October 2006
Lady Bulldogs Cruise To Third Straight Win
Sunday, October 29 2006
Four players scored in double figures as the University of Montana-Western Lady Bulldogs coasted to a 77-48 win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in a women’s non-conference college basketball game.
Montana-Western is 3-0 on the season while Saskatchewan falls to 4-3.
The Lady Bulldogs led at the half 33-20. The rich became richer as the Lady Bulldogs dominated the second half 44-28 to sail to a 77-48 win.
Montana-Western shot 54% from the field, while three players scored in double figures. Megan Schmitz led all scorers with 16 points. Katherine Sunwall added 12 points and 14 rebounds. Becky O’Neil and Jill Dana added 12 and 11 points respectively. Western's defense held Saskatchewan to 32% shooting.
Montana-Western begins an 8 game road trip when they travel to Salt Lake City to compete in the Westminster Tournament Nov. 9-11.
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Lady Bulldogs Edge Canadian Champs
Sunday, October 29 2006
Three players scored in double figures as Montana Western held off the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 69-64 in a women's non-conference basketball game from the Straugh Gymnasium.
The win raised Western's record to 2-0 while Saskatchewan fell to 4-2.
The Lady Bulldogs led 38-31 at the half and midway throught the second half built their lead to 17. The Huskies battled back and cut the Western lead to two at one point but could not overcome the Lady Bulldogs lead.
Megan Schmitz led Western with 22 points followed by Katherine Sunwall with 17 points and nine rebound. Becky O'Neil rounded out the double figure scoring with ten.
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Lady Bulldogs Host Canadian Champs
Thursday, October 26 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldogs host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in a non-conference women’s college basketball game, Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28. Both games tip-off at 5 p.m. from the Straugh Gymnasium.
The games will broadcast in Southwest Montana on KDBM AM Radio, 1490 on the AM-Dial.
Montana Western is 1-0 after last Friday’s 86-56 win over the University of Lethbridge. Senior Becky O’Neil led the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points followed by freshman Heather Brooks with 15 and Katherine Sunwall with 13 points and ten rebounds. Montana Western shot a sizzling 51% from the field while holding Lethbridge to 40%.
“In our first game against Lethbridge I thought we did some good things,” said Lady Bulldog coach Kevin Engellant. “Offensively we need to continue to take care of the ball and get good shots. Defensively we need to improve on limiting dribble penetration and giving the opposition one shot.”
The University of Saskatchewan is 4-1 on the season. Last year, the Huskies were 28-8 overall and 17-3 in the Central Division of the Canada West conference. Saskatchewan won the Canada West Tournament championship and placed sixth at the Canadian National Championships.
“The games this weekend will be tough games,” noted Engellant. “Saskatchewan is one of the top teams in Canada and they have two tremendous players in Sarah Crooks and Ashley Dutchack. Crooks is on their national team. She is 6-2 and is difficult to defend because she can score from down low and can also shoot the 3. Ashley Dutchack is a very athletic perimeter player who knows how to score. The Huskies have a good point guard, good size and they are well coached.”
Crooks leads the Huskies with 18.2 points a game followed by Dutchak with 13.2 per game. Saskatchewan averages 72.8 points per game while giving up 54.2.
After the weekend games, the Lady Bulldogs are off until Nov. 9-11 when they travel to Salt Lake City to compete at the Westminster Tournament. Saskatchewan travels to Helena to face Carroll College on Sunday, Oct. 29.
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Lady Bulldogs Roll To Easy Win
Tuesday, October 24 2006
Five players scored in double figures as the University of Montana Western Lady Bulldogs cruised to an easy 86-56 win over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns in a women’s non-conference college basketball game.
Montana Western is 1-0 on the season while Lethbridge falls to 0-1.
The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead before Lethbridge scored a point. The Pronghorns battled back and outscored Western 9-4 to cut the lead to 13-9.
The two teams traded baskets before Western gradually pulled away and led 49-27 at the half. The Lady Bulldogs shot a sizzling 57.6% from the field and held Lethbridge to 41%.
In the second half, Western cooled off and shot only 43% from the field and held the Pronghorns to 39%.
Becky O’Neil led Western with 18 points followed by Heather Brooks with 15, Katherine Sunwall with 13, Megan Schmitz and Jill Dana with 11 each. Sunwall led in rebounding with 10 followed by O’Neil with nine.
Jordana Miltimore was the only Pronghorn to score in double figures as she scored 14.
Montana Western returns to action on Friday, Oct. 27 as they host the University of Saskatchewan. Lethbridge will play in Butte against Montana Tech on Friday, Oct. 20
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Lady Bulldogs Tip-Off 2006-07 Season
Wednesday, October 18 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldog basketball team officially tips off the 2006-2007 season as they host the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, Thursday, Oct. 19. Tip-off is 6 p.m. from the Straugh Gymnasium.
The game will be broadcast over KDBM-AM, 1490 on the am radio dial.
Last year, Montana Western was 29-6 overall and 11-3 in Frontier Conference play. The Lady Bulldogs were the regular season and conference tournament champions and made their seventh straight trip to the NAIA national tournament. At nationals, Montana Western advanced to the Sweet-16. One of their 29 victories last season was a 73-56 win over Lethbridge in the season opener.
