November 2006
Lady Bulldogs Host Dickinson State
Wednesday, November 29 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldogs host the Dickinson State Blue Hawks in a women’s non-conference college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 2. Tip-off is 6 p.m. from the Straugh Gymnasium.
The game will be broadcast in Southwest Montana on KDBM Radio, 1490 on the dial.
Montana Western is 11-0 after winning three games at the Sarsfield Classic in Butte. The Lady Bulldogs beat Grand View College 63-53, Dickinson State 73-63 and Doane College 61-49.
Dickinson fell to 2-5 after losing three at the Sarsfield Classic. In addition to their loss to Western, the Blue Hawks lost 74-84 to Montana Tech and 57-76 to Carroll College.
Against Dickinson at the Sarsfield Classic, the Lady Bulldogs dominated the first half and led 37-16 at the break. The Blue Hawks were on fire in the opening minutes of the second half and outscored Western 26-12 to cut the Lady Bulldog lead to seven. That was as close as they would get. In the victory, Becky O’Neil led Western with 20 points followed by Katherine Sunwall with 16 and Megan Schmitz with 15.
Ashley Bakich led Dickinson in the loss to the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points, followed by Andrea Staley with 12 and Brittany Mesa with 11.
“Dickinson is a very athletic and capable team,” said Western coach Kevin Engellant. “When we played them last week in Butte, it was two different halves. We played well and got a big lead the first half, and in the second half we lost our intensity and allowed them to get back in the game. They have several different players that can shoot the three, so we need do a good job of finding their perimeter shooters and not let them get going.”
Downs leads Dickinson in scoring with 11.7 ppg followed by Mesa with 11 and Staley with 10.8. The Blue Hawks average 67 ppg while giving up 77.5.
Sunwall leads Western in scoring with 15.4 ppg followed by O’Neil with 14.8 and Schmitz with 12.8. Sunwall also leads the team in rebounding with 9.3 rebounds followed by O’Neil with 8.2. The Lady Bulldogs average 73.5 ppg while giving up 56.5.
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Western Women Win Three At Sarsfield Classic
Monday, November 27 2006
Montana Western remained unbeaten with three wins at the Sarsfield Classic in Butte, Mont. over the weekend.
Western is 11-0 after beating Grand View College 63-53, Dickinson State 73-63 and Doane College 61-49.
Against Grand View, Western trailed most of the first half. The Bulldogs were icy cold from the field and hit 2 of 12 field goals in a stretch that saw Grand View build a 14-5 lead. Western trailed at the half 26-30.
In the second half, Western used the first five minutes to get back in the game. A Crystal Kain 3-pointer at the 15:30 mark tied the game. Grand View then roared back and built a 51-46 lead. The Bulldogs clawed back and took their first lead on a Becky O'Neil layup at the 5:30 mark. Grand View was then forced to foul for possession and Western put the game away at the free throw line.
Kain led the team in scoring with 13 followed by Katherine Sunwall with 11. Western hit 25 of 31 free throws.
In the Saturday game against Dickinson, the Western women dominated the first half. The Bulldogs led 16-5 after the first nine minutes and built the lead to 29-11 with three minutes left in the half. The Bulldogs led 37-16 at the break.
Dickinson opened up the second half by outscoring the Bulldogs 26-12 to cut the lead to seven 42-49 with eight minutes remaining. That was as close as Dickinson got.
Becky O'Neil led Western with 20 points followed by Katherine Sunwall with 16 and Megan Schmitz with 15. On the boards, Sunwall led with 12 followed by O'Neil with eight.
In the Sunday afternoon finale, the Bulldogs traded baskets and leads with Doane College in the game's first thirteen minutes. Doane's last lead came at the 7:39 mark, 19-17. A Megan Schmitz three-pointer gave the Bulldogs the lead back, and it was a lead they would never lose. Western led at the half 32-25.
In the second half, the Bulldogs gradually put the game the game away. Doane cut the lead to four several times, but that was a close as they would get. Western's defense held Doane to one field goal in the game's final 4:41.
Schmitz led Western with 23 points followed by Becky O'Neil with 17 and Katherine Sunwall with 12.
Western hosts Dickinson State on Saturday, Dec. 2. Tip-off is 6 p.m. from Straugh Gym.
