BILLINGS, Mont.- Rocky Men's and Women's Basketball take off for Helena to take on Carroll College Thursday evening, then make the trip back home to host Montana Western Saturday afternoon in the Fortin Education Center.
Battlin' Bears Recap: Rocky women's basketball (15-5, 7-1 conf.) took care of business last weekend at home with double-digit victories over Montana Tech and MSU-Northern. Kloie Thatcher was the leading scorer in both games, averaging 15.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 3.0 steals over the two victories. The Battlin' Bears head into the weekend tied with Carroll College at the top of the Frontier Conference standings with a 7-1 conference record, with Montana Western just a game behind at 6-2.
After Rocky's January 12th loss to #12 (at the time) Montana Western, the Battlin' Bears won their following three games in conference play, resulting in Rocky dropping two spots in the most recent NAIA coaches poll to #22.
The Rocky men (10-10, 2-6 conf.) dropped both matchups at home last weekend, losing to #12 Montana Tech and falling in a heartbreaking 86-84 triple-overtime game against MSU-Northern. Maxim Stephens was a force all weekend, averaging 23.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 19/21 from the free throw line in Rocky's two losses. The Rocky men have lost five straight and will be looking to avenge double digit losses to both Carroll College and Montana Western this weekend.
Thursday, January 26th at Carroll College
WBB @ 5:00pm
MBB @ 7:00pm
Scouting the Fighting Saints: The Carroll College women (16-5, 7-1 conf.) have won four straight since their loss to the Battlin' Bears, with their smallest winning margin being 12 points and an average margin of victory of 25.2 points over their four game winning streak.
The Saints are back to the top of the Frontier Conference teams in the top-25, after their second victory of the season over Montana Western last Thursday, Carroll jumped from #18 back to #11 in the most recent coaches poll.
Senior forward Maddie Geritz was named the Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week last week, after averaging 14 points, six rebounds, and 1.5 assists in Carroll's two wins against Montana Tech and Montana Western. Senior forward Jamie Pickens continues to produce as one of the top players in the Frontier Conference, averaging 15.1 points per game (2nd in the Frontier), six rebounds per game, 1.3 blocks per game (1st in the Frontier), while shooting 54.5% from the field (3rd in the Frontier) on the season. Carroll also holds two of the best shooters in the conference in Kyndall Keller (40.2% 3pt, 2nd in the Frontier) and Sienna Swannack (40.0% 3pt, 3rd in the Frontier).
Dating back to last season, the Battlin' Bears have won four out of the last five contests against Carroll, including the last matchup in Helena on January 8th of last season.
The Saints are coached by head coach Rachelle Sayers in her 12th season.
The Carroll men (10-9, 4-4 conf.) won both their conference matchups last weekend, highlighted by a 84-77 upset victory over #12 Montana Tech.
Sophomore guard Andrew Cook was named NAIA Men's Basketball National Player of the Week, after averaging 27.5 points, six rebounds, and four assists while shooting 65.5 percent from the field in Carroll's wins over Montana Tech and Montana Western. Cook currently ranks second in the Frontier Conference in points per game (18.2) and fifth in field goal percentage (54.1) as a guard. Senior forward Brendan Temple leads the Frontier in rebounding, averaging 7.7 boards per game, including 3.1 offensive rebounds per game, which also leads the conference.
The Saints are coached by head coach Kurt Paulson in his fifth season.
Saturday, January 28th vs Montana Western
WBB @ 2:00pm
MBB @ 4:00pm
Scouting the Bulldogs: The Montana Western Bulldogs women (18-3, 6-2 conf.) split their games last weekend, as a loss to Carroll College broke a 12 game winning streak. Montana Western dropped three spots to #15 in the latest poll after their 72-60 defeat to #18 (at the time) Carroll College at home. Montana Western is 0-2 against Carroll College this season with one more matchup to go.
Brynley Fitzgerald has continued her dominance this season, leading the Frontier Conference in scoring as she averages 17.1 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game (3rd in the Frontier), and 1.9 steals per game (3rd in the Frontier). Senior forward Mesa King leads the NAIA in field goal percentage among qualified players, shooting 67.6% from the field while averaging 7.8 points per game and pulling in 4.7 rebounds per game this season.
The Bulldogs are coached by head coach Lindsay Woolley in his 10th season.
The Montana Western men (8-13, 3-5 conf.) lost both of their matchups last weekend and have dropped three straight games, their last win being over Rocky in Dillon on January 12th.
Senior guard Jamal Stephenson has been producing at a high level lately, as he averaged 22.5 points per game on 64% shooting from the field and 53% from three point range coming off the bench in last week's losses to Carroll College and University of Providence. The Bulldogs boast two of the top three three point shooters in the Frontier Conference in Michael Haverfield (55.4% 3pt, 1st in the Frontier, 7th in the NAIA) and Ky Kouba (45.2% 3pt, 3rd in the Frontier).
The Bulldogs are coached by Mike Larsen in his fifth season.
Social Media: Follow @BattlinBears on Twitter for live updates as the game goes on.
