GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Montana Western women's basketball program (12-13, 10-11 FC) earned the season sweep over Providence (15-12, 11-10 FC) 71-67 Friday evening.
Keke Davis was the spark for the Bulldogs, shooting 78.6 percent (11-14) from the field for 29 points while also pulling down 11 boards.
"That might have been our best win of the season," head coach
Ryan Sullivan said. We were down five late and had incredible resolve to battle and get stops down the stretch.
Keke Davis had an unbelievable game and was a big difference maker for us offensively. Really happy for her to see that success tonight.
Isabella Lund did a great job of finding her teammates and finished with seven assists."
STAT BREAKDOWN
UMW shot 45.3 percent (24-53) from the floor, 31.3 percent (5-16) from downtown, and 75.0 percent (18-24) from the charity stripe.
The Bulldogs tallied 31 rebounds, 14 assists, six steals, and three blocks.
They posted 38 points in the paint, six points off turnovers, four second-chance points, and 17 bench points.
LEADERBOARD
Davis led all players in both points (29) and rebounds (11).
Bailee Sayler also finished in double figures with 13.
Lund dished out a game-high seven helpers while
Tayva Phillips snagged a team-best two steals.
Ava Bellach swatted a game-best two blocks.
NOTABLES
Davis earned a career-high in points and posted her third double-double of the season.
Lund posted at east five assists for the fourth time in the last five games.
Bellach registered her third multi-block game of the year.
Sayler scored in double-digits for the seventh-straight game.
Fifth-straight game with at least three team blocks.
Five made threes for the fourth time in five games.
GAME SUMMARY
It was a back-and-forth ball game in the opening 10 minutes, neither team leading by more than four. Providence held a three-point advantage, 16-13, at the end of the quarter.
The hosts would hold onto that lead throughout the second frame, though the Bulldogs did pull back to tie it more than once. The Argos led by one, 31-30, as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
UMW shot 39.3 percent (11-28) from the field, 33.3 percent (1-3) from beyond the arc, and 87.5 percent (7-8) from the foul line in the first half.
Western regained the lead with six minutes remaining in the third quarter and took a one-point lead, 50-49, into the final period.
The two sides once again traded buckets in the fourth, with Providence leading by five with just under five minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs dug deep and outscored UP 16-7 as time ran out to pull ahead and seal the win. Seven made free-throws down the stretch helped put the game away for good.
THE OPPOSITION
The Argos shot 44.8 percent (26-58) from the floor, 42.9 percent (6-14) from distance, and 69.2 percent (9-13) from the foul line in the contest. They registered 29 rebounds, 18 assists, eight steals, and one block. McKenna Reggear led the team with 20 points, followed by Brooke Dial (13) and Eliannah Ramirez (10). Dymon Root pulled down a team-best seven boards and swatted the lone block of the game for Providence. Ainsley Thurber and Ramirez tied for the team-lead in assists with five each. Dial snagged a game-high four steals.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow night when they face off at (RV) MSU-Northern. 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.
#GOBULLDOGS!
