(RMC release)
BILLINGS – Behind a career night from Mikayla Jones, the 15th-ranked Rocky Mountain College women’s basketball team rallied for a 71-68 overtime win over Montana Tech on Saturday night in the Fortin Education Center.
Jones scored a career-high 30 points to help Rocky (20-4, 10-4 Frontier) keep within one game of the lead in the Frontier Conference. Her biggest shot of the game came as she was driving baseline and pulled up for an off-balance shot that went through with 1.2 seconds left in regulation to send the game to the extra period.
The 30 points scored by Jones are the most by a Rocky player since Brittany Kumm had 31 against Great Falls on February 23, 2013. She also recorded seven steals, five rebounds and two blocked shots in the win.
One night after giving up a late lead before falling in overtime to Carroll, the Battlin’ Bears pulled the stunt against Montana Tech (13-12, 3-10). Rocky scored just three baskets in the final six minutes of regulation, including the late bucket from Jones, but they held Tech to one basket and two turnovers to get the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Kourtney Coverdell put the Orediggers in front with a three on the first possession before Rocky went on a 10-3 run. They sealed the win when Markaela Francis secured an offensive rebound and found Alecia Chamberlin for a layup with 24 seconds to play.
Rocky shot 43.8 percent from the field and overcame a 1 of 7 night from beyond the arc with 46 points in the paint. They held Tech to 39.7 percent and scored 21 points from 21 Oredigger turnovers.
Three other Rocky players scored in double figures, including 12 points from Francis. Hailee Farstveet added 10 points and seven rebounds while Chamberlin finished with 10 points.
Montana Tech ended the night with a 46-34 rebounding advantage and they scored 16 points from 15 offensive rebounds. Coverdell led the team with 21 points behind five 3-pointers.
The win keeps Rocky tied with Montana Western for second place in the Frontier Conference with four games to play in the regular season. The Battlin’ Bears have two games on the road next weekend, starting with a game at Providence on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Great Falls, Montana.
