Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director
Butte, Mont.— Dickinson State came up short against Montana Tech on Thursday night, falling 68-42 in non-conference action. Despite taking an 11-point first quarter lead, the Blue Hawks were unable to maintain control as MT used smothering defense the rest of the way.
The game began with Dickinson State firing on all cylinders, as they took an early 16-8 lead in the first quarter. Kayden Steele was a standout for the Blue Hawks, hitting three of five attempts from beyond the arc and scoring 13 points overall. Dickinson State's defense in the first quarter forced Montana Tech to just 18.2% shooting from the field. Katherine Fox added nine points, shooting 4-of-9 from the field, while Samantha Oase contributed eight points and six rebounds.
However, the game's tone shifted dramatically in the second quarter. Montana Tech began to find their rhythm, outscoring Dickinson State 26-11 in the quarter to seize a 34-27 lead by halftime. The Blue Hawks struggled to contain Montana Tech's Liv Wangerin and Hadley Humphreys, who combined for 29 points. The Orediggers dominated the boards, outrebounding Dickinson State 35-24 and capitalizing on the Blue Hawks' 23 turnovers. Montana Tech scored 23 points off turnovers, turning Dickinson State's mistakes into offensive opportunities.
As the game progressed, Dickinson State's offensive efficiency waned, shooting just 33.3% from the field for the game, including 22.2% in the fourth quarter. The Blue Hawks made just four field goals in the second half. They also struggled from the free-throw line, hitting only five of their 14 attempts. In comparison, the Orediggers hit 78.9% of their free throws.
The Blue Hawks managed to make some headway with second-chance points, outscoring Montana Tech 11-9 in that category, but were unable to sustain offensive pressure. Their bench contributed just six points compared to Montana Tech's 19.