GREAT FALLS — Outside factors contributed to the Salish Kootenai College womens basketball team’s pair of losses against the University of Great Falls junior varsity team.

Guard Dani Auguare nursed a injured knee and sat out the weekend games while Carla McLean’s dark jersey was left behind, so she was unavailable for the first game.

Auguare and McLean are the Lady Bison’s leading scorers.

“Between those two, that’s 35-40 points,” head coach Juan Perez said.

In North Dakota the weekend of Nov. 7, Auguare’s scoring was in the double digits.

On Friday night, a 107-72 loss was the consequence. Great Falls had a tough full-curt man-to-man defense that suffocated the Bison.

Perez said it proved difficult for Misty Ostlie when handling the ball and making things happen.

“She played a lot of minutes,” he said. “She had to work hard.”

At halftime, the Bison were down 51-43, but couldn’t keep up in the second half as Great Falls went on a 20-point run in the first  eight minutes.

Lisa Mathias stepped up in the game, sinking four three-point shots and leading the Bison with 26 points. Ostlie scored 19.

Perez said Mathias played at a higher level with the absence of the Bison’s usual scorers.

“I know she can do well and she needs to play with more confidence,” Perez said.

On Saturday, the Bison wore their white jerseys and McLean joined her team on the court. Before the second game, the Bison adjusted to the opponent’s defense and it paid off. The two teams were tied at 29 at the half.

The Bison lost steam and lost 69-57

McLean provided an inside presence and led the team with 19 points. Marianne Addison had 17, including four three-point shots.

The Bison will return to action at 2 p.m. on Nov. 29 to face Williston State College in Pablo. The men will play following the women’s game at 4 p.m.