DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western women's basketball program (8-12, 6-10 FC) welcomes Bismarck State (6-15, 6-10 FC) and Dickinson State (6-14, 4-12 FC) to Straugh Gymnasium for the first of two back-to-back home weekends.
 
SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 6
vs Bismarck State – 5 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Feb. 7
vs Dickinson State – 5 p.m. MT | Watch Live | Live Stats
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
UMW split last week, falling at #23 Rocky Mountain (79-67) before earning a commanding win over (RV) Carroll (63-51).
 
Against the Battlin Bears, the Bulldogs shot 44.6 percent (25-56) from the floor, 43.5 percent (10-23) from distance, and 63.6 percent (7-11) from the foul line. They tallied 24 rebounds, 16 assists, six steals, and two blocks. Bailee Sayler led the team with 20 points, followed by Maile Wilcox with 13. Wilcox grabbed a team-best eight rebounds while Isabella Lund dished out a team-best four assists. Wilcox and Keke Davis each registered two steals and one block.
 
Against the Fighting Saints, Western shot 37.8 percent (17-45) from the field, 39.1 percent (9-23) from downtown, and 74.1 percent (20-27) from the stripe. The team posted 31 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, and two blocks. Lund dropped a game-high 23 points with Sayler also reaching double-digits (18). Sayler also pulled down a team-high six rebounds. Tayva Phillips handed out a team-high three assists and Davis snatched a game-high three steals. Davis and Ava Bellach both posted a block.
 
THE PACK PERSPECTIVE
The Bulldogs are averaging 63.9points, 36.4 rebounds, and 13.5 assists per game. They are shooting 39.0 percent from the floor, 33.7 percent from downtown, and 68.8 percent from the foul line. Additionally, Western is registering 9.0 steals and 2.8 blocks per game on the campaign.
 
Two Bulldogs are putting up double figures in scoring; Isabella Lund (12.9), Bailee Sayler (11.5). Keke Davis is pulling down a team-high 6.2 boards.  Lund also tops the team in assists (3.9) and steals (2.1). Sayler swats 1.0 blocks per game. Davis is shooting a team-high 48.8 percent from the field while Deyak leads from beyond the arc (44.4) and Sayler tops the team from the foul line (83.3).
 
BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
UMW jumped back into the top 25 in three-point percentage, currently sitting 23rd in the nation (33.7).
 
STACKING UP
Western ranks third in the Frontier in three-point percentage (33.7) and fifth in both three-pointers per game (7.6) and assists (13.5).
SNAPPED A STREAK
The Bulldogs win over Carroll broke a 19-game losing streak against the Saints. Prior to the victory, Western had not won since Feb. 15, 2020, when they earned the 58-56 win at home. Additionally, it was six years to the day since the team earned a road win in Helena, with the last one coming Jan. 31 2020.
AUTOMATIC LIKE A FREE THROW
Western drained 12-of-12 free-throw attempts in the final minute of the game against Carroll. Isabella Lund knocked down eight in a row while Tayva Phillips and Maile Wilcox both made a pair to seal the win.
WALKING BUCKET
Bailee Sayler went off against Rocky Mountain and Carroll, shooting 48.1 percent (13-27) from the floor, 61.5 percent (8-13) from beyond the arc, and 50.0 percent (4-5) from the foul line on the weekend. She drained four threes in each game.
JEWEL THIEF
Keke Davis has poste three straight multi-steal games, including a game-high three steals against the Fighting Saints. She now has 10 games with at least two steals on the year.
BOXING OUT
Maile Wilcox pulled down a career-high eight rebounds against Rocky Mountain. She has posted five or more rebounds in three of her last four games.
MAKING A SPLASH
Isabella Lund dropped 23 points against Carroll. She shot 60.0 percent from the floor (6-10), 100.0 percent from three (2-2) and 90.0 percent from the line (9-10) in the contest. She has scored over 20 points in four outings this year.
THE OPPONENTS
Bismarck State (6-15, 6-10 FC)
 

• The Mystics are averaging 70.0 points, 35.2 rebounds, 12.2 assists. 6.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 33.8 percent from the floor, 29.1 percent from three, and 71.7 percent from the foul line.
• Kennedy Stormer leads the team I points (22.1), rebounds (6.1), assists (3.5), and steals (2.1).
• Ashley Martodam is also posting double figures with 10.0 points per game.
• In the NAIA, BSC ranks second in both three pointers made per game (10.9) and three-point attempts per game (37.5), fifth in total three-point attempts (229), 10th in fewest turnovers (12.5), and 17th in field-goal attempts per game (68.7.
• Individually, Stormer sits fifth in points per game (22.1), eighth in total points (465), and 12th in made free throws (114).
• In the Frontier, the Mystics are first in threes per game (10.9), fourth in points per game (70.0), and fifth in both free-throw percentage (71.7) and offensive rebounds (11.2).

 
Dickinson State (6-14, 4-12 FC)

• The Blue Hawks are putting up 62.4 points, 34.0 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 6.1 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game.
• They are shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 31.8 percent from three, and 77.0 percent from the charity stripe.
• Anhelica Shanrock paces the team with 10.9 points per game, followed by Kaylin Garza (10.8).
• Garza leads DSU in rebounds (4.9) steals (1.2), and blocks (1.7).
• J'ell Garfield dishes out a team-high 2.2 assists per game.
• Nationally, the Blue Hawks rank 10th in free-throw percentage (77.0)
• Individually, Garfield is 20th in three-point percentage (43.7).
• In the FC, Dickinson State is first in free-throw percentage (77.0) and fifth in field-goal percentage (41.3).

 
SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are 0-1 all-time against the Mystics, falling 87-74 in the first matchup between the two earlier this season (1/3/26).
 
UMW is 27-12 all-time against the Blue Hawks. They lost a narrow contest 63-60 in he first faceoff of the season (1/2/26).
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Western is back at home next weekend when they host Dakota State (2/13) and Bellevue (2/14) for the final two home games of the regular season.
   
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