BILLINGS, Mont.- Rocky Women's Basketball will open their Frontier Conference schedule on Saturday afternoon at home against an emerging Montana Tech squad. 

Game Information

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Saturday, January 4th
(RV) Rocky Mountain College (8-5) vs (RV) Montana Tech (9-4)
Fortin Education Center | 2:00 pm (MT)

Last Time Out

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The Rocky women suffered a pair of setbacks in concluding the non-conference schedule in the Green and Gold Classic, Presented by Hampton Inn. 

Despite stumbling in the final two games, the Battlin' Bears saw success to begin their season, boasting an 8-5 record entering the Frontier Conference schedule on Saturday. 

Sydney Dethman remained a focal point of the offense over the weekend, averaging 18.5 points per game and pulling down 8.0 rebounds. In the loss to Dickinson State, Dethman totaled her second double-double of the season, tallying 21 points and 10 rebounds. Her eight made free throws and ten attempts were both the most by a Battlin' Bear this season. 

While the Battlin' Bears had cold stretches, they still had bright spots in their losses. Their ten made three-pointers in the loss to No. 24-ranked Jamestown was the fourth time this season in which Rocky has made ten or more threes in a game. Dickinson State's 19 turnovers were the second most Rocky has forced in a game this season and the seventh game in which they have forced 15 or more turnovers. 

Game Notes

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Defend Home Court
The Battlin' Bears will open their conference schedule against (RV) Montana Tech on Saturday afternoon in the Fortin Education Center. Last season, the Rocky women dominated the Orediggers in the lone home matchup, defeating Montana Tech 7-37 on January 27th. 

Dangerous From Downtown
The Rocky Women have been the top three-point shooting team in the Frontier Conference this season, making 18 more three-pointers than the second-place team through 13 games. Their 35.5% three-point percentage is also the highest mark in the conference, led by the top two three-point shooters in the conference by percentage: Angie Cavanaugh (52.0%) and Sydney Dethman (47.4%). 

Defensive Battle
Saturday's matchup will be a matchup of two of the top-13 defenses in the NAIA this season, according to the Massey Ratings. The Battlin' Bears are ranked 11th in the NAIA in defensive power ratings, with Montana Tech slotting in at 13.

Scouting the Orediggers
Montana Tech is off to a strong 9-4 start and are winners of their past three games. Their defense has been the focal point of their success, holding opponents to 54.9 points per game while outrebounding opponents by an average margin of 12.8. Transfer post player Hadley Humphreys has brought a new element to the Oredigger offense as their leading scorer, averaging 14.9 points per game, which included a 32-point performance in a win over Mayville State earlier this season.