the final minute to ice the game.
THE OPPOSITION
Carroll shot 33.3 percent (17-51) from the field, 22.7 percent (5-22) from three, and 80.0 percent (12-15) from the charity stripe. The Fighting Saints tallied 34 rebounds, nine assists, six steals, and three blocks. Willa Albrecht paced the team with 17 points while Meagan Karstetter (12) and Jillian Kanduch (11) were also in double figures. Kenzie Allen led the game in both rebounds (seven) and assists (four). Allen, Kanduch, and Isabelle Erickson each tallied two steals. Allen, Karstetter, and Gracie Millimen each posted one block.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs now return home for four straight contests. Up first, they welcome Bismarck State (2/6).
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!