“We are looking forward to getting the season underway,” said Montana Western coach Kevin Engellant. “The first two weeks of practice have gone well but we are ready for a game. Lethbridge doesn't have a lot of size but they are very athletic and they really push the ball on offense.”
Engellant, in his 11th season, has the luxury of building his 2006-07 team around last year’s leaders in both scoring and rebounding.
Becky O’Neil (6’0”) of Kalispell, led the team in scoring with sixteen points a game. She was second in rebounding with 8.1 per game. Megan Schmitz (5’6”) of Great Falls, Mont., was second in scoring with 14.2 points per game. Katherine Sunwall (6’1”) of Great Falls, Mont., led the team in rebounding with 10 rebounds per game and was third in scoring with 13 points per game. Sunwall won the league field goal percentage tile and was fourth in the nation. All three players earned 1st team All-Conference honors with O’Neil being named ‘Newcomer of the Year’ and Sunwall being named ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ for the second straight season. The three players also earned NAIA All-American honors.
Also returning from last year are seniors Crystal Kain (5’6”) from Charlo, Mont. and Jennell Day (6’0”) from Olympia, Wash.; juniors Laura Shea (5’10”) of Whitefish, Mont. and Colette Behrent (5’9”) from Columbus, Mont. and sophomore Genna Rucker (5’8”) from Bozeman, Mont.
Newcomers include junior Jill Dana (5’10”) of Forsyth, a transfer from Miles Community College; sophomore Kaylee Williams (5’5”) of Seeley Lake, Mont., a transfer from Belhaven College; and freshman Heather Brooks from Stoughton, Wis.
Our seniors are providing great leadership and our new players are picking things up very quickly,” added Engellant. “This team should be really fun to watch. With Sunwall and O'Neil, we obviously have a very strong post game, but we also have the perimeter shooting to help open up the post area.”
Western will play home games October 27 & 28 against the University of Saskatchewan before spending the entire month of November on the road.
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Malta Hoop Star Signs With Lady Bulldogs
Friday, October 13 2006
Kelly Pankratz, a 5’5” guard from Malta, has signed a NAIA/Frontier Conference letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Montana Western, according to head coach Kevin Engellant.
Last year, Pankratz averaged 18 points, four assists and three steals per game as Malta went 24-5. She is a three-time first team All-Conference selection, a two-time All-State selection and was twice selected the conference ‘MVP’. At the Class B State Basketball tournament, Pankratz was a 1st team All-Tournament selection. She has scored 1,274 career points as she enters her senior season at Malta.
“We are thrilled that Kelly has chosen Montana Western to continue her playing career.” said Engellant. “We feel that she is one of the top guards in the state will make an immediate impact in our program.” Kelly is a tremendous shooter and has a great understanding of the game. She comes from a very successful high school program and has the work ethic to be an outstanding player in the Frontier Conference.”
Pankratz also competes in track where she has qualified three times in the javelin for the state track and field championships.
She is the daughter of Bill and Laura Pankratz and will graduate in the spring of 2007 from Malta High School.
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Lady Bulldogs Picked First
Thursday, October 12 2006
In a pre-season poll of Frontier Conference women’s basketball coaches, last year’s regular season and tournament champion University of Montana Western was picked to win the 2006-2007 league title. Carroll College and Lewis-Clark tied for second in the balloting followed by MSU-Northern, Montana Tech, Rocky Mountain, Westminster College and the University of Great Falls. Montana Western and Lewis-Clark received three first place votes with Carroll receiving two.
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Lady Bulldogs Open 2006-2007 Hoop Season
Monday, October 2 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldog basketball team officially opened their 2006-07 season on Monday, Oct. 2 with the first practice of the year.
Last year, Western finished with an overall record of 29-6 and a conference mark of 11-3. The Lady Bulldogs won both the Frontier Conference regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the seventh straight season. At nationals, Western advanced to the Sweet-16 before losing to Oklahoma Baptist.
Head Coach Kevin Engellant, in his eleventh season, will build his 2006-2007 squad around a talented group of returning players and newcomers.
Starters Crystal Kain (5’6”, Charlo, Mont.), Becky O’Neil (6’0”, Kalispell, Mont.), Katherine Sunwall (6’1”, Great Falls, Mont., and Megan Schmitz (5’6”, Great Falls, Mont.) return for their senior season. O’Neil, Sunwall and Schmitz earned All-Conference and All-American honors last season.
Also returning from last year, senior Jennelle Day (6’0”, Olympia, Wash.), juniors Colette Behrent (5’9”, Columbus, Mont.) and Laura Shea (5’10”, Whitefish, Mont.) and sophomore Genna Rucker (5’8”, Bozeman, Mont).
Add to the lineup, transfers Jill Dana (5’10”, Forsythe, Mont.) from Miles Community College and Kaylee Williams (Seeley Swan, Mont.) from Belhaven College and freshman Heather Brooks (Stoughton, Wis.)
“Everyone is excited to get practice underway,” said Engellant. “We have a great group of returnees who are providing outstanding leadership and the new players are fitting in very well. Our first game is just over two weeks away so we have a lot of work to do between now and October 19.”
Western opens the season on Oct. 19 with a home game against the University of Lethbridge.
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