(RMC release)
BILLINGS – Despite five Battlin’ Bears scoring in the double digits, No. 17 ranked Rocky Mountain College lost 77-68 to the No. 18 ranked Lewis-Clark State Warriors.
Initially a close game, the Warriors pulled away with the lead late in the second period. In the fourth period, the Battlin’ Bears rallied from a 16 point deficit. Down five points with 45 seconds left in the game, Rocky saw their chance at a comeback buried with a series of seven Warrior free throws.
Shooting 4-7 from beyond the arc, Justyn Juhl led the team with 17 points. Alecia Chamberlin provided 14 points in addition to Antuanisha Wright’s 12 points. The pair of Markaela Francis and Alyssa Big Man both contributed 10 points.
Rocky finished the night shooting 36.8 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Warriors shot a 45.1 field goal percentage and drained 35.7 percent of their three pointers. On the free throw line, Lewis-Clark was good for 96.3 percent in comparison to Rocky’s 69.2 percent.
The Warriors out-rebounded the Battlin’ Bears 35-34. Francis grabbed eight total rebounds.
Both teams pulled in six steals apiece.
The Warrior’s were led by Jossilyn Blackman who scored 20 points. Hailey Turner provided 15 points of her own. Both pulled in four rebounds.
Rocky will next travel to Havre, Mont., to play MSU-Northern on Feb. 1. The game will begin at 8 p.m.
