Keller, Deming carry Lady Griz past Portland State
3/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Cheryl Keller said going into this Big Sky Tournament that it was her job, along with the rest of the seniors, to get the young kids back into the NCAA tournament this season.
Keller meant exactly what she said.
Keller, along with junior Julie Deming, scored the 20 of Montana's first 22 points as the Lady Griz raced past Portland State, 86-52, Thursday night in the opening game of the women's Big Sky Conference Tournament in Ogden, Utah.
Keller and Deming each finished with 17 points. The 17 points matched a career high for Deming, who scored 17 points twice earlier this season.
"Cheryl and Julie got us off to a fast start, and that was important," Lady Griz head coach Robin Selvig said in a radio interview after the game Thursday. "We were ready to go, but we weren't too tight."After an inside basket by Hollie Tyler put Montana on the board, Keller and Deming took over. Deming hit a jumper on UM's next possession, then Keller hit a three and a seven-foot jumper to give Montana its first lead, 9-8, with 14:07 left in the half.
The Lady Griz led the rest of the game.
Deming followed Keller's two baskets with a three-pointer of her own, and then the two combined to score the next 10 Lady Griz points to extend the Montana lead, 22-12, and the rout was on.
"Portland State is a pretty good team to beat this badly," Selvig said. "It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be."
Early on, Montana was stuck in a shooting lull that has plagued the team at times throughout the season. The Lady Griz started 2-7 from the field, missing a couple lay-ins and short jumpers. Portland State used Montana's cold start from the field and jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the game. The Vikings, despite the early lead, struggled from the field as well, shooting 2-6 to start.
But once Montana got going, there was no looking back for the Lady Griz as they advanced to the conference semi-finals for the 14th straight year.
The Lady Griz did it with a balanced offensive attack that had four players score in double figures and had nine players score overall. The Lady Griz led 41-24 at halftime.
Crystal Baird and Tyler each had 14 points. Tyler grabbed 10 rebounds to finish with her ninth double-double of the season. True-freshman Lynsey Monaco made the most of her minutes of play in her first tournament game, scoring a career-high seven points shooting 3-3, which included a three-pointer.
For the first time since beating Idaho State in Pocatello in January, Montana shot over 45 percent from the field. The balance and consistent shooting pleased Selvig.
"We're not a great offensive team," Selvig said. "We needed a game like this in terms of shooting."
Defensively, Montana kept the Vikings from getting into any kind of rhythm, especially its leading scorer, Nikki Pettigrew. Coming into Thursday's game, Pettigrew was averaging 13.5 points per game, and scored 20 points in the Vikings win over Montana earlier this season.
Thursday Pettigrew was held to four points, shooting 1-7. Staci Kleier came off the bench to lead PSU, scoring 15 points. Overall, the Vikings were un-done by their own poor shooting, going just 21-59 from the field, and just 4-14 from the three-point line.
Montana will now play Montana State Friday for a spot in the championship game Saturday.
There was only an announced crowd of about 219 fans, and among them were the co-champion Bobcats.
Coming out and playing a strong game against Portland State with the 'Cats watching was important, Selvig said.
"We want to get them thinking we are a little better then what we showed last time we played," Selvig said. "There is a championship on the line and that is what we came down here for."
Tip-off for Friday's semi-final game between the Lady Griz and Montana state is at 5:35 p.m. and can be heard on KCLY 930 AM. The winner will face the winner between Weber State and Eastern Washington. The Eagles won, 70-57, in the other opening game Thursday night.
Keller meant exactly what she said.
Keller, along with junior Julie Deming, scored the 20 of Montana's first 22 points as the Lady Griz raced past Portland State, 86-52, Thursday night in the opening game of the women's Big Sky Conference Tournament in Ogden, Utah.
Keller and Deming each finished with 17 points. The 17 points matched a career high for Deming, who scored 17 points twice earlier this season.
"Cheryl and Julie got us off to a fast start, and that was important," Lady Griz head coach Robin Selvig said in a radio interview after the game Thursday. "We were ready to go, but we weren't too tight."After an inside basket by Hollie Tyler put Montana on the board, Keller and Deming took over. Deming hit a jumper on UM's next possession, then Keller hit a three and a seven-foot jumper to give Montana its first lead, 9-8, with 14:07 left in the half.
The Lady Griz led the rest of the game.
Deming followed Keller's two baskets with a three-pointer of her own, and then the two combined to score the next 10 Lady Griz points to extend the Montana lead, 22-12, and the rout was on.
"Portland State is a pretty good team to beat this badly," Selvig said. "It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be."
Early on, Montana was stuck in a shooting lull that has plagued the team at times throughout the season. The Lady Griz started 2-7 from the field, missing a couple lay-ins and short jumpers. Portland State used Montana's cold start from the field and jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the game. The Vikings, despite the early lead, struggled from the field as well, shooting 2-6 to start.
But once Montana got going, there was no looking back for the Lady Griz as they advanced to the conference semi-finals for the 14th straight year.
The Lady Griz did it with a balanced offensive attack that had four players score in double figures and had nine players score overall. The Lady Griz led 41-24 at halftime.
Crystal Baird and Tyler each had 14 points. Tyler grabbed 10 rebounds to finish with her ninth double-double of the season. True-freshman Lynsey Monaco made the most of her minutes of play in her first tournament game, scoring a career-high seven points shooting 3-3, which included a three-pointer.
For the first time since beating Idaho State in Pocatello in January, Montana shot over 45 percent from the field. The balance and consistent shooting pleased Selvig.
"We're not a great offensive team," Selvig said. "We needed a game like this in terms of shooting."
Defensively, Montana kept the Vikings from getting into any kind of rhythm, especially its leading scorer, Nikki Pettigrew. Coming into Thursday's game, Pettigrew was averaging 13.5 points per game, and scored 20 points in the Vikings win over Montana earlier this season.
Thursday Pettigrew was held to four points, shooting 1-7. Staci Kleier came off the bench to lead PSU, scoring 15 points. Overall, the Vikings were un-done by their own poor shooting, going just 21-59 from the field, and just 4-14 from the three-point line.
Montana will now play Montana State Friday for a spot in the championship game Saturday.
There was only an announced crowd of about 219 fans, and among them were the co-champion Bobcats.
Coming out and playing a strong game against Portland State with the 'Cats watching was important, Selvig said.
"We want to get them thinking we are a little better then what we showed last time we played," Selvig said. "There is a championship on the line and that is what we came down here for."
Tip-off for Friday's semi-final game between the Lady Griz and Montana state is at 5:35 p.m. and can be heard on KCLY 930 AM. The winner will face the winner between Weber State and Eastern Washington. The Eagles won, 70-57, in the other opening game Thursday night.
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