Experienced Bulldogs pull away late, top Lady Griz

Monday, November 6

Missoula, Mont.

7 PM

Montana

0-1

Gonzaga

1-0

Gonzaga

Montana

11/6/2023 10:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

It was Gonzaga's experience both early and down the stretch that allowed the Bulldogs to open the season with an 83-70 victory over Montana on Monday night at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.

Gonzaga put up 24 first-quarter points, going 5 for 8 from 3-point range, to build an early advantage, and the Bulldogs held it through the finish to defeat the Lady Griz for the 11th consecutive time.

Montana trailed 32-28 at the half and pulled within one six different times in the third quarter and early in the fourth. That's when Gonzaga's experience showed once again.

The Bulldogs, who start four graduate students and a senior, opened the fourth quarter hitting 10 of their first 11 shots in the final period to pull away for good.

"They are a veteran team. You have to take your hat off to them. It got tight and they executed better than we did," said third-year coach Brian Holsinger.

"I'm really proud of how we fought. We battled until the end. We just didn't execute."

Dani Bartsch, in a continuation of her strong finish to her sophomore season, had 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting and 10 rebounds for her fifth career double-double.

MJ Bruno, in her first game as a Lady Griz, added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and Gina Marxen hit three 3-pointers off the bench to finish with 11 points.

The game's start looked like a team that has been to six consecutive NCAA tournaments facing one with those types of dreams but plenty of new faces.

Gonzaga led by 10 points less than seven minutes in and 24-14 after the first quarter, with Montana turning the ball over eight times in the opening 10 minutes and also getting into early foul trouble.

"We came out and turned it over. Jitters a little bit. I think (the newcomers) all came out a little nervous. That's normal," said Holsinger.

Montana held Gonzaga to 3-of-13 shooting in the second quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 14-8 in the period to close to within 32-28 at the half.

"The second quarter, we defended like crazy," said Holsinger. "We did some really good things."

The Lady Griz had the game where they wanted it. They were outrebounding Gonzaga and held the Bulldogs to just two second-chance points through the first 20 minutes.

Montana four times pulled within a point in the third quarter, but unlike the first half, it was the offensive boards that kept Gonzaga in front.

The Bulldogs grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the third quarter alone, frustratingly extending possessions and coming up with six crucial second-chance points.

"We really took it to them on the glass in the first half. They came out in the second half and really got after the offensive glass," said Holsinger. "That really hurt us."

A basket at the end of the third quarter gave Gonzaga a 53-47 lead going into the fourth.

Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw opened the final period with a 3-pointer to make it 53-50 and Bruno scored in the paint to make it 53-52.

That's when Kaylynne Truong, last year's West Coast Conference Player of the Year, took over.

She scored 12 of Gonzaga's first 14 points to open the fourth quarter, including back-to-back 3-pointers, then assisted on her sister's basket that made it 69-59 with five minutes to go.

With Montana scrambling defensively, Gonzaga scored six straight points on baskets inside, and the Bulldogs led by 11 or more the final 3:51.

"They are all seniors. They gook over when they needed to," said Holsinger. "You play a good team that's experienced, and they took advantage.

"I'm proud of our kids overall. I'd love to give them another month to get good at some of the things that hurt us. We're not ready to execute down the stretch like we should in a game like that."

Bartsch scored seven of her 18 points in the fourth quarter, 14 in the second half, going 6 for 6 from the field and hitting both of her 3-point attempts.

"Really proud of Dani. She was fantastic," said Holsinger. "She's a warrior. I was a little surprised how well she shot it. She has not been shooting the ball great in practice.

"She comes out tonight and I'm like, let's starting running stuff for Dani Bartsch."

Gonzaga, with four starters making up four of the 10 players on the preseason All-WCC team, relies heavily on its starting five.

Kaylynne Truong finished with 19 points and six assists, Yvonne Ejim with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Eliza Hollingsworth with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Kayleigh Truong totaled 11 points, Brynna Maxwell, who was so destructive in Gonzaga's victory over Montana last winter in Spokane, added nine.

Montana outscored Gonzaga's bench 19-11, with Marxen, Libby Stump and Macey Huard all playing 17 or more minutes.

"Top to bottom, there are a lot of kids on our bench I wouldn't give up for theirs," said Holsinger. "I love our depth. On any given night, different people can play."

As expected, Montana showed its offensive firepower, putting up 70 points on 41.4 percent shooting on a night when Carmen Gfeller was held without a made field goal in limited minutes because of foul trouble.

The Lady Griz hit 10 3-pointers and cleaned up their ball-handling, finishing with just six turnovers over the final 30 minutes, 14 for the game.

Also as expected, Gonzaga's experience played a huge role. The Bulldogs shot 47.7 percent and came back to finish with a 39-33 rebound advantage, out-boarding the Lady Griz 21-11 in the second half, 11 coming on the offensive end.

The schedule will keep Montana challenged. The Lady Griz host Washington State on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The Cougars return four starters from last year's Pac-12 tournament title team.

Washington State opened its season with a 78-61 home win over Cal Poly on Monday night. Trailing 34-31 at the half, the Cougars put up 47 second-half points to pull away.

Washington State hosts Gonzaga on Thursday, Idaho State on Sunday before traveling to Missoula.