PHOENIX — The ninth-ranked Montana Western women’s basketball team held off No. 14 Menlo College, 73-64, on Friday afternoon to win the Frontier Phoenix Classic at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
Western jumped in front of Menlo early in the first half and led by 12 entering the halftime break. Menlo, however, turned the tides in the second half, chipping away at the Bulldogs’ lead. Late in the third quarter, Menlo tied the game.
The Bulldogs kept calm in the fourth quarter, turning a three-point lead entering the frame into 17 at one point. Brianna led the way for Western with a game-high 29 points. She added four assists, four rebounds and four steals. Brit Cooper scored 12 for the Bulldogs.
In Western’s run to the Frontier Phoenix Classic title, the Bulldogs beat two top-15 teams. Western is now 9-0 on the season and will face Dickinson Sate on Dec. 28 and The King’s University on Dec. 29 in the Green and Gold Classic hosted by Rocky Mountain College. Tip-off both days will be at 1:30 p.m.
