BUTTE, Mont. – Montana Western ran away in the second half downing Montana Tech 75-55.
The Orediggers (10-7, 1-3) drop their third straight conference game after opening the Frontier schedule with a win on Kelvin Sampson Court.
Tech kept things close trailing 17-15 after the first quarter. Western was able to increase the margin to 30-26 by halftime.
The Orediggers went 4 for 9 from beyond the arc but shot just 32.1% from the floor in the half.
The Bulldogs also hit 4 of 9 from three-point range, but shot 48.1% from the field. After the break, the Bulldogs shot 53.2% from the field rattling off 45 points. Western finished with a 50.8 shooting percentage for the game.
The Orediggers shot just 38.2% in the game and made just two three-pointers in the second half.
Tech outrebounded Western 31-25 with 11 offensive rebounds. The Orediggers 11 offensive rebound only yielded 7 points.
Tech had 14 turnovers that the Bulldogs turned into 25 points.
Aubrie Rademacher led all scorers with 21 points on 9 of 14 from the field. Rademacher finished with 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
Ally Cleverly had 15 points and 3 rebounds. Cleverly shot 5 for 10 from the field and had half of the teams three-pointers going 3 for 7 from deep.
Liv Wangerin was the only other Oredigger in double-digits with 10 points and 3 rebounds. Brooklynn Hankitz had six rebounds.
Western was led by Jordan Sweeney with 19 points. Sweeney had 7 assists and 4 rebounds.
Shainy Mack had 18 points and 3 rebounds. Mack hit 4 of her 6 three-point attempts.
Maddy Moy finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Joelnell Momberg had 11 points and 4 rebounds.
Montana Tech is on the road this weekend. The Orediggers travel to Great Falls taking on the University of Providence Saturday at 2 p.m.