HELENA, Mont. – The25th-ranked Carroll College women's basketball team played seven games, in 14 days in three different time zones but Wednesday, the Saints plays in front of a home crowd for the first time since Nov. 4.
Carroll hosts Montana Western (RV) at 5:30 p.m. at the PE Center in the Frontier Conference home opener. The Bulldogs are 10-0 on the year and received votes in the latest NAIA Poll. Western opened Frontier Conference play with a 71-49 road win over Rocky Mountain.
The Saints are 7-2 on the year and opened conference with a 62-54 win against Rocky in Billings.
Montana Western is the top-ranked team in scoring defense (46.2 PPG) and in field goal percentage defense (30.7).
The Bulldogs have impressive wins over Eastern Oregon and Arizona Christian coming into Wednesday but the game against No. 25 Carroll will be the toughest test to date for UMW.
"They are 10-0 and receiving votes I think they've had some good quality wins on the road and are playing with a lot of confidence," head coach
Rachelle Sayers said. "We've got to control the tempo and control their opportunities and we've got to do a better job rebounding the basketball. They have 153 offensive rebounds on the year which is not a number to scoff at."
Senior Kaye Bignell leads the Bulldogs, averaging 15.5 points per game. Sophomore Britt Cooper (11.1 PPG) and senior Aniese Palmore (10.5 PPG) also average double figures for UMW. Cooper leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game.
"They're tops scorers and rebounders are experienced players," Sayers said. "Kaye Bignell is having a great year, as is Cooper. When you have a great rebounder that can score and get the offense going you have a chance to be a really good team."
Despite the great rebounding numbers for the Bulldogs, they have just two players over six-foot, including senior Molly Klinker who has missed much of the season as she recovers from injury.
The Saints have five players over six-foot, including three starters in
Cassidy Hashley,
Baylee Watson and
Hannah Dean.
Carroll's Frontier opening win over Rocky broke up a two-game skid and Sayers believes it was a momentum shift for the Saints to close out a tough road slate over the past month.
"The win was huge for us. One, because it is a conference road win. Two, because we haven't played particularly well at Rocky in the past few years," Sayers said. "It gave us a chance to get some rest without that loss hanging over us over the weekend."
Hashley leads the Saints with 15.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Bailey Pasta (10.7 PPG) and
Hannah Dean (10.1 PPG) also average double figures for Carroll.
The Saints are excited to play at home.
"It has been a tough road over the past few weeks and they are definitely excited to play in front of their home crowd," Sayers said.
The game will be broadcast live on 94.9 ESPN Radio and on ESPNMontana.com. A live video stream will be available via the Carroll youtube channel and live stats will be available via Dakstats.
Fans are encouraged to wear ugly Christmas sweaters and prizes will be awarded to during both the men's and women's games. The first 500 fans will receive a Carroll College roll-a-banner presented by Helena Motors.
