(RMC Athletics release)
HELENA – The Rocky Mountain College women’s basketball team rallied to force overtime, but their seven-game winning streak came to an end with a 58-56 loss at No. 24 Carroll on Tuesday night.
Rocky (13-2, 3-2 Frontier) trailed the entire game despite twice coming back from double-digit deficits to tie the game. The Battlin’ Bears trailed 52-49 when Markaela Francis hit a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds to play to send the game into overtime.
Carroll (12-4, 4-1) scored the first four points of the extra period and never looked back. Rocky had chances to tie the game with a jumper in the key from Brooke Jones and an offensive rebound from Alexi Smith, but they committed a turnover and came away empty.
The Battlin’ Bears shot 36.0 percent from the floor and scored 18 points in the paint. They struggled to hit from deep, finishing 6 of 19 from beyond the arc. Each team grabbed 33 rebounds with Rocky getting eight points from eight offensive boards.
Brooke Jones led Rocky with 18 points. She was 4 of 5 from beyond the arc and grabbed five rebounds and two steals. Mikayla Jones added 12 points and four steals before fouling out in the final minute of regulation.
Carroll shot 37.5 percent and was 17 of 18 at the foul line. The turned it over 13 times for 17 points for the Battlin’ Bears.
Michaela Dowdy led Carroll with 21 points and nine rebounds.
Rocky will now return home to prepare for a Saturday contest against Montana Tech in the Fortin Education Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Battlin’ Bears final home game of the month.
