BILLINGS – Rocky Mountain College’s basketball women knew they let an upset slip away the last time they met Carroll College, and the Battlin’ Bears were not about to let it happen again.
Rocky opened up an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter and survived a late Saints rally to hold on for the 59-55 win Thursday at the Fortin Center.
Freshman Kloie Thatcher enjoyed a career night in the victory. The point guard poured in 26 points and knocked down 6 of 7 from downtown on the night.
Rocky is now 14-5 on the season after the upset victory.
The Rocky men were able to pull off the shocking upset the last time the two teams met, but Carroll had the last laugh on Thursday night.
The Battlin’ Bears got off to a quick start thanks to the play of Clayton Ladine. Ladine poured in 11 first-half points as Rocky led by as many as seven.
It was all Carroll after that, though. The Saints took a two-point lead into the break and ran away in the second half, cruising to the 69-50 win.
Dane Warp led the way with 22 points as the Saints shot 57 percent from beyond the arc.