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Montana Western Plays Three At Sarsfield Classic
Wednesday, November 22 2006
The Montana Western women’s basketball team travels to Butte, Mont. for three games at the Sarsfield Classic, Friday, Nov. 24, Saturday, Nov. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 26.
Western plays the Grand View College Vikings Friday at 6 p.m., the Dickinson State Blue Hawks on Saturday at 4 p.m. and the Doane College Tigers Sunday at 3 p.m.
Montana Western is 8-0 on the season after two wins at the Mountain West Bank Classic last weekend in Helena, Mont.
At the tourney, Western defeated Concordia of Oregon 75-51 and Bethany University 77-49.
Grand View College is an NAIA Division II school from Des Moines, Iowa. The Vikings are members of the Midwest Classic Conference. Grandview is 4-3 on the season after going 1-1 last weekend at the Luther Tip-Off Tournament. The Vikings beat Crown College 71-29 and lost to Luther 54-65. Grandview averages 68 points a game while giving up 59.7.
“Grand View has a strong post game and they rebound very well,” said Western coach Kevin Engellant. “They are very patient offensively and do a good job of getting the ball to their posts.”
Dickinson State, an NAIA Division II school and members of the Dakota Athletic Conference, are 2-2 on the season. The Blue Hawks have lost twice to MSU-Northern, 58-72 in Havre and 70-73 at Dickinson. Dickinson has beat the University of Great Falls twice, 75-71 in Great Falls and 72-55. The two teams played at a tournament last year with Western winning 71-47. Dickinson averages 55 points a game and gives up 68.7.
“Dickinson has a very talented and athletic post in LaDaonna Downs and several players who can shoot from the perimeter.” noted Engellant. “We need to keep Downs off the boards and do a good job defending their guards.”
Doane College is an NAIA Division II school from Crete, Neb. The Tigers are members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference and currently 6-1 on the season and 2-0 in conference play. They downed conference rival Dana College 90-81 onTuesday. Their lone loss was a 63-68 defeat at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The Tigers average 73.1 points per game while giving up 65.6.
“Doane is a very solid basketball team,” added Engellant. They shoot the ball extremely well and are very disciplined on offense. They play in a very good league. The last six NAIA Division II National Champions have
come from this conference.”
Three players average in double figure scoring for Montana Western led by Katherine Sunwall with 16.3 followed by Becky O’Neil with 14.6 and Megan Schmitz with 11.9. Western averages 76.5 points a game while giving up 57.1.
“All three games will be good tests for us,” said Engellant. “They are games that we have to play well to win.”
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Western Stays Unbeaten
Sunday, November 19 2006
The Bulldogs ran their record to 8-0 with a 77-49 romp over Bethany University of California at the Mountain West Bank Classic in Helena, Saturday night.
Western led 36-21 at the half and outscored Bethany 41-28 in the second half.
The Bulldogs hit 12 of 25 three-point field goals led by Heather Brooks who went 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Overall, Western hit 28 of 55 from the field. Western's defense forced 20 turnovers including 13 steals.
Katherine Sunwall led Western with 16 points followed by Brooks with 14. It was another balanced scoring effort with nine players scoring for Western. Sunwall led in rebounding with nine followed by Becky O'Neil with eight.
Western returns to action with three games at the Sarsfield Classic in Butte Friday, Nov. 24, Saturday, Nov. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 26. Western's first opponent is Grandview State Friday at 6 p.m.
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Western Rolls Over Concordia
Sunday, November 19 2006
A balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring in double figures, carried Western to a 75-51 win over Concordia of Oregon at the Mountain West Bank Classic in Helena.
The Bulldogs rolled to a 39-19 halftime lead. Concordia mounted a bit of comeback in the second half but could not overcome Western's double digit lead.
Katherine Sunwall led Western with 17 points followed by Becky O'Neil, Laura Shea and Megan Schmitz with 13 each. Sunwall had nine rebounds followed by O'Neil with seven. Western hit 56% of their field goals including 9 of 18 3-point field goals.
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Lady Bulldogs Face Oregon and California Teams At Mountain West Bank Tourney
Thursday, November 16 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldog basketball team travels to Helena, Mont. to compete in the Mountain West Bank Classic tournament, Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18.
