Lady Griz chop down NAU Lumberjacks, 79-64
3/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Northern Arizona University 5'10" senior guard Jen Snitker faced-off with University of Montana 6'3" sophomore center Hollie Tyler for the tip-off Saturday as the Lady Griz defeated NAU 79-64.
Snitker's losing of the tip was symbolic of the troubles faced by NAU's post players when pitted against UM's Tyler and Crystal Baird.
The smaller Lumberjacks, who didn't start a player taller than six feet, started four guards and one forward: junior Alexis Rhodes.
"We should have dominated them," Baird said. "I mean, God, they came up to our shoulders."
But the Lumberjacks ended up using speed to negate the Lady Griz's height advantage.
NAU outscored the Lady Griz 39-33 in the first half on 55 percent shooting.
"At first, though, that girl broke my ankles (on a drive to the hoop)," Baird said. "It was really embarrassing. I'm too tall to be guarding players that quick."
This was the story in the first half for the Lady Griz.
"The first half we were a little shaky on defense," said senior Lady Griz guard LeAnn Montes. "But in the second half we were more pumped up, and we were way more intense than we were in the first half; and I think that was a huge difference in the game."
In the second half, however, the Lady Griz clawed their way back.
NAU opened the half with a 10-4 run to give the 'Jacks a twelve point lead at 49-37, but after a media time-out at the 15:21 mark, the Lady Griz took control of the game.
Sophomore forward Juliann Keller and junior point guard Brooklynn Lorenzen hit back-to-back three-pointers, starting a 15-0 run for the Lady Griz.
The run was capped by Montes, who hit her first of three treys in the game.
"We (Keller and Montes) talk on the bench," Montes said. "It's like, 'OK, if you go in there, you got to take at least two shots tonight.'"
Montes and Keller didn't hesitate at all in the second half as they combined for 16 of the team's 46 points.
In fact, Montes stole the show in the second half of her final home game as a member of the Lady Griz when she hit the three-pointer that gave the Lady Griz the lead for good.
On senior night, Montes was serenaded in pre-game ceremonies by a traditional Native American song and was given traditional weavings to signify her accomplishments with the team.
"It was very emotional, and I'm really speechless about it," Montes said. "The fans were great, all my family members were able to come watch me play, and it was amazing. "
Other teammates of Montes' echoed her sentiments and said they felt the need to win to honor their hard-working teammate.
"She's been an inspiration to all of us, coming off the reservation," said freshman forward Corrie Villegas. "For me, personally, I just wanted to go out there and kick ass for her."
Regardless of the running emotions in the game, Selvig just scratched his head following the game.
"That was a weird game," he said. "I felt helpless. They were playing obviously great. We couldn't defend them. The problem was they were scoring almost every time."
Baird and Tyler again played strong in the post as the smaller NAU defenders were unable to deny them the ball down low.
Baird scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, good enough for her second double-double of the season.
Tyler scored 10 points with nine rebounds and five blocks.
Lady Griz sophomore forward Lynsey Monaco returned to the line-up after a one-game absence and played 12 minutes. She didn't play more minutes for fear that she would further injure her bruised foot, Selvig said.
The victory, coupled with Weber State losing 62-59 to Portland State and Montana State falling 62-60 to Sacramento State Saturday night, moved the Lady Griz within a half-game of first place. Weber State sits in first place at 10-3, while Montana and Montana State are 9-3 heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Snitker's losing of the tip was symbolic of the troubles faced by NAU's post players when pitted against UM's Tyler and Crystal Baird.
The smaller Lumberjacks, who didn't start a player taller than six feet, started four guards and one forward: junior Alexis Rhodes.
"We should have dominated them," Baird said. "I mean, God, they came up to our shoulders."
But the Lumberjacks ended up using speed to negate the Lady Griz's height advantage.
NAU outscored the Lady Griz 39-33 in the first half on 55 percent shooting.
"At first, though, that girl broke my ankles (on a drive to the hoop)," Baird said. "It was really embarrassing. I'm too tall to be guarding players that quick."
This was the story in the first half for the Lady Griz.
"The first half we were a little shaky on defense," said senior Lady Griz guard LeAnn Montes. "But in the second half we were more pumped up, and we were way more intense than we were in the first half; and I think that was a huge difference in the game."
In the second half, however, the Lady Griz clawed their way back.
NAU opened the half with a 10-4 run to give the 'Jacks a twelve point lead at 49-37, but after a media time-out at the 15:21 mark, the Lady Griz took control of the game.
Sophomore forward Juliann Keller and junior point guard Brooklynn Lorenzen hit back-to-back three-pointers, starting a 15-0 run for the Lady Griz.
The run was capped by Montes, who hit her first of three treys in the game.
"We (Keller and Montes) talk on the bench," Montes said. "It's like, 'OK, if you go in there, you got to take at least two shots tonight.'"
Montes and Keller didn't hesitate at all in the second half as they combined for 16 of the team's 46 points.
In fact, Montes stole the show in the second half of her final home game as a member of the Lady Griz when she hit the three-pointer that gave the Lady Griz the lead for good.
On senior night, Montes was serenaded in pre-game ceremonies by a traditional Native American song and was given traditional weavings to signify her accomplishments with the team.
"It was very emotional, and I'm really speechless about it," Montes said. "The fans were great, all my family members were able to come watch me play, and it was amazing. "
Other teammates of Montes' echoed her sentiments and said they felt the need to win to honor their hard-working teammate.
"She's been an inspiration to all of us, coming off the reservation," said freshman forward Corrie Villegas. "For me, personally, I just wanted to go out there and kick ass for her."
Regardless of the running emotions in the game, Selvig just scratched his head following the game.
"That was a weird game," he said. "I felt helpless. They were playing obviously great. We couldn't defend them. The problem was they were scoring almost every time."
Baird and Tyler again played strong in the post as the smaller NAU defenders were unable to deny them the ball down low.
Baird scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, good enough for her second double-double of the season.
Tyler scored 10 points with nine rebounds and five blocks.
Lady Griz sophomore forward Lynsey Monaco returned to the line-up after a one-game absence and played 12 minutes. She didn't play more minutes for fear that she would further injure her bruised foot, Selvig said.
The victory, coupled with Weber State losing 62-59 to Portland State and Montana State falling 62-60 to Sacramento State Saturday night, moved the Lady Griz within a half-game of first place. Weber State sits in first place at 10-3, while Montana and Montana State are 9-3 heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
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