Lady Griz win Big Sky opener

Friday, December 29

Missoula, Mont.

7 PM

Montana

7-3, 1-0BSC

Weber State

3-10, 0-1BSC

Weber St.

Montana

Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana

12/29/2023 10:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Montana raced out to a 9-0 lead on Friday night and led from start to finish as the Lady Griz opened their Big Sky Conference schedule with an 87-71 victory over Weber State at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.

Montana (7-3, 1-0 BSC), which won its fourth straight game and for the seventh time in eight games, led 46-29 at the half and by 16 entering the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats (3-10, 0-1 BSC) went on an 11-0 run over the course of just 75 seconds to turn a 66-50 deficit into a five-point game, 66-61, midway through the fourth before five straight points from Carmen Gfeller gave Montana some breathing room.

It was another big offensive night for Montana, which shot 46.3 percent and hit 13 3-pointers for the second consecutive game. It was the most points for the Lady Griz against Weber State since 2013.

Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw, held to 16 points in three games in California, scored 21 points, going 5 for 8 from the 3-point line, as Montana had five players in double figures for the fourth time this season.

Gfeller finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, her ninth career double-double, Mack Konig had 14 points, her third straight game in double figures, and Gina Marxen and Macey Huard combined to score 24 points off the bench while going 5 for 9 from the 3-point line.

"We can score," said coach Brian Holsinger, whose team both scored 28 points in the fourth quarter and gave up 28 points to the Wildcats on 10-of-16 shooting. Weber State entered the game averaging just 54.9 points through its first 12 games.

"We're still learning, we're still growing as a defensive team. Really proud of our effort."

Montana rolled through the first half, going up 9-0 early and building a 17-point halftime cushion. Huard came off the bench to score 11 points by the break and the Lady Griz hit eight 3-pointers while turning the ball over just two times. Montana had 53 turnovers in three games in California.

"Overall, we were much better taking care of the ball. Credit to our team," said Holsinger.

Espenmiller-McGraw opened the second half with a 3-pointer, pushing the lead to 20, 49-29. It reached 22 points, 59-37, late in the third quarter before Weber State ended the period on an easy-to-overlook 6-0 run.

But that sparked the Wildcats, who would put up 34 points over the game's final 11:38.

After Konig hit a 3-pointer to make it 66-50, Weber State went on its 11-0 run over 75 seconds, which included a pair of 3-pointers that made it 66-61 and brought a bit of tension to the field house.

Daryn Hickok, third-team All-Big Sky last season, scored 12 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter. "She's an all-conference kid for a reason. She's tough to stop and got going," said Holsinger.

"What I tell my team all the time is you have to continue to play. Teams go off of momentum. They get a couple baskets in transition, then they get confident and think they can make anything. The first half we didn't really allow that. The second half we did allow that."

Weber State took 6-foot-2 forward Amelia Raidaveta out of the game early in the fourth quarter. With Montana up by five and facing a less imposing lane, Montana went to Gfeller down low on back-to-back possessions. She delivered both times to get the lead back to 10, 71-61.

"We felt like we had a good matchup there, so we wanted to go to her," said Holsinger. "Carmen made a couple really big plays inside."

The lead was seven when Espenmiller-McGraw hit a 3-pointer with 4:21 to go and Montana led comfortably the rest of the way. "Huge baskets by seniors that helped us pull away after we messed around for a little bit there and let them get close."

Dani Bartsch grabbed 12 rebounds, the 13th time in her career she has had 10 or more, and Marxen was fantastic in the 26:40 she played off the bench. Montana was +22 when she was on the floor, 10 points better than any other player.

In addition to her 13 points, she handed out six assists without a turnover and grabbed four rebounds. She has totaled 25 assists over the last five games, with 12 in the last two with one turnover.

"Gina is so efficient. You can count on her to make the right play," said Holsinger. "She does it over and over and over."

Montana outrebounded Weber State 43-30, the eighth time in 10 games this season the Lady Griz have outrebounded their opponent.

All that high-scoring fun will be put to a stern test on Sunday when Montana faces Idaho State (4-6, 0-1 BSC), which lost its league opener at Montana State on Friday 58-56.

The Bengals, who lost on a game-winning basket after rallying back from a 52-39 fourth-quarter deficit, held the Bobcats to 35.7 percent shooting and forced them into 21 turnovers.

Montana has lost five straight at home to the Bengals while averaging just 54 points. The Lady Griz have gone 3-11 against ISU and coach Seton Sobolewski since longtime Montana coach Robin Selvig retired in 2016.

"They're tough and Seton is a great coach," said Holsinger. "They are going to come in and be physical and defend like crazy. It's going to be a tough game."

Sunday's game tips off at 2 p.m.