Warrior women advance to title game

3-7-08

BUTTE, Montana – With a win over the University of Montana Western 87-69 on Friday night, the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team has earned its second consecutive trip to the Frontier Conference Tournament championship game. 

Earlier in the day, No. 2 seed Carroll College ran over No. 3 Westminster 72-49 to advance and ensure an opportunity to defend its 2007 championship. In 2007, Carroll narrowly defeated the Warriors 71-69 in the championship game.   

The Warriors shot 48-percent from the field, collected 44 rebounds to Western’s 33, and forced 18 turnovers to overcome a stretched Montana Western roster which had spent Thursday evening battling for a 58-57 overtime win against MSU-Northern.   

Vanessa West led the Warriors with 19 points and 13 rebounds—both season highs. Sadie short added 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and Mandy Troutt just missed her second straight double-double finishing with 12 points and 9 rebounds. 

Jade Fulbright, despite collecting two early fouls, collected 15 points and four steals on the night. Her four steals put her only four away from tying Amanda Campbell’s all-time career mark of 346. 

Despite shooting 40-percent from behind the arc, Western’s small active roster of only eight players was unable to stick with the Warriors in the second half. 

The No. 6 seeded Bulldogs were lead by Jill Dana’s 20 points and eight rebounds. Genna Rucker and Heather Brooks also added 16 and 12 points respectively.  

With the win the Warriors improve to 26-4 on the year, while Montana Western ends its 2007-2008 season with an 18-13 overall record. 

The Warriors will attempt to win their first conference tournament since 2001 on Saturday when they once against face Carroll. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. Regardless of the outcome both teams are assured a trip to the NAIA national tournament in Jackson, Tennessee beginning March 19.