On Friday the Lady Bulldogs face Concordia University of Oregon and on Saturday, Western plays Bethany University. Friday's game tips off at 6 p.m. and Saturday's game tips off at 4 p.m. from the Carroll College P.E. Complex.
Montana Western is 6-0 on the season after going 3-0 at the Westminster Fall Classic last weekend. The Lady Bulldogs downed Albertson 82-72, Berry College 72-61 and Concordia 74-58. Montana Western was ranked 6th in the NAIA Pre-Season Power Poll.
Concordia University of Oregon is an NAIA Division II school from the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The Cavaliers are 1-1 on the season. Concordia thumped Walla Walla College 97-22 and lost to Northwest Christian College 44-61.
“Aaron Christian is Concordia’s new coach,” said Montana Western coach Kevin Engellant. “He came from Clark College and brought in a lot of new players. They have a 6'4" and a 6'2" post. We will need to do a good job defending their inside players. Defensively we need to improve on not getting beat off the dribble and giving the opponent one shot. On offense we need to execute better and make good decisions with the basketball.”
Bethany is 0-4 on the season. Last weekend, they lost to Sacremento State 58-75 and to Fresno Pacific 37-80. Bethany is an NAIA, Division II school from the California Pacific Conference.
“Bethany is a very physical team and they are very active in their full
court pressing defense,” noted Engellant.
Katherine Sunwall leads Montana Western in scoring and rebounding with 16.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Becky O’Neil is next with 16 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Megan Schmitz is also scoring in double figures with 12.2 points per game. Sunwall is averaging 3.5 blocks and 4.1 assists per game. Schmitz is averaging 4.8 assists per game. The Lady Bulldogs are averaging 76.7 points per game while giving up 59.5.
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Lady Bulldogs Down Concordia of California To Remain Unbeaten
Saturday, November 11 2006
Katherine Sunwall's 17 points led a balanced Montana Western attack as the Lady Bulldogs downed Concordia of California 74-58 at the Holiday Inn Fall Classic in Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday, Nov. 11. The win raised Western's record to 6-0.
The two teams played evenly throughout the first half. In the half, there were eleven lead changes and four ties. The Lady Bulldogs biggest lead was six, while Concordia's biggest lead was four. Western led at the half 34-32.
The Lady Bulldogs outscored Concordia 9-2 in the first five minutes of the second half to lead 43-34. Neither team could score over the next three minutes. Concordia broke the scoring drought and went on a 11-2 run to cut the Lady Bulldog lead to one, 46-45 with 10:54 left in the game.
Concordia took their first lead of the second hall, 52-51, at the 7:55 mark. The Lady Bulldogs tied the game on a Laura Shea free throw. Concordia grabbed lead back on their next possession, 54-52. A three-point field goal by Heather Brooks gave the lead back to Western and it was a lead they would not lose again. In the game's final five minues, the Lady Bulldogs outscored Concordia 19-4 and held the California team scoreless in the final three minutes.
Becky O'Neil also scored in double figures with 15. Every player on the Lady Bulldog roster scored in the win. O'Neil led the team in rebounds with 10.
Montana Western competes Nov. 17 & 18 in Helena, Mont.
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Lady Bulldogs Stay Unbeaten With Win Over Berry College
Friday, November 10 2006
Becky O'Neil scored 27 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Lady Bulldogs to a 72-61 victory over Berry College at the Holiday Inn Fall Classic Friday, Nov. 10 from Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Lady Bulldogs are now 5-0 on the season.
Western jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the game's opening three minutes. Berry College then went on a 13-4 run and took the lead, 15-13 with 12:24 remaining in the half. The Lady Bulldogs answered the Berry run with 7-0 run to lead 20-15 at the 8:54 mark. Berry answered with a 6-0 run to lead 21-20 with 6:30 left in the half. Over the next six minutes, the two teams traded leads with Berry leading 34-33 at the halftime break.
Western regained the lead on a Laura Shea 3-point basket one minute into the second half. It was a lead the Lady Bulldogs would not lose the rest of the game.
The Lady Bulldogs built the lead to 21, 66-45 on a Heather Brooks three-point play the old fashioned way. A basket followed by a free-throw. Berry managed to chip away at the lead but could get no closer then 11.
