December 2006
Lady Bulldogs Play in Texas Holiday Tournament
Wednesday, December 27 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldog basketball team travels to South Padre Island, Texas for the South Padre Island Shoot-Out Friday, Dec. 29 and Saturday, Dec. 30.
Montana Western is 14-0 on the season and ranked fourth in the latest NAIA Division I Top-25 poll.
On Friday, the Lady Bulldogs face the Paul Quinn College Tigers of Dallas, Texas at 2 p.m. The Tigers, an NAIA Division I school, are members of the Red River Athletic Conference. Paul Quinn is 0-2 in conference play and 1-9 overall. On Dec. 15 the Tigers lost to Louisiana State-Shreveport 60-93.
On Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs face the Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush at noon. Xavier is a NAIA Division I school and a member of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. The Gold Rush are 7-4 on the season. They last played on Dec. 9 when they lost 67-81 to Central Arkansas. Xavier is led in scoring by Jarryn Cleaves with 14.2 ppg and Erica Turnbull with 10.1 ppg. The Gold Rush average 69 ppg while giving up 65.9.
“We are looking forward to competing in the South Padre Island Shootout,” said Lady Bulldog coach Kevin Engellant. “Paul Quinn and Xavier are both very athletic teams. They use their quickness to create turnovers and transition opportunities. We need to take care of the basketball, win the rebounding battle, and execute on offense. These games are the final two non-conference games before the conference season, so it will be important to play well and carry some momentum with us into conference play.”
Becky O’Neil leads Montana Western in scoring with 15.4 ppg followed by Katherine Sunwall with 14.4 and Megan Schmitz with 12.1. Sunwall leads the team in rebounding with 9.5 rebounds followed by O’Neil with 8.6. The Lady Bulldogs average 72.4 ppg while giving up 55.7.
The Lady Bulldogs open Frontier Conference play at Montana Tech on Saturday, Dec. 6.
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Lady Bulldogs Play At Idaho State
Tuesday, December 19 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldog basketball team travels to Pocatello, Idaho for an exhibition women’s college basketball game against Idaho State University, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006. Tip-off is 7:05 p.m. from the Reed Gymnasium on the Idaho State campus.
The game will be broadcast in southwest Montana on KDBM Radio, 1490 on the AM-Dial.
Montana Western is 14-0 on the season. The Lady Bulldogs did lose 71-77 at Montana State but the game was counted as an exhibition will not count in Western’s overall record. The game against Idaho State will also be counted as an exhibition game for the Lady Bulldogs while ISU will count it as a regular season game.
Idaho State is an NCAA, Division I team and were picked to win the Big Sky Conference. The Bengals are 2-7 on the season after a 102-59 victory over Montana Tech on Dec. 16.
This will be the tenth meeting between the two schools with Idaho State leading in the overall series 8-1. The Bengals won last year 90-70 in Pocatello. The lone Montana Western win came during the 2001-2002 season when the Lady Bulldogs won 70-63 in Dillon.
“Idaho State is a very talented team,” said Western coach Kevin Engellant. “They were picked to win the Big Sky and are definitely much better than their 2-7 record. ISU is a very good offensive team led by 6'3” Natalie Doma. She is very tough to defend because she can score with her back to the basket or can also step out and score from the outside.”
Doma leads Idaho State in scoring with 18.1 ppg followed by Andrea Lightfoot with 15.7 ppg. Doma also leads the Bengals in rebounding with 8.7 rpg. Idaho State averages 71.3 ppg while giving up 78.3 ppg.
“Idaho State has a lot of weapons on the perimeter that can really get it going from the 3-point line,” added Engellant. “Our defense will have to be at its best for the entire 40 minutes. This game will be another big test for us and should help get us ready for the conference season.”
Becky O’Neil leads Western in scoring with 15.4 ppg followed by Katherine Sunwall with 14.4 and Megan Schmitz with 12.1. Sunwall leads the team in rebounding with 9.5 rebounds followed by O’Neil with 8.6. The Lady Bulldogs average 72.4 ppg while giving up 55.7.
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Lady Bulldog Drop Exhibition Game to Montana State
Monday, December 18 2006
By Tom Schulz, Montana State Sports Information Office
Freshman point-guard Erica Perry broke a 68-all tie with 2:18 remaining with five consecutive points to help Montana State to a 77-71 win over the University of Montana-Western, Thursday night in Worthington Arena.
