Bengals tough out 55-54 win

Thursday, February 9

Missoula, Mont.

7 PM

Montana

12-12, 8-5BSC

Idaho State

10-13, 5-7BSC

Idaho St.

Montana

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/UM Athletics

2/9/2023 10:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Relying on two players on the offensive end and a physical game plan on the defensive side, Idaho State stunned Montana 55-54 at Dahlberg Arena on Thursday night in Missoula.

The Lady Griz, who trailed 29-22 at the half but appeared to be taking control with a big third quarter, took a nine-point lead on the opening possession of the fourth period to go up 46-37.

But Montana would go more than five minutes without a basket, which allowed the Bengals to score 10 straight points and take a 47-46 lead with 4:44 to play.

All 10 points in the run were scored by Callie Bourne and Laura Bello, who combined to score 44 of ISU's 55 points on Thursday.

Montana retook the lead, 49-47, on a 3-pointer by Mack Konig and went up 54-50 with a 3-pointer by Gina Marxen from the corner with 2:25 remaining, part of her 17-point night.

Those would be Montana's final points of the game as the Lady Griz went 0 for 3 with a pair of turnovers down the stretch.

Carsyn Boswell brought Idaho State within one, 54-53, with a 3-pointer with 1:44 to go, her only points of the night.

Neither team would score again until Camryn Collman drove to the basket in the closing seconds and drew a foul with 0.9 seconds left. Her two free throws provided the winning points.

Inbounding in front of its own bench, Montana got the ball to Libby Stump, but her turnaround jump shot at the buzzer came up short.

It was Idaho State's fifth consecutive win over Montana inside Dahlberg Arena.

"We got what we deserved. It's that simple. We didn't play with a winning mentality in general," said coach Brian Holsinger, whose team's four-game winning streak came to an end.

"Disappointed in the effort in general. We're just not consistent. We didn't rebound, didn't do the things it takes to win, so we got what we deserved."

Montana was averaging more than 81 points during its winning streak, but Idaho State, which averages less than 57 points, hand-checked and bodied the Lady Griz into just 22 first-half points, a season low.

Montana went just 8 for 23 (.348) through the first 20 minutes and turned the ball over nine times.

"They were physical. The refs let them be super physical and we didn't respond very well," said Holsinger, whose team was nearly outscored by Bourne in the first half. She had 18 at the break.

Montana flipped the script in the third quarter. The Lady Griz hit their first eight shots of the second half, with Carmen Gfeller scoring six points and Marxen hitting a pair of 3-pointers.

Montana's 29-22 halftime deficit turned into a 41-33 lead. A late 3-pointer by Marxen sent the home team into the final period leading 44-37.

Keeli Burton-Oliver scored 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Idaho State retook control of the tempo and won the game by scoring the night's final five points to steal a victory.

"When we got the lead, I went to the bench and we didn't execute right offensively, so we couldn't extend it. We got no energy off our bench," said Holsinger.

"They made some baskets and we weren't very tough, and you have to be tough against a team like that."

Montana went 12 for 23 (.522) in the second half to finish at 43.5 percent for the game, but 17 turnovers and 11 offensive rebounds allowed did in the Lady Griz in the end.

The Bengals feasted on those turnovers, converting them into 27 points. Idaho State also scored nine second-chance points while giving up just three offensive rebounds to Montana and no second-chance points.

Marxen, with 17, and Gfeller, with 10, were the only Montana players in double figures. Marxen went 5 for 7 from the arc. Stump scored nine points off the bench, Burton-Oliver added seven.

Dani Bartsch grabbed 12 rebounds, Konig had seven points and six assists.

Idaho State held Sammy Fatkin, who scored 28 points in Montana's 77-68 win over the Bengals in Pocatello last month, scoreless.

Bourne's 26 points were a season high and they came from all over the court. She made a pair of 3-pointers, hit from the mid-range and finished at the basket.

Bello finished with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. They made 21 of Idaho State's 23 baskets.

"Bello hit some shots she hasn't hit all year, so credit to her," said Holsinger. "And then Bourne did what she wanted against our freshmen. We're just not very tough yet."

Montana will try to bounce back on Saturday afternoon when it plays its first game on Robin Selvig Court.

The Lady Griz (12-12, 8-5 BSC) will face last-place Weber State (5-19, 1-11 BSC) at 2 p.m. The Wildcats lost 75-60 at Montana State on Thursday, a game Weber State led 28-26 at the half.