by Lindsey Branch
HELENA, Mont. – After last ditch effort in the fourth quarter, the Montana Western women’s basketball (9-6) lost to the no. 5 ranked Carroll College Saints (11-3) tonight by a final score of 81-72.
Despite trailing 18 heading into the final quarter, the Bulldogs put up a fight to the end as they outscored the Saints 27-18 in the final frame. Joelnell Momberg had her second big night in a row, accumulating 21 points off of four threes.
How It Happened
After a slow start to the game, Momberg caught fire for the Bulldogs hitting on all four attempts from the field and a bucket from the arc.
Carroll forward Maddie Geritz hit a triple to claim the Saints’ first lead of the game. The Saints followed up with another five points from the Saints to regain the lead and take a 17-13 lead into the second quarter.
The Saints continued to pack the punch, outscoring the Bulldogs 17-3 across the first five minutes of the second quarter. A layup from Jordan Sweeney broke the run and fueled a 12-point scoring effort for the Bulldogs that saw threes from Momberg and Shainy Mack.
UMW would fall to a 40-28 deficit in the first half.
Western opened up the second half scoring on their first two possessions, picking up points from Sweeney and Kyla Momberg.
Trailing eight with eight minutes on the clock, Carroll took control and added to their lead with a 15-8 scoring advantage that was fueled by a pair of threes from Carroll guard Willa Albrecht.
The Saints ended the quarter on a 6-0 run to push out to an 18-point lead as the two teams headed to the final quarter.
Montana Western found a late spark behind Isabella Lund who put up nine points and grabbed three steals in the fourth. Mack added a three with 3:57 remaining in the game to cut the Saints’ lead to eight points.
UMW kept the pressure on as they cut the game to 73-67 with 1:10 left to play. Despite the fourth quarter push, it was too little too late as Montana Western would fall 81-72.
