BUTTE, Mont. – The Montana Tech women's basketball team started 2024 and the Frontier Conference season on a strong note. The Orediggers pulled off the upset victory over No. 12 Rocky Mountain College 51-50.

Tech had the hot hand at the beginning leading 19-10 early in the second quarter. The Battlin' Bears (11-2, 0-1) surged at the end of the first half taking a 24-24 lead into halftime.

The Orediggers (10-4, 1-0) trailed 43-39 going into the final quarter. The Bears held on to their slim lead until the final minutes.

Aubrie Rademacher hit a layup shrinking the lead to 48-46 with 3:44 to play. The Orediggers Chloe Santeford stole the ball and Liv Wangerin was fouled rebounding her own shot at the other end. Wangerin made both free throw attempts to tie the game at 48.

Brenna Linse made a pair of free throws on the Bear's next possession putting Rocky back up 50-48.

Santeford was in on the late game scoring as well making a layup for the Orediggers to tie the game again with under two minutes to play.

After the Bears turned the ball over, Challis Westwater was fouled with less than a minute to go. After missing her first attempt, Westwater made her second free throw for the go-ahead bucket and the win.

The Orediggers shot 31.9% from the field and the Bears finished shooting 32.1%.

Brooklynn Hankwitz went 3 for 5 from beyond the arc leading the Orediggers with 13 points.

Wangerin had 11 points and 8 rebounds. Wangerin went 7 for 7 from the free throw line.

Westwater had over half the team's bench points finishing with 10. Westwater also had 8 rebounds.

Rademacher finished with 8 points and 3 steals.

Gracee Lekvold led the Bears with 12 points going 3 for 7 from long. She finished with a team-high 5 rebounds.

Ky Oliver had 11 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, and a pair of rebounds for the Bears.

Montana Tech is on the road next week. The Orediggers travel north to Havre facing Montana State Northern Thursday.