MESA, Ariz. – A tight first half that saw four ties and three lead changes, turn into a second-half struggle for the Bushnell women's basketball team as the No. 22 University of Montana Western emerged victorious in the final game of the Cactus Classic, 77-68.
 
The Bulldogs shot 55% from the field and hit 13-for-26 from three-point range. They hit five triples in a crucial third-quarter stretch that blew open the close race. Bushnell shot 45% from the field and out-rebounded UMW, 22-20.
 
Bushnell had their best start to a game in some time, building an early eight-point lead. After a pair of triples from Bella Pedrojetti gave the Beacons a 19-10 lead, the Bulldogs jumped right back into the game, earning a free-throw before eight straight points from Brynley Fitzgerald to tie the game early in the second quarter.
 
Another big 10-2 Bushnell run, capped by an Aspen Slifka three-pointer, gave the Beacons a 34-26 advantage with four minutes remaining in the half, but UMW mounted another comeback as they took a 38-36 lead into the intermission.
 
Bushnell pulled back into a 41-41 tie less than two minutes into the second half but the Bulldogs were able to extend a big blow as they hit three-pointers on four consecutive trips down the floor, taking a twelve-point lead. The Beacons were able to claw back to within four, but UMW was able to put it away in the fourth quarter.
 
Morgan McKinney scored 22 points to lead the Beacons, shooting 8-for-13 from the field. She also broke another Bushnell school record on Wednesday as she went 6-for-7 at the free-throw line. She now has 263 free-throws made in her career, breaking the record of 260 which had been held by Lindsey Shearer (2010-2013).  
 
Her eight rebounds and four assists were both team-highs. Slifka, Pedrojetti, and Kalina Rojas were also in double-digits, scoring 11 points each.
 
Montana Western was led by Shainy Mack, scoring 20 points as she hit on four-of seven three-point attempts. Fitzgerald finished with 14 points and Jenni Weber came off the bench to score 13.
 
With non-conference action officially in the rear-view mirror and a brief Christmas break in the foreground, Bushnell (6-7, 3-2 CCC) sets their sights on the CCC as they return to conference action on New Years Eve against The College of Idaho (8-5, 2-3) at 3:00 pm.