BUTTE, Mont. -- For three years, it's been Montana-Western and Lewis-Clark State in the championship game of the Frontier Conference women's basketball tournament.

And for three years, Montana-Western has had Lewis-Clark State's number.

This time around, the Bulldogs from Dillon, Mont., took advantage of poor shooting from the Warriors, especially in the second half, to claim the conference crown with a 63-45 win in the FC tournament title game on Saturday night.

The loss most likely puts an end to L-C's season, although L-C coach Brian Orr said the Warriors are holding out a slim hope for an at-large berth to the NAIA women's national tournament.

Lewis-Clark State shot 37 percent from the field in the first half and took a four-point, 21-17 lead into the intermission. But the Warriors hit only 27 percent of their shots after the break to finish with a 31.3-percent success rate (20-for-64) for the game.

In contrast, Montana-Western got hotter as the game progressed. The Bulldogs went 29 percent in the first half, then jumped to 53.6 percent in the second. They ended with a 42.3-percent success rate (22-for-52).

"They shot lights-out," Orr said. "We were cold the whole second half."

Ashley Baker provided much of the offense for the Warriors, notching 16 points as well as 12 rebounds. Kendra West collected nine points and nine boards. Cami Kalbfleish, who was limited to just three points for the game, also had nine rebounds.

"Baker was tremendous on the boards," Orr said, adding that Jessica Foot hit two big 3-pointers for L-C.

"It was a frustrating game on our end," Orr added. "We couldn't make shots. Western did.

"They showed tremendous poise in the second half. They beat us."

Hillary Taylor was perfect for Montana-Western, hitting all eight of her field-goal attempts and going 2-for-2 from the line to record 18 points. She also led the Bulldogs with eight rebounds.

The Warriors, 23-10, overcame injuries and other adversities, according to Orr. But it wasn't enough to give them an automatic berth to the national tournament, which they have attended for the past eight years.

That streak will most likely come to an end, due to L-C's slide in the national rankings -- the Warriors were 32nd in the latest NAIA poll.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE (23-10)

Kalbfleisch 1-9 0-0 3, Mulvey 0-7 0-2 0, Foot 2-8 0-0 6, Baker 8-20 0-2 16, West 4-7 0-1 9, Wittmer 0-0 0-0 0, de Groot 0-1 0-0 0, Valle 3-6 0-0 6, Morgan 0-0 0-0 0, Hazlett 2-5 1-1 5, McCauley 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-64 1-6 45.

MONTANA-WESTERN

Matter 4-9 4-4 15, Schmitz 1-9 0-0 3, Taylor 8-8 2-2 18, Buell 4-11 0-0 12, Sunwall 0-2 0-1 0, Scott 4-8 1-3 12, Suhr 1-5 0-2 2, Gradert 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 22-52 8-14 63.

Halftime -- LCSC 21, UMW 17. 3-point goals -- LCSC 4-19 (Kalbfleisch 1-6, Mulvey 0-3, Foot 2-7, West 1-1, Hazlett 0-2); UMW 11-29 (Matter 3-5, Schmitz 1-8, Buell 4-9, Scott 3-6, Suhr 0-1). Rebounds -- LCSC 39 (Baker 12); UMW 34 (Taylor 8). Assists -- LCSC 13 (Hazlett 4); UMW 18 (Buell 4). Total fouls -- LCSC 19, UMW 14. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.