No. 16 women’s hoops rallies past Eastern Oregon

CALDWELL, Idaho -- Montana Tech's women's basketball team trailed by double digits early in the second half, but a late surge by the 16th-ranked Orediggers produced a 68-63 win over Eastern Oregon on Friday afternoon to open the Caldwell Classic.

Halle Haber scored a game-high 20 points for Montana Tech (2-0), while Chloe Larsen tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double.

Eastern Oregon (0-3) converted the first basket of the ballgame, but Larsen quickly gave the Orediggers the lead with a 3-pointer on Tech's second possession of the game.

Montana Tech pushed the lead out to 11-5 after Kylie Konen's layup before the Mountaineers began to respond.

EOU cut the lead to three by the end of the first quarter and took its first lead since the opening minute on a Reigha Niemeyer basket with 4:06 left in the second. The Mountaineers led 33-26 at the half.

Eastern Oregon pushed the advantage to 10 early in the third, but then Montana Tech rallied. Sparked by six straight made free throws, Tech cut the deficit to one by the end of the third quarter.

The Orediggers took their first lead of the second half with 5:57 remaining thanks to a Hallie Neibauer layup. EOU briefly retook the lead, but Tech took the advantage for good when Haber converted back-to-back layups just inside the 2-minute mark. The Orediggers held Eastern scoreless for the game's final 1:45 en route to the win.

Brooke Badovinac chipped in nine points and five rebounds for Montana Tech, while Olivia Nielson and Neibauer scored seven points apiece.

Niemeyer led the Mountaineers with 14 points and four rebounds.

Montana Tech will stay in the Gem State for a Saturday matchup with 22nd-ranked The College of Idaho. The tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Halloween.

Visit Montana Tech athletics' home online, GoDiggers.comFacebook, and follow the Orediggers on X and Instagram at @DiggerAthletics.