Lady Griz win home opener

Monday, December 7

Missoula, Mont.

3 PM

Montana

1-1

North Dakota

0-3

Team	1	2	3	4	F
North Dakota	16	12	24	20	72
Montana	16	22	23	25	86

12/7/2020 6:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

On an opening day unlike any other, with Dahlberg Arena as empty as an off day and as quiet as a church, it was Montana's returners who brought the noise on Monday afternoon.

Carmen Gfeller scored a career-high 26 points, Sophia Stiles had her first career double-double and the Lady Griz picked up win No. 1 for first-year coach Mike Petrino, downing North Dakota 86-72.

Gfeller upped her career high from 15 to 21 in Montana's season opener at Utah State, then added five to that total again on Monday, hitting 11 of her 17 shots.

It was the most points scored by a Lady Griz since McKenzie Johnston scored 26 in a road win at Northern Arizona last season.

Stiles added 21 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, three assists and two blocks.

But it was Abby Anderson who drew Petrino's opening remarks after the game.

Anderson suffered an ankle injury at Utah State. She didn't have her first practice until Sunday and even that was limited.

Yet she got the start against the Fighting Hawks and went for 13 points, four rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals while playing 31 minutes.

"If you had told me 48 hours ago that she'd be playing 31 minutes and scoring double figures? I'm really proud of the toughness she showed," said Petrino.

"Yesterday was the first time she practiced all week. We were just going to give it a go. I'm really proud of her."

Gfeller and Stiles both scored six points in the first quarter, which ended in a 16-16 deadlock.

Montana built a lead it would hold for the rest of the game in the second quarter, outscoring North Dakota 22-12 on 10-of-18 shooting to go up 38-28 at the half.

The period marked Montana's first of the season when the Lady Griz, who limited the Fighting Hawks to 5-of-16 shooting, were rolling on both ends of the floor.

Granted, it's a small sample size, especially after last week's games with Southern Utah were canceled.

"The second quarter was our best quarter of the year by far," said Petrino. "Of course it's only been two games."

Gfeller and Hannah Thurmon, who would score nine points on three 3-pointers, both hit triples early in the third quarter, and it looked like Montana might run North Dakota out of the gym.

But the Fighting Hawks hung around, just as they did against Marquette and Montana State, scoring 10 points over the final 2:18 of the third to go into the fourth trailing 61-52.

UND sophomore Maggie Manson had a perfect period, going 5 for 5, with four of those shots coming from the arc. She scored 14 of her 21 points in the third quarter, 19 in the second half.

North Dakota's leading scorer, Julie Fleecs, led the Fighting Hawks with 22.

"We broke down the second half on their scorers. We knew who their best shooter was, and we gave up too many shots to her," said Petrino.

"That was disappointing, but we'll get more consistent on defense. We had some good possessions. We just have to get more consistent and learn how to slow down a team's primary weapon."

North Dakota would pull within four, 66-62, midway through the fourth on a Manson jumper. That's when Thurmon hit the biggest shot of her nascent Lady Griz career.

She was brought to Montana from Missouri for her 3-point shooting, and with Montana's second game on the line, she delivered, putting the Lady Griz back up seven, 69-62.

They were the only points in the fourth quarter scored by one of the team's eight newcomers. Gfeller, Stiles, Anderson and Madi Schoening accounted for the other 22.

"Our returners, I can't say enough," said Petrino. "Carmen in back-to-back games. Sophie playing 33 minutes and getting a double-double.

"And Madi's effort on the boards was critical. She wanted to play better after our first game and to her credit, she bounced back. She played really well. This was a really good performance by a lot of players."

Schoening finished with nine points and nine rebounds. She got to the line eight times.

North Dakota would pull within four once again, 72-68, with 2:41 still to play. Then it was Stiles, then Gfeller, then Stiles with the backbreaker, a back-court steal and lay-in that put the game out of reach, a play few can anticipate and make. Stiles can. And does.

"We have to remember, we only have 80 minutes of experience with this group. Not playing Southern Utah on Thursday and Saturday took away half our season to this point," said Petrino.

"We should have four games in, so we need time to continue to grow and get better. But the effort is excellent by the girls. I love the team attitude they have."

Montana shot 47.6 percent, compiling a sweet 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio with 18 of the former against only nine of the latter, and out-rebounded North Dakota 44-34.

The Lady Griz will not play again until facing Gonzaga on Sunday in Spokane, a road trip that continues with a game at Seattle on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Montana will close out its pre-Christmas schedule with a home game against Utah Valley on Dec. 21.