Orediggers hang with Aggies

By The Montana Standard News Services - 11/10/2009

LOGAN, Utah — The Montana Tech Oredigger women's basketball team had a good night against Utah State Monday.

The Orediggers lost a 64-56 battle against the Aggies in an exhibition matchup.

Tech held a 41-39 lead with 12 minutes to play. Utah State then went on a 10-0 run and the Orediggers could never regain the lead.

Utah State was picked seventh in the WAC coaches and media polls. Both teams used only eight players.

"It was good for us," Tech coach Kerie DePell said. "I think we got a lot better. It was close to the end. Only losing by eight to a team like this is good for us." Amber White was the leading scorer for the Aggies with 15 points. Alice Coddington had 14 points and seven assists.

Preseason coaches all-conference pick Lydia Whitehead was held to 10 points.

Dannii Devenny ended up with 16 points. Lindsie Wilson had a game-high 17 points.

Coach DePell liked how her two forwards played against the bigger Aggies.

"If they can score against these Division I schools, they definitely should be confident against the other teams we play," she said. "It was good to see them play to their potential." Jessie DePell had a nice night, with 14 points. Taesha Higbee and Tabitha Tomlinson also scored for Tech.

Coach DePell thought Utah State gave her team a good early season test in the exhibition.

"They're a very good team," the Tech coach said. "They're huge, tall and big. Good athletes. It was encouraging for us to compete with them." The Orediggers will host South Dakota Tech on Friday.

MONTANA TECH Jessie DePell 3-8 6-6 14, Dannii Devenny 7-9 1-2 16, Lindsie Wilson 8-15 0-0 17, Taesha Higbee 3-8 0-0 6, Tabitha Tomlinson 1-4 0-2 3, Brittanie Toone 0-0 0-0 0, Brooke Pokorny 0-0 0-0 0, Erika Jenkins 0-2 0-0 0. Ttoals 22-47 7-10 56.

UTAH STATE Lydia Whitehead 3-7 4-4 10, Trisha Jo Goddard 1-3 0-0 2, Amber White 6-12 2-2 15, Alice Coddington 6-11 0-0 14, Nicole Johnson 4-8 2-2 11, Stacey Howard 0-2 2-2 2, Devyn Christensen 0-3 0-0 0, Pualei Furtado 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 13-14 64.

Halftime — US 26-24. 3-point goals —Montana Tech 5-12 (DePell 2-3, Devenny 1-2, Wilson 1-2, Tomlinson 1-3, Higbee 0-1), US 6-16 (Coddington 2-3, Johnson 1-2, Christensen 0-2, Howard 0-1, Goddard 0-1). Fouled out — Wilson. Rebounds — Montana Tech 26 (Devenny 7), US 34 (Whitehead 9). Assists — Montana Tech 11 (Tomlinson 6), US 17 (Coddington 7). Total fouls — Montana Tech 13, US 11. Technical fouls — None.