Lady Griz picked fifth, seventh in preseason polls

The Montana women's basketball team, one of five programs in the league entering the season under a new coaching staff, was picked fifth in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches' poll and seventh by the media, the league office announced on Wednesday morning.

Idaho State, which won the league last season at 15-2 and rolled to the tournament title in Boise, winning all three of its games by 10 or more points, is the heavy preseason favorite, picking up 10 of 11 first-place votes in the coaches' poll, 17 of 22 in the media poll.

The Bengals return their top four scorers from last year's 22-4 team that lost 71-63 to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament and 11 of the 12 players who saw the court last year, including first-team All-Big Sky selection Dora Goles and second-teamer Diaba Konate.

Also back are Estefania Ors, the MVP of the Big Sky tournament, and Callie Bourne, maybe the team's best all-around player who averaged 10.0 points and 8.5 rebounds last season.

ISU's biggest offseason loss may have come on the bench, where it will be without high-value assistant coach Travis Brewster, who is in his first week on the job as head coach of Saint Xavier University, a NAIA school in Chicago.

Montana State was picked second in both polls, Idaho, which lost 84-49 to Idaho State in the Big Sky championship game, third. The Bobcats picked up one first-place vote in both polls, the Vandals collected three first-place votes in the media poll.

Darian White, first-team All-Big Sky last season, returns for Montana State, Beyonce Bea, also first-team All-Big Sky in 2020-21, is back for Idaho.

Idaho (14-3 BSC) and Montana State (13-3 BSC) finished second and third in the Big Sky standings last year in a season that was marred by incomplete schedules due to COVID-19-related game cancelations.

Northern Arizona, which returns its top five scorers, was picked fourth in the coaches' poll and was the only other team to pick up a first-place vote, in the media poll where the Lumberjacks were picked fifth behind Southern Utah.

Montana, under first-year coach Brian Holsinger, rounded out the top five in the coaches' poll, behind Idaho State, Montana State, Idaho and Northern Arizona.

The Lady Griz were followed by Southern Utah, Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Portland State, Weber State and Eastern Washington.

Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Portland State and Eastern Washington also are under new coaches.

In the media poll, Montana came in seventh, behind Idaho State, Montana State and Idaho, plus Southern Utah, Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado.

Montana returns three starters, including senior forward Abby Anderson and junior forward Carmen Gfeller, both of whom earned third-team All-Big Sky honors last season.

Gfeller (14.3/g), who led the Big Sky in shooting percentage (.529), and Anderson (12.4/g) both averaged in double figures last season, as did Sophia Stiles, a returning senior, who averaged 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds, and led the team in assists and steals.

Montana went 12-11 last season under interim coach Mike Petrino. The Lady Griz finished sixth in league play with a 9-8 mark.

Montana went on a five-game winning streak in February but lost its last four games, two at home to Idaho State by a combined 46 points, by 20 at Idaho and then to No. 11-seed Sacramento State, 65-58, in the first round of the Big Sky tournament in Boise.

Fans will get their first chance to check out the latest Lady Griz team on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at the annual Maroon-Silver scrimmage, set to start at 5 p.m.

Montana will host Rocky Mountain on Friday, Nov. 5, in its lone exhibition game, then welcome Northwest Nazarene to Missoula on Tuesday, Nov. 9, for its regular-season opener.

Big Sky Conference Coaches' Poll
1. Idaho State (10) … 100
2. Montana State (1) … 85
3. Idaho … 82
4. Northern Arizona … 72
5. Montana … 59
6. Southern Utah… 53
7. Northern Colorado … 45
8. Sacramento State … 43
9. Portland State … 29
10. Weber State … 21
11. Eastern Washington … 16

Big Sky Conference Media Poll
1. Idaho State (17) … 235
2. Montana State (1) … 203
3. Idaho (3) … 202
4. Southern Utah …183
5. Northern Arizona (1) … 171
6. Northern Colorado … 141
7. Montana … 140
8. Portland State … 79
9. Sacramento State … 70
10. Eastern Washington … 58
11. Weber State … 33

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Abby Anderson

Carmen Gfeller

Sophia Stiles

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