DILLON, Mont. – Montana Western turned an 11-2 run in the first 88 seconds of the fourth quarter into a 19-point lead that would only continue to grow as the Bulldogs pulled away late from The College of Idaho to win 83-51 on Saturday.
A relentless defensive attack from Western forced the Yotes (0-2) into 39 turnovers.
Despite the turnovers, C of I remained within striking distance throughout the course of the first three quarters against the Bulldogs (1-0).
Strong interior play from
Kiersten Rasmussen in the second quarter was a key factor in getting the Yotes back in the game after facing a 19-10 deficit following the first quarter. Rasmussen scored six of her eight points in the second, with the senior eventually finishing the contest with six rebounds and a pair of blocks.
In that second quarter,
Cierra Dvorak found
Allie Cannon for a nice finish plus a foul with 2:33 remaining before the half. Cannon converted the free throw after the basket to cut the Western advantage to 26-24, but a 6-1 run by the Bulldogs over the remainder of the quarter would build up the lead to 32-25 at the break.
C of I kept it close in the third quarter as well, bringing it to within six at multiple points after
Emma Anderson buckets, highlighted by a coast-to-coast effort from the freshman after getting a steal on the defensive end with three minutes left.
With the score 43-37, things would begin to unravel for the Yotes, who were outscored 40-14 the rest of the way.
Cannon posted a career-high 14 points on a 5-of-12 effort from the field, including knocking down a pair of 3-pointers. She also had four rebounds and four steals.
Anderson also had a career-high with 11 points and four rebounds in just her second collegiate game.
Dvorak made her C of I debut and was the primary distributor on the offensive end with six assists to go along with four points, six rebounds and two steals.
The Bulldogs shot 30-of-76 from the field (40 percent) and 13-of-38 (34 percent) on 3-pointers. Each of those numbers ballooned in the fourth quarter, with Western sinking 12-of-20 (60 percent) from the floor and 6-of-10 (60 percent) from outside.
The Yotes shot 15-of-45 (33 percent) on their field goal attempts and 4-of-14 (29 percent) on 3-pointers.
C of I won the rebounding battle 43-37.
Four players scored in double figures for Western, led by the 17 points from Jenni Weber. Sydney Sheridan added 16 points.
The loss is the 12th straight in Montana for C of I and the 10th consecutive defeat at the hands of Montana Western.
Both teams return to action tomorrow at noon in Dillon.
