BUTTE, Mont. – For the second time this season, Montana Tech and Montana State Northern took the game right down to the wire. The Montana State Northern Skylights hit last second free throws edging the Montana Tech women's basketball 58-55.
The Skylights built a 43-35 lead with two minutes to go in the third quarter. The Orediggers finished the frame on an 8-0 run bringing the score even at 43.
With a minute left to play,
Liv Wangerin hit a layup putting the Orediggers up 55-54.
Ryuley Kehr was fouled at the other end and made one of her two attempts bringing the score even.
Taya Trottier was fouled on the next Northern possession making one of her two attempts moving the Skylights ahead 56-55 with 14 second left.
Wangerin missed on the Orediggers final possession. A foul off the rebound resulted in two more free throws for Northern. Wangerin finished with a double-double netting 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The game was neck-and-neck most of the time which included a tie game at halftime. The game had 12 ties and 17 lead changes.
The Orediggers took 73 shots in the game and finished shooting 28.8% from the field in the game. But Tech outrebounded Norther 44-34 and had 8 second chance points. Northern had no second chance points finishing with just 4 offensive rebounds.
The Skylights shot 38.2% from the field and had 16 assists.
Aubrie Rademacher led all scorers with 20 points and just missed the double-double with nine rebounds.
Kia Wasson had 8 points going 2 for 5 from beyond the arc.
Challis Westwater had seven rebounds.
Savannah Toms and Ryley Kehr had 14 points each.
Taya Trooter finished with a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Montana Tech is on the road Saturday when they travel to Billings to take on the Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears.