by Zane Guse, RMC Communications
BILLINGS, Mont., February 17, 2022- The Battlin’ Bears started fast and stayed fast, out scoring the Bulldogs in all but one quarter, to win 79 to 54. The Battlin’ Bears are now 24-4, 12-3 on the year.
Rocky finishes the regular season with a share of the Frontier Conference Regular Season Championship, and the tie breakers. Rocky will enter the Frontier Conference women’s postseason basketball tournament as the No. 1 seed.
Rocky was led on offense by Kloie Thatcher, who had a game high 28 points, five rebounds, one assist, and five steals. Shauna Bribiescas (Navajo) added 15 points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block. The Battlin’ Bears shot 36.8 percent from the field, 36 percent from the arc, and 95.2 percent from the line.
Montana Western (15-12, 5-10) was led by Lilly Gopher with 13 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Brynley Fitzgerald added 12 points and five rebounds. Natali Denning added 11 points and six rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 40.4 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from deep, and 73.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Rocky had 32 points off turnovers to the Bulldogs’ six points. Both teams had 22 points in the paint. Despite a poor start, Rocky held the lead for 86.6 percent of the contest.
The Battlin’ Bears host the lowest remaining seed in the Frontier Conference women’s postseason basketball tournament on First Interstate Bank Court in the Fortin Education Center Saturday February 26 at 7 p.m.
