Lady Griz overcome Bulldogs for Classic title
12/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The University of Montana women's basketball team outscored UNC Asheville 41-26 in the second half to pull away for a 70-52 victory in the title game of the 26th annual Lady Griz Holiday Inn Classic Thursday night at Dahlberg Arena. Sophomore Dana Conway scored 16 points and added six rebounds and two blocks to earn MVP honors. Freshman Mandy Morales made the all-tournament team after leading all scorers with 19 points.
Conway and Morales were joined on the all-tournament team by Brittany Hendley and Kristal Hood of UNC Asheville, Katie Lorenz of North Dakota State and Le'Della English of New Orleans.
Montana won its seventh straight game with the win, improving to 10-2 overall. The tournament title was the Lady Griz' 23rd championship in the 26 years of the event.
The Bulldogs dropped to 8-3 on the season.
The first half was tight throughout, with the lead changing hands six times. The score was deadlocked at 26-26 with the clock winding down before senior Katie Edwards sent Montana to the locker room up 29-26 when she drilled a 3-pointer from the right corner with two seconds remaining.
The Lady Griz held UNCA to 23.5 percent shooting in the opening half, but the Bulldogs stayed in it with 11 offensive rebounds, which led to eight second chance points.
Conway led all first-half scorers with nine points.
Montana never gave up the lead in the second half, but UNC Asheville pulled within two, 39-37, when Amanda Elder scored in the paint with 11:39 to play.
After Conway hit one of two free throws with 10:53 remaining, the Bulldogs missed a potential game-tying 3-point shot from the top of the key.
The Lady Griz scored on their next possession, which was part of a 10-0 run that gave them a 49-37 lead with 7:26 to play when sophomore Laura Cote hit two free throws.
UNCA was not able to get the lead within single figures the rest of the way. Montana built its lead to a game-high 19 points on two occasions in the second half before the final 18-point margin of victory.
No other Lady Griz player reached double figures, but Edwards finished with nine points, freshman Sonya Rogers added eight and senior Jody McLeod had six points and a team-high 13 rebounds, six on the offensive end.
Elder had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who had a 51-43 rebounding advantage. Wudi Alford added 10 points and Stacy Shepard had eight points and 13 boards.
Montana finished the game shooting 32.8 percent while holding the Bulldogs to 26.2 percent shooting. The Lady Griz shot 50.0 percent from 3-point range, hitting 8-of-16 attempts.
Montana closes out its nonconference schedule with a game at Portland next Monday. Big Sky Conference play starts Friday, Jan. 13, when the Lady Griz play at Montana State.
Conway and Morales were joined on the all-tournament team by Brittany Hendley and Kristal Hood of UNC Asheville, Katie Lorenz of North Dakota State and Le'Della English of New Orleans.
Montana won its seventh straight game with the win, improving to 10-2 overall. The tournament title was the Lady Griz' 23rd championship in the 26 years of the event.
The Bulldogs dropped to 8-3 on the season.
The first half was tight throughout, with the lead changing hands six times. The score was deadlocked at 26-26 with the clock winding down before senior Katie Edwards sent Montana to the locker room up 29-26 when she drilled a 3-pointer from the right corner with two seconds remaining.
The Lady Griz held UNCA to 23.5 percent shooting in the opening half, but the Bulldogs stayed in it with 11 offensive rebounds, which led to eight second chance points.
Conway led all first-half scorers with nine points.
Montana never gave up the lead in the second half, but UNC Asheville pulled within two, 39-37, when Amanda Elder scored in the paint with 11:39 to play.
After Conway hit one of two free throws with 10:53 remaining, the Bulldogs missed a potential game-tying 3-point shot from the top of the key.
The Lady Griz scored on their next possession, which was part of a 10-0 run that gave them a 49-37 lead with 7:26 to play when sophomore Laura Cote hit two free throws.
UNCA was not able to get the lead within single figures the rest of the way. Montana built its lead to a game-high 19 points on two occasions in the second half before the final 18-point margin of victory.
No other Lady Griz player reached double figures, but Edwards finished with nine points, freshman Sonya Rogers added eight and senior Jody McLeod had six points and a team-high 13 rebounds, six on the offensive end.
Elder had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who had a 51-43 rebounding advantage. Wudi Alford added 10 points and Stacy Shepard had eight points and 13 boards.
Montana finished the game shooting 32.8 percent while holding the Bulldogs to 26.2 percent shooting. The Lady Griz shot 50.0 percent from 3-point range, hitting 8-of-16 attempts.
Montana closes out its nonconference schedule with a game at Portland next Monday. Big Sky Conference play starts Friday, Jan. 13, when the Lady Griz play at Montana State.
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