The victory marked the first time since late February 2005 that the Montana State women’s basketball team has posted back-to-back wins.
“We’re taking a few steps at a time, and this was another step in the right direction,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “Western is a very solid team. I thought we did a nice job on the boards and were able to score in transition.”
Montana State (5-4) built its largest lead of the game at 61-48 with 7:49 left on an Alyssa Nelson three-pointer. However, the Bulldogs chipped away at the lead and knotted the score following a 20-7 run.
Rebecca Mercer paced the Bobcats with 18 points, while Perry and Whitney Connolly chipped in 15 and 11 points, respectively.
MSU also held a 40-38 advantage under the boards as Nubia Garcia and Krislyn Wallace each tallied 11 rebounds.
For the game, the Bobcats shot 44 percent from the field, while forcing 22 Bulldog turnovers.
Montana-Western was guided by former All-Big Sky Conference selection Becky O’Neil with 27 points and 11 rebounds.
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Lady Bulldogs Tangle With Bobcats of Montana State
Wednesday, December 13 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldogs travel to Bozeman to face the Bobcats of Montana State University in an exhibition women’s college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 14. Tip-off is 7:05 p.m. from Worthington Arena on the MSU campus.
Western is 14-0 on the season but the game against Montana State will not count in the Lady Bulldogs overall record. Western’s is ranked 4th in the latest NAIA, Division I poll.
Montana State is 4-4 on the season after a 71-53 victory over Utah State and the game will count in MSU’s record. One of their four losses was a 57-66 loss to Montana Tech of the Frontier Conference.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to play the Lady Cats,” said Western coach Kevin Engellant. “The Lady Cats are very quick and athletic, especially at the guard position. They do a good job of using their quickness to force turnovers and get easy baskets. Offensively, it will be important that we take care of the basketball, execute and get a good shot. This game will be a good one to help us prepare for the very tough Frontier Conference that is just around the corner.”
Rebecca Mercer leads Montana State in scoring with 11.9 ppg; followed by Alyssa Nelson with 11.8, Nubia Garcia with 11.1 and Whitney Connolly with 10.5. Garcia leads the team in rebounding with 6.8 rpg. The Bobcats average 68.5 ppg while giving up 65 ppg.
Becky O’Neil leads Western in scoring with 15.4 ppg followed by Katherine Sunwall with 14.4 and Megan Schmitz with 12.1. Sunwall leads the team in rebounding with 9.5 rebounds followed by O’Neil with 8.6. The Lady Bulldogs average 72.4 ppg while giving up 55.7.
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Lady Bulldogs Win Two at Aramark Holiday Classic
Friday, December 8 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldog basketball team stayed unbeaten with two wins at the Aramark Holiday Classic at Le Grande, Oregon. The Lady Bulldogs beat Albertson College 71-54 on Friday night and Eastern Oregon 69-56 on Saturday night Western is now 14-0 on the season.
In Friday's game against Albertson College, Western jumped out to a 15-0 lead in the games first ten minutes. Albertson did not score a basket until the 9:51 mark of the first half. Albertson then outscored the Lady Bulldogs 14-5 to pull within six, 20-14. Western led at the break 29-20.
The Lady Bulldogs opened the second half with back to back three-point baskets by Crystal Kain to quickly build their lead to 20, 35-15. Western’s lead stayed in double digits throughout the half. The Lady Bulldogs biggest lead of the night was 23.
Three players scored in double figures for the Lady Bulldogs led by Katherine Sunwall with 17 followed by Becky O’Neil and Crystal Kain with 13 each. Sunwall and O’Neil led the team in rebounding with ten boards a piece.
Saturday against Eastern Oregon, Western traded baskets and leads with Eastern Oregon in the games first seven minutes. A jumper by Colette Behrent at 13:47 mark gave the Lady Bulldogs a 12-11 lead, and it was a lead they would never lose. Western stretched the lead to nine 30-21 at the half.
In the first eight minutes of the second half, the Lady Bulldogs outscored Eastern Oregon 23-12 and led 53-33 at the 11:55 mark. Western maintained a double digit lead for the remaineder of the game. Eastern Oregon would get no closer then 13.