O'Neil hit 10 of 16 field goals and 6 of 8 from the free throw line. Katherine Sunwall was the only other Lady Bulldog scoring in double figures with 21 points. Sunwall also pulled down 12 rebounds. Wesern hit 48% of their field goals, 58 % of their three-point field goals and were 15 of 21 from the free throw line.
The Lady Bulldogs face Concordia of California Saturday afternoon at Noon.
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Lady Bulldogs Down Albertson College
Thursday, November 9 2006
The University of Montana Western used balanced scoring to defeat Albertson College 82-72 at the Holiday Inn Fall Classic in Salt Lake City, Utah. The win raises Western’s overall record to 4-0.
The Lady Bulldogs jumped to a quick 4-0 lead on back to back baskets from Becky O’Neil.
Albertson battled back and took a 7-6 lead at the 15:33 mark of the first half. The Lady Yotes extended that lead to 13-6 on two straight three-point field goals. Albertson maintained the lead until a Becky O’Neil free throw tied the game at 18 at the 8:14 mark. A Laura Shea free throw one possession later gave the Lady Bulldogs the lead for good.
At the 4:31 mark, Montana Western led by ten, 31-21. Albertson mounted another comeback and cut the Lady Bulldog lead to two, 35-33 with 1:18 remaining in the half. Megan Schmitz and Jill Dana both hit field goals in the half’s final 17 seconds and Montana Western led at the break 42-35.
Albertson outscored the Lady Bulldogs 13-8 in the first four minutes of the second half and cut the Western lead to one, 49-48. The Lady Bulldogs then went on a 9-0 run and the lead was ten, 58-48. Albertson made mini-runs, and cut into the Lady Bulldog lead, but could not overcome it. Western answered every Albertson run with one of their own.
Four Lady Bulldogs scored in double figures led by Katherine Sunwall with 14 followed by Becky O’Neil and Megan Schimtz with 14 each and Laura Shea with 12. Sunwall pulled down by nine rebounds followed by Colette Behrent with seven.
The Lady Bulldogs next face Berry College at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10. Berry lost to Lewis-Clark 91-65 earlier Thursday.
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Lady Bulldogs Compete In Utah Tournament
Thursday, November 9 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldog basketball team travels to Salt Lake City to compete in the Holiday Inn Fall Classic hosted by Westminster College.
The Lady Bulldogs play Albertson College at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9; Berry College at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10 and Concordia University of California on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 12 p.m.
Montana Western is 3-0 on the season after downing the University of Lethbridge 86-56 and two wins over the University of Saskatchewan 69-64 and 77-48. The Lady Bulldogs were ranked sixth in the first rankings of the season.
“The Westminster Fall Classic is always a good tournament for us. We play three quality teams in three days on a neutral court,” said head coach Kevin Engellant. “Albertson College has a very strong program. Defensively they really like to pressure and trap the entire game, so taking care of the basktetball will be very important. Berry College qualified for the National Tournament last year, and Concordia University just missed qualifying. Both teams are athletic and will be tough tests for us.”
This will be Albertson’s first official game. Albertson’s is an NAIA Division II team from Caldwell, Idaho. They lost 98-45 to the University of Utah in an exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 4. This will be the 12th meeting between Montana Western and Albertson with Western leading 9-2. Last year the Lady Bulldogs won 76-62 at the Fall Classic and 66-53 at the Eastern Oregon Tournament.
The Berry College Lady Vikings are an NAIA Division I team from Mount Berry, Ga. The Lady Vikings, members of the Southern States Athletic Conference, are 1-0 on the season after an 86-84 win over Morris College on Nov. 4. Last year, Berry was 29-9 overall and 15 in conference play.
The Concordia University Eagles are an NAIA Division I school from West Irvine, Calif. and members of the Golden State Athletic Conference. Last year, they were 16-14 overall and 11-9 in conference play. Concordia lost an exhibition game to Southern Utah Nov. 7 and open the season officially against Westminster College on Thursday, Nov. 9.
Megan Schmitz leads three Lady Bulldogs scoring in double figures with 16.3 points per game followed by Katherine Sunwall with 14 and Becky O'Neil with 13.3.
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