The Montana State-Northern and Montana Western women's basketball teams notched wins in the first round of the Frontier Conference playoffs on Thursday. MSU-Northern outlasted Montana Tech for a 68-57 win, while Western cruised past Rocky Mountain College 82-41.
Montana State-Northern 68, Montana Tech 57
HAVRE -- In a season marred by cancellations and postponements, the Montana State-Northern Skylights and Montana Tech Orediggers women's basketball teams faced another challenge as their Frontier Conference first-round playoff game was delayed 45 minutes due to issues with one of the backboards.
Nevertheless, the teams persevered, with the Skylights pulling away late to win 68-57. Peyton Kehr led the Skylights with a game-high 17 points.
Tech's Brooke Heggie posted 16 points and four rebounds in the Orediggers' final matchup of the year. The Orediggers finish the year at 5-13.
The Northern Skylights will now head to No.1 Carroll College on Saturday for the second round of the Frontier Conference tournament.
Montana Western 82, Rocky Mountain College 41
DILLON -- Just hours after reinstating players that were dismissed earlier this week, the sixth-seeded Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears fell to the No. 3 Montana Western Bulldogs in the first round of the Frontier Conference playoffs, 82-41.
While the Battlin’ Bears appeared to have a plan early in the tilt, the Bulldogs quickly dismantled Rocky’s defense as five players put up double-digit points for Western.
Paige Holmes led the way for the Bulldogs with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Dominique Stephens posted 18 points and six rebounds for Rocky Mountain College.
The Battlin' Bears finish the year at 1-11.
Montana Western will now head to Great Falls on Saturday to play the No. 2 University of Providence Argos.