Three players scored in double figures for the Lady Bulldogs led by Becky O'Neil with 20, Megan Schmitz with 11 and Katherine Sunwall with 10. Sunwall led the team in rebounds with 13 followed by O'Neil with 10.
Western returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 14 when they travel to Bozeman for an exibition game against Montana State.
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Lady Bulldogs At Eastern Oregon Tournament
Friday, December 8 2006
The University of Montana Western women’s basketball team travels to Le Grande, Ore. to compete in the Aramark Classic Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9.
On Friday, the Lady Bulldogs face Albertson College at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday play host Eastern Oregon at 7:30 p.m.
The games will broadcast live to Southwest Montana on KDBM Radio, 1490 on the AM dial. Livestats on the web will be available at http://snake.eou.edu/athletic/livestats/hc/xlive.htm.
Western is 12-0 after last weekend’s 65-48 win over Dickinson State. The Lady Bulldogs beat Albertson 82-72 last month at the Westminster Tournament.
Albertson, is a NAIA, Division II school from the Cascade Conference, is 4-4 overall after a 70-54 win over Northwest Nazarene on Tuesday night. All four of their losses were to Frontier Conference teams. In addition to their loss to Western, Albertson has loss twice to Westminster and once to Lewis-Clark. One of their three victories was a 79-50 win over the University of Great Falls. They also defeated Willamette 70-54 and Eastern Oregon 62-56. This will be the 13th game of the series with the Lady Bulldogs leading 10-2.
“Albertson likes to use their pressure and trapping defense to force
turnovers,” said Western coach Kevin Engellant. “ It will be important for us to take care of the basketball and make good decisions on offense.”
Whitney Clark leads Albertson in scoring with 14.4 ppg followed by Denise Hill with 11.4. Hill also leads the team in rebounding with 8.6 rpg. Albertson averages 69.7 ppg while giving up 70.6
Eastern Oregon is also members of the Cascade Conference. The Mountaineers are 5-2 overall after edging Whitman 73-70 in overtime Tuesday evening. Eastern’s victories were over Walla Walla College 92-21, Westminster College twice, 81-66 and 68-64, and Willamette 81-50. Their losses were at Lewis-Clark 52-75 and at Albertson College 56-62. The Lady Bulldogs played Eastern twice last year. Western won in Dillon 78-56 and at Eastern 54-53. The victory at Le Grande was Kevin Engellant’s 200th career victory.
“Eastern Oregon doesn't have a lot of size,” noted Engellant. “But they are quick on the perimeter and have several players who can shoot the three. Christie Weaver is a tremendous shooter so we need to do a good job defending her.”
Weaver leads Eastern Oregon in scoring with 15 ppg followed by Tiffanie Ulmer with 11.6 ppg. Ulmer leads the team in rebounding with 8.9 rpg. Eastern averages 71.9 ppg game while giving up 58.3.
Becky O’Neil leads Western in scoring with 15.2 ppg followed by Katherine Sunwall with 14.6 and Megan Schmitz with 13.2. Sunwall leads the team in rebounding with 9.2 rebounds followed by O’Neil with 8.3. The Lady Bulldogs average 72.8 ppg while giving up 55.8.
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Lady Bulldogs Stay Unbeaten
Saturday, December 2 2006
The University of Montana Western Lady Bulldogs stayed unbeaten with a 65-48 victory over Dickinson State in a women’s non-conference college basketball game from Dillon’s Straugh Gymnasium.
The Lady Bulldogs dominated the first half as they hit 52% of their field goals while holding Dickinson to only 25%. Western led at the break 40-16.
In the second half, the Lady Bulldogs were as cold from the field as they were hot in the first half. Dickinson outscored Western 19-2 in the second’s half’s first 11 minutes and trimmed the Lady Bulldog lead to seven, 42-35. On the next possession, a Becky O’Neil lay-up was Western’s first field goal of the second half. O’Neil’s basket ignited a 12-0 Lady Bulldog run and stretched Western’s lead to 19 at the 5:41 mark. Dickinson out scored Western 13-11 in the game’s final four minutes.
Katherine Sunwall led Western with 19 followed by Megan Schmitz with 17. Western out-rebounded Dickinson 41-32 led by Becky O’Neil with 10 rebounds.
Brittany Mesa led Dickinson with 17 followed by Elise Doughton with 11.
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