Morales leads Lady Griz past Hurricanes
12/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Freshman Mandy Morales went 18-for-21 from the free throw line and scored 27 points to lead the Montana women's basketball team to an 83-74 victory over Miami Friday night at Dahlberg Arena. The victory was the third straight for the Lady Griz, who improved to 6-2 on the season.
The Hurricanes, playing on the road for the first time in nine games, dropped to 7-2.
Morales's free throw totals broke the Montana records of 14 makes and 17 attempts. Her 18 makes tied the Big Sky Conference record, set by Idaho State's Molly Hays last February. Shannon Cate held the previous UM record of 14 makes, which she did on two occasions during the 1991-92 season. Ann Lake attempted 17 free throws in 1993 and Skyla Sisco did so in 1998.
Morales added to her impressive line with nine rebounds, six assists and four steals, playing 31 minutes in her first career start.
Sophomore Johanna Closson scored a season-high 16 points and also enjoyed a big night at the free throw line, going 9-for-10. Sophomore Dana Conway had 13 points and senior Jody McLeod added 10, going 3-for-3 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line.
The Hurricanes had five players in double figures, led by Renee Taylor's 18 points. Tamara James had 13 points and nine rebounds, nine points below her average.
Miami hit six more field goals than Montana in the game but was outscored 37-14 at the line. The Lady Griz bench outscored the Hurricanes?? bench, 24-7.
The Hurricanes had their largest lead of the game, 15-10, with 14:07 remaining in the first half after Melissa Knight converted a three-point play.
Montana came back to score seven straight points, and the Lady Griz wouldn't trail again.
The lead was four, 35-31, with 1:04 to play in the first half before Montana closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 44-31 lead to the locker room.
Morales had 14 first-half points.
The Lady Griz scored the first five points of the second half to take a commanding 49-31 lead at the 17:50 mark, but Miami was far from finished.
The Hurricanes went on an 18-4 run over the next 4:39 to pull within four, 53-49. Closson and freshman Sonya Rogers answered to increase the lead back to nine, 58-49.
Miami pulled within three, 62-59, with 5:17 to play, the closest margin since the 4:09 mark of the first half, but Montana got free throws from freshman Tamara Guardipee and Closson and Conway hit a back-breaking 3-pointer at the 3:09 mark to push the lead to seven, 70-63.
The Hurricanes would not get within six the rest of the way.
Miami shot 39.7 percent in the loss, holding the Lady Griz to 36.8 percent shooting. Both teams had 42 rebounds.
Montana plays at Gonzaga Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. (MTN).
The Hurricanes, playing on the road for the first time in nine games, dropped to 7-2.
Morales's free throw totals broke the Montana records of 14 makes and 17 attempts. Her 18 makes tied the Big Sky Conference record, set by Idaho State's Molly Hays last February. Shannon Cate held the previous UM record of 14 makes, which she did on two occasions during the 1991-92 season. Ann Lake attempted 17 free throws in 1993 and Skyla Sisco did so in 1998.
Morales added to her impressive line with nine rebounds, six assists and four steals, playing 31 minutes in her first career start.
Sophomore Johanna Closson scored a season-high 16 points and also enjoyed a big night at the free throw line, going 9-for-10. Sophomore Dana Conway had 13 points and senior Jody McLeod added 10, going 3-for-3 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line.
The Hurricanes had five players in double figures, led by Renee Taylor's 18 points. Tamara James had 13 points and nine rebounds, nine points below her average.
Miami hit six more field goals than Montana in the game but was outscored 37-14 at the line. The Lady Griz bench outscored the Hurricanes?? bench, 24-7.
The Hurricanes had their largest lead of the game, 15-10, with 14:07 remaining in the first half after Melissa Knight converted a three-point play.
Montana came back to score seven straight points, and the Lady Griz wouldn't trail again.
The lead was four, 35-31, with 1:04 to play in the first half before Montana closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 44-31 lead to the locker room.
Morales had 14 first-half points.
The Lady Griz scored the first five points of the second half to take a commanding 49-31 lead at the 17:50 mark, but Miami was far from finished.
The Hurricanes went on an 18-4 run over the next 4:39 to pull within four, 53-49. Closson and freshman Sonya Rogers answered to increase the lead back to nine, 58-49.
Miami pulled within three, 62-59, with 5:17 to play, the closest margin since the 4:09 mark of the first half, but Montana got free throws from freshman Tamara Guardipee and Closson and Conway hit a back-breaking 3-pointer at the 3:09 mark to push the lead to seven, 70-63.
The Hurricanes would not get within six the rest of the way.
Miami shot 39.7 percent in the loss, holding the Lady Griz to 36.8 percent shooting. Both teams had 42 rebounds.
Montana plays at Gonzaga Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. (MTN).
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