(Editor’s note: Montana Tech media releases)
HAVRE — The Montana State-Northern men’s and women’s basketball teams earned a Frontier Conference sweep over visiting Montana Tech on Friday. The Northern men won a back-and-forth battle, edging the Orediggers 69-65. The Northern women, meanwhile, won a 52-51 thriller as Sydney Hovde gave the Skylights the lead with a three-point play with 15 seconds remaining.
Montana State-Northern men 69, Montana Tech 65
The Montana Tech Orediggers lost a back-and-forth battle with MSU-Northern in Havre, 69-65.
The Diggers (15-10, 5-8 Conf.) jumped ahead of the Lights 36-29 at the half behind 42 percent shooting from the floor and three triples from Derrius Collins.
Collins led Montana Tech with 17 points while Taylor England dropped 15 markers and grabbed 12 rebounds recording his fourth double-double of the season. Nate Ward and Troy Owens Jr. each pitched in 10 points.
The Orediggers registered 13 assists to just three turnovers in the contest while holding MSU-Northern to 35 percent shooting. Justin Dusnmore led four double figure scorers for the Lights with 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
The Diggers travel to Great Falls to take on University of Providence on Saturday at 7:30 P.M. in the McLaughlin Center.
Montana State-Northern women 52, Montana Tech 51
The Montana Tech Women’s basketball team lost a hard-fought contest in Havre against the Northern Skylights on Friday night, 52-51.
The Orediggers trailed Northern by one, 26-25 at the halftime after shooting just 36 percent from the floor and 2-for-6 from three point land.
The Diggers jumped ahead in the third quarter outscoring the Skylights 17-8 to lead 42-34 going into the fourth quarter. Kaylee Zard led the Diggers on the boards with 14 rebounds. The junior post also scored 10 points recording her sixth double-double of the season.
The Orediggers were led on the offensive end by Dani Urick who scored 14 points and Mesa Williams who also added 11. Mollie Peoples tossed in nine points.
The Skylights jumped ahead, 52-51, with under a minute remaining on a Sydney Hovde three point play with 15 seconds left. Montana Tech’s last second attempt fell just off the mark as time expired.
MSU-Northern was led on offense by Sydney Hovde who tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Diggers fall to 12-12 overall and 2-11 in conference play.
The Diggers travel to Great Falls to take on University of Providence on Saturday at 5:30 P.M. in the McLaughlin Center.
