Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director
Billings, Mont. - Dickinson State earned a hard-fought 61-55 upset victory over Rocky Mountain College on Sunday at the Fortin Education Center to close out the Hampton Inn Green and Gold Classic.
Dickinson State (5-7, 0-1) started strong, outscoring the Battlin' Bears 18-12 in the first quarter. Anhelica Shanrock led the charge early, scoring seven of her game-high 23 points in the opening frame. The Blue Hawks shot 50% from the field in the first quarter and displayed balanced contributions on both ends of the court.
The defensive battle intensified in the second quarter, with both teams struggling offensively. The Blue Hawks managed to outscore Rocky Mountain 9-5, holding the Bears to just 15.4% shooting in the period. Kayden Steele and Samantha Oase combined for key baskets to give Dickinson State a 27-17 lead at halftime.
Rocky Mountain (8-5, 0-0) surged in the third quarter, cutting into the Blue Hawks' advantage with a 22-point period. Sydney Dethman powered the Bears' comeback attempt with 11 of her team-high 21 points coming in the quarter. Dickinson State weathered the run thanks to contributions from Whitney Edwards and Brae Eneboe, who combined for eight points in the period, maintaining a narrow 43-39 lead heading into the fourth.
The Blue Hawks sealed the game in the final quarter, outscoring the Bears 18-16. Shanrock delivered clutch shots from beyond the arc, hitting three three-pointers in the quarter. Dickinson State's defense held Rocky Mountain to 33.3% shooting in the fourth and forced crucial turnovers to preserve the lead.
Shanrock finished the game shooting 8-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, while adding four steals and three assists. Brae Eneboe provided valuable minutes off the bench, contributing 10 points and four rebounds. Whitney Edwards added six points and a team-high six rebounds.
Overall, the Blue Hawks shot 44% from the field and 40% from three-point range, compared to 32.7% and 26.3% for the Bears. Dickinson State held a decisive edge on the boards, outrebounding Rocky Mountain 33-22, and received 17 points from their bench compared to just four for the Bears.