DILLON, Mont. – Bushnell University fell short in its season-opening game at the University of Montana Western as the Bulldogs held off a third-quarter comeback to secure a 58-53 victory in Thursday's non-conference women's basketball contest at Straugh Gymnasium.  
Bushnell (0-1) rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit, taking an early fourth-quarter lead but Montana Western (2-0), who is receiving votes in the latest NAIA poll, held off the Beacons in the closing minutes to earn their second win of the early season.
 
Head Coach Chad Meadors said, "I couldn't ask for a better first game to start. We got to really see the toughness of our team. They got after us a little bit in the second and early third quarter, but we really responded midway through the third. Our defense was rock solid, but we are searching for some consistency on offense."
 
The Bulldogs held the Beacons to eight points in the second quarter, not allowing a basket in the final five minutes to take a 32-21 lead into the break.
 
Montana Western extended its advantage to as many as 17 points midway through the third period before Bushnell clawed its way back. The Beacons used a 16-0 run to make it a one-point deficit, 42-41, entering the fourth period, outscoring UMW 20-10 in the frame.
 
A Libby Mathis layup gave the Beacons a 43-42 lead to start the fourth, but the Bulldogs scored the next five points and led the rest of the way. Bushnell narrowed the margin to three points with just over three minutes to go but were unable to find another basket down the stretch.
 
Aspen Slifka posted a double-double in the first official contest, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Mathis led the Beacons in scoring with 14 points and added nine rebounds. Ayden Krupke recorded a career-high 12 points and seven rebounds.
 
Bushnell shot 38.5% from the floor, including 2-of-7 from three-point range and made 11-of-18 free throw attempts. Montana Western had an identical 38.5% field-goal percentage, making just 4-of-27 from beyond the arc and were 4-of-7 at the free throw line.
 
Jordan Sweeney led all scorers with 18 points for the Bulldogs. Shainy Mack added 14 points and seven rebounds.
 
"As far as a season opener, what a great atmosphere it is at Montana Western," said Meadors. "We battled like crazy and just came up short at the end. Looking forward to getting back at it against Montana Tech tomorrow."
 
Up next, Bushnell takes on Montana Tech on Friday at 11 a.m. (PT).