(Editor’s Note: Montana Tech media releases)
BUTTE — The Montana Tech men’s and women’s basketball teams got an impressive sweep over Providence Friday at the HPER Complex.
Montana Tech women 66, Providence 57
Montana Tech turned on the scoring in the fourth quarter to take down the University of Providence for the second time this season 66-57.
The Argos (14-8, 3-7) held a slim lead for much of the game, leading by as many as 7 in the second quarter. The Orediggers trailed by just two, 41-39, going into the final frame. Tech outscored the Argos 27-16 in the fourth quarter for the victory.
The Orediggers shot 56 percent in the second half after a 37 percent performance in the first. Tech hit 5 of 10 from three point in the second half. Mesa Williams led the Diggers in scoring netting 17 points on 7 of 13 shooting and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. Williams added four rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Mollie Peoples finished with 16 points on 5 of 11 from the field and 2 for 4 from deep. Dani Urick had 16 points. Kaylee Zard grabbed 8 rebounds and added 8 points.
The Argos outrebounded the Orediggers 45-27. Parker Esary grabbed a game-high 12 boards and netted 14 points. Emilee Maldonado led Providence in scoring with 17 points and 6 rebounds.
Montana Tech (12-8, 2-7) are home again tomorrow night when they host the MSU Northern Skylights.
Montana Tech men 69, Providence 68
In a back-and-forth contest Montana Tech defeated No. 22 University of Providence on Friday night on Kelvin Sampson Court 69-68.
The Diggers, who remain unbeaten on their home floor in Frontier Conference play, improved to 4-5 in the Frontier and 14-7 overall with the victory over the Argonauts. The victory for Montana Tech was a nail-biter for both teams as University of Providence’s Jalen Shepard’s potential game-winning shot before the buzzer bounced off the side of the iron and Nate Ward pulled down the rebound to finish the game.
Montana Tech started slowly trailing by as many as seven points in the first half before taking the lead 35-31 before the half on a Troy Owens Jr. buzzer-beating jumper. Owens Jr. scored a team-high 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting while Taylor England and Blake Dittman each chipped in 13. England led the Diggers on the boards with nine rebounds.
Providence, who was led in scoring by Austin Starr who tallied 21 points, trailed by 12 points 68-56 with four minutes to play before making a comeback.
The Diggers shot 42 percent from the floor and held Providence to just 37 percent shooting on the night in the victory.
Montana Tech has a quick turnaround as they play host to MSU-Northern on Saturday night at 7:30 P.M. on Kelvin Sampson Court.
