Spartans lock down Lady Griz

Thursday, December 19

West Palm Beach, Fla.

10 AM (MT)

Montana

4-6

(15/17) Michigan State

11-0

Michigan St.

Montana

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/ University of Mo

12/19/2024 1:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

No. 15/17 Michigan State extended its best start in program history on Thursday, improving to 11-0 with a 69-38 victory over Montana on the opening day of the West Palm Beach Classic in Florida.

The Spartans led 18-13 after the first quarter, then outscored the Lady Griz 47-11 over the second and third periods to pull away.

Michigan State, which applied full-court pressure from the opening tip, forced 30 Montana turnovers, the most for the Lady Griz (4-6) since an overtime win at Weber State in the 1996-97 season.

The Spartans converted those turnovers into 43 points while holding Montana to its fewest points since a 50-34 loss at Idaho State in 2018-19.

"They were a tough match-up for us, which we knew. We worked on the press break the last 12 days and it looked like we didn't," said Lady Griz coach Brian Holsinger.

"They pressed us