It’s been recharge the batteries week for the Carroll College women’s basketball team as the Fighting Saints plays just one game when they travel to Billings to face Rocky Mountain College on Friday night.

The contest is the first of a three-game road swing that includes games against Westminster College (Jan. 24) and Lewis-Clark State College (Jan. 26).

“After an emotional weekend it’s good to have a one-game week,” Carroll coach Shawn Nelson said. “It’s also nice since we have a couple big road games coming up.”

Carroll, currently 15-2 overall and 3-1 in the Frontier Conference, trails Lewis-Clark (14-3, 3-0) by just a half-game in the league standings.

The Saints swept Montana Tech and UM-Western last week in Helena. Carroll trailed UM-W by as many as nine points before going on a game-ending 26-3 run to win handily.

Rocky features seven players that average seven points or more. Gretchen Wall leads the way with 13.0 points per game while Liz Lewis checks in at 11.2. Wall is also second on the team in rebounding at 6.1 as Jenna Sawyer leads the team with 6.9.

“Rocky’s a very good team,” Nelson said. “Just a few weeks ago they were one point ahead of the No. 1 ranked team in the nation (Union) with one second to play and were called for a foul and Union made both free throws.”

Rocky averages 69.4 points per outing and gives up 65.8. The Bears rank last in the league in rebound margin and don’t lead the league in any statistical categories.

“We need to get after them early,” Nelson said. “Once they get going and get their confidence they’re a very good team.”

Carroll’s Jolene Fuzesy leads the league in scoring at 20.0 ppg. Danielle Maloney is next in the scoring department with 11.9, with point guard Caitlin Courchaine checking in at 9.4 ppg.

Courchaine is second in the league in assists with 4.9 per outing. Hannah Heidenreich is third in the league in rebounds with 8.5. The Saints have received a big boost on the boards from Tiffany Rochelle, who pulled down 20 rebounds in the last two games.

“I think we’ve hit a good stride right now,” Nelson said. “We’re playing pretty consistent basketball.”

Carroll leads the conference in scoring at 81.1 ppg and is the top shooting team in the league making 47 percent of its field goals, including 45.3 percent of its 3-point attempts. Carroll has made 189 3-pointers, also tops in the league.

The Saints are second in free throw percentage at 73.9.

Reporter Tom Stuber: 447-4070 or irsports@helenair.com