DILLON, Mont. – An early deficit proved just a little too much for the Lewis-Clark State College women's basketball team to overcome Saturday afternoon in a 60-57 Frontier Conference loss at Montana Western.
 
The Warriors (14-9 overall, 5-7 league) had a 12-point deficit in the second quarter but for the remainder of the game, the Bulldogs weren't able to expand their advantage to double figures again as LC made repeated runs at the lead.
 
With 2:12 to play, Jossilyn Blackman closed the gap to 59-55 with Hailey Turner cutting the Western lead to two, 59-57, with 1:35 to go. The teams traded possessions six times over the next 1:32 before Brianna King made a free throw for the final three-point margin.
 
"We came out flat and dug ourselves into a hole the first quarter," coach Brian Orr said. "After that, our defense picked up and we were able to get back into the game.
 
"Offensively, we were pretty good for the last 15 minutes for the first half and were just OK for about the same amount of time the second half."
 
The Warriors shot .404 for the game, which includes .546 in the second quarter and .429 in the third. They went cold, though, in the fourth at just .313 and didn't make a 3-point goal in seven second-half attempts.
 
"We couldn't make a perimeter shot in the second half," Orr said, "which was probably the difference."
 
LC again was plagued by turnovers with 14 and lost the rebounding battle 41-34.
 
"Our defense gave us a chance to win but in the end, our turnovers cost us," Orr said.
 
The Warriors return home next week for games against Providence (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.) and Montana State-Northern (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.).
 
"We are getting better every day," Orr said, "but our tomorrows are limited. The remaining schedule favors us so it's important that we step up and take care of business."
 
Turner again led the Warriors in scoring with 15 points but it was Blackman with the double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Delaney Henery was the other LC player in double figures with 10.