by LEWISTON, Idaho, November 15, 2015 – The University of Montana Western women’s basketball improved on their 6-0 start to the season after picking up two more non-conference victories this weekend over College of Idaho and Corban College. The Bulldogs played in the Twin Rivers Physical Therapy Classic hosted by Lewis-Clark State.
The 8-0 start to the season is the best since a 7-0 start in 2011-12, in 2006-07 the Bulldogs started 15-0 which is the last time Montana Western qualified for the NAIA National Tournament.
In their first game of the tournament, Montana Western jumped out to an early 46-23 halftime lead in rout to an 85-67 victory over College of Idaho. (Stats)
“We were really clicking in the first half offensively,” stated Coach Lindsay Woolley, “our ball movement and execution was excellent.”
The first half explosion was due to the 18 for 31 shooting from the floor (58 percent), including 8 for 16 from beyond the arc (50 percent). They almost matched their first half output in the second half as they scored 39 points on 14 for 31 from the field (45 percent).
For the game, they shot a whopping 51 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point territory. They held the ‘Yotes to 39 percent from the field, including 28 percent in the first half that allowed the Bulldogs to pull away early.
The defense in the third and fourth quarter was not as stingy as they allowed 44 points and got caught hacking as College of Idaho put down 13 of 18 free throw attempts in the final two frames to outscore Western.
“In the second half, our transition defense was porous, but we scored enough to hold them off,” Woolley said.
The offense was led by junior Molly Klinker who pumped in 30 points on 12 of 20 from the field, including two three pointers. She was joined in double figures by Aniese Palmore (19), Sierra Higheagle (15) and Kaye Bignell (13). Dani Baker and Darby Schye score six and two points respectively to round out the scoring for Montana Western.
Kaye Bignell collected a double-double as she led the team with 10 rebounds to go with her 13 points in the game.
“Kaye’s activity on the boards was huge today,” stated Woolley on Kaye’s efforts as seven of her rebounds were on the offensive end.
Palmore, who has been a force to start the season, neared a triple-double in the game. She added nine rebounds and eight assists on top of her 19 points. Palmore was very efficient as she connect on 7 of 9 shots and 4 for 6 from three.
Klinker also pitched in six rebounds and two steals in the contest.
“It was an excellent team win and I’m very proud of the effort today.”
Just 24 hours later, the Bulldogs returned to the floor to face Corban College (Ore.). Despite a very different path, the outcome still remained the same for the undefeated Bulldogs, as they came away with a 67-63 victory. (Stats)
Only one day after combining for 77 points on 30 for 49 shooting (61 percent) – the quartet of Klinker, Palmore, Bignell and Higheagle – were limited to 37 points on 12 of 39 from the field (30 percent).
“Corban was a really tough matchup for us and it showed tonight,” stated Woolley, “they were well prepared and we had to fight for every basket.”
And fight, they did. Every time Corban would score, Montana Western answered with a counter-punch as they traded the lead five times and were tied up five times in the game. Corban gave one last push defensively as they held the Dawgs without a field goal for the final 4:09 of the game.
Luckily, they were able to convert on seven free throws during that stretch to close the game out and improve to 8-0 on the young season.
“I was really proud of our bench tonight,” stated Woolley on his team’s 24 bench points, “Britt Cooper and Brandy Bookout saved our bacon with some instant offense.”
The duo combined for nine points in a two minute stretch that spanned the third and fourth quarters, and saw a 44-42 deficit turn into a 51-47 lead.
Freshman Darby Schye was big off the bench with starter Molly Klinker on the bench due to foul trouble. In 20:34 of playing time, Schye chipped in six points, seven rebounds, one block and one steal.
Corban kept themselves in the game on the offensive glass as they converted 15 offensive rebounds into 17 second chance points. It was not enough to overcome the 20 turnovers forced by the Bulldog defense.
The Bulldogs were led by Higheagle’s 14 points, followed by Klinker’s 11.
Palmore again stuffed the stat sheet despite a poor shooting performance as she totaled seven points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals.
Kaye Bignell pitched in five points, five rebounds and a game-high four steals.
Montana Western will be off this weekend and will return to action on Nov. 27 and 28 as they will travel to College of Idaho for a Thanksgiving tournament.
