Lady Diggers Down 13th Ranked Minot State

Jason Silvernale

Taesha Higbee goes up for a shot
photo by Jason Silvernale

It’s basketball season once again and the Lady Orediggers are off with a running start. This past Saturday, Minot State, 13th in the national poll, journeyed to Butte to play Tech, who reached the national tournament last season. Although the Lady Diggers trailed for the most part of the second half, clutch play by Megan Eisenmann and several others helped lift Tech to their 63-55 victory.


Montana Tech shot poorly in the first half reaching only a little above 28% from the field. However, the notorious defense of the Lady Diggers prevented Minot State from pulling ahead in the second half. Tech out-blocked and nearly matched the visitors in rebounds, 4-1 and 42-41 respectively. The Lady Orediggers were 8-26 from behind the arc compared to a impressive 50% campaign put on by Minot. Nonetheless Tech only committed 14 turnovers while forcing their opponent into 24.
Eisenmann racked up a game high 18 points to lead the Lady Diggers in their win while Brooke Porkorny wasn’t far behind, totaling 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
Montana Tech is now 2-1 in the season and will mostly be on the road for the preseason.


MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY - Caroline Folven 4-7 2-2 11, Sacarra Molina 3-6 2-2 8, Kallie Erickson 5-8 0-0 14, Whitney Loftesnes 2-5 1-2 7, Christine Miller 1-4 2-2 5, Christine Miller 1-4 2-2 5, Lauren Safranski 2-6 2-5 6, Dora Garza 0-1 0-0 0, Kelly Pankratz 0-6 0-0 0, Katie Randall 1-4 1-2 3, Carly Boag 0-1 1-2 1, Christina Boag 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-49 11-17 55.


MONTANA TECH (2-1) - Kelsey DeWit 2-1-2 0-0 2, Brooke Pokorny 5-12 5-6 16, Taesha Higbee 3-15 0-0 6, Tabitha Tomlinson 2-3 0-0 5, Meghan Eisenmann 7-10 1-4 18, Bryn Hasquet 2-10 0-0 6, Brete Rubie 0-4 0-0 0, Brianne McClafferty 2-5 0-0 5, Laini Kalumbi 0-2 0-0 0, Erika Jenkins 2- 1-3 5. Totals 24-67 7-13 63.


3-point goals: Minot 8-16 (Erickson 4-7, Loftesnes 2-4, Folven 1-1, Miller 1-1 Garza 0-1); Tech 8-26 (Eisenmann 3-5, Hasquet 2-8, Pokorny 1-6, Tomlinson 1-2, McClafferty 1-1, Rubie 0-3, Kalumbi 0-1). Rebounds: Minot 42 (Folven 7, Molinda 7), Tech 41 (DeWit 8, Pokorny 5, Eisenmann 5). Fouls: Minot 12, Tech 13. Technical fouls: none. Fouled out: none. Assists: Minot 10 (Molina 3), Tech 9 (Pokorny 4). Turnovers: Minot 24, Tech 14. Blocks: Minot 1 (Randall), Tech 4 (Eisenmann 2, DeWit Higbee). Steals: Minot 5 (Randall 2), Tech 13 (Pokorny 4, Higbee 3, Kalumbi 3).