DILLON, MT – University of Jamestown Women’s Basketball Head Coach Thad Sankey was blunt when describing his team’s first-half offense Thursday: “It stunk.”

But in the end, all smelled like roses for the Jimmies in a tough comeback win.

After trailing for most of the first half, Jamestown rallied for their fourth consecutive victory, a 68-54 win over Montana Western at Straugh Gymnasium.

Kate Cordes scored 19 to lead the Jimmies (6-1) and also had nine rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal.  Freshman Jessika Lofstrom had her first career double-double with career highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds, with three steals and an assist.  Kate Busek scored 11 points with 10 rebounds for her third career double-double and also had two steals and a block.  Hannah Hagel scored six with seven rebounds.

Payton Hagy scored 14 with four three-pointers for Montana Western (2-4).  Joelnell Momberg scored 10.

Sankey’s choice of words came because Jamestown never led in the first half, trailed by as many as eight points and was held to just eight field goals and 28 percent shooting and just one-of-14 on three-pointers.  Hagy scored nine and Momberg tallied eight as Montana Western led 29-23 at halftime, but the Bulldogs shot only 30 percent themselves in the first 20 minutes.  Also, UMW’s swarming, physical defense forced 11 Jamestown turnovers.

Then came the third quarter, which UJ began with an 11-4 run over the first 5:16.  Two free throws by Cordes gave the Jimmies their first lead at 34-33.  The lead alternated until a three-pointer by Busek with 1:11 left in the third quarter, which gave Jamestown a 44-42 lead, and they would not trail again.

Cordes capped a 9-2 run with a three-pointer just over a minute gone in the fourth quarter and Jamestown led 50-44.  UMW was within five at 59-54 on a paint jumper by Trinidie Nichols with 2:23 left, but Jayden Wiest nailed a three for the Jimmies and a 62-54 lead with 1:10 left.  Cordes hit two free throws, followed by two by Busek, followed by two more by Cordes for the final points.

Jamestown shot 33 percent for the game and only seven-of-30 on three-pointers, but the Jimmies made 21-of-25 free throws.  Through Thursday, the Jamestown women were second in NAIA basketball in free throw shooting at 82 percent.  Cordes was seven-of-seven at the line, has made all 28 of her free throws this season and made 32 straight dating back to the end of last season.  The Jimmies held Montana Western to 30 percent shooting.

Also, Jamestown had 17 offensive rebounds while holding a 53-36 rebounding advantage.

UJ is 6-1 through seven games for the second time in three seasons.  They will play Montana Tech on Saturday in Butte.  Coverage will begin at 1:30 PM on Q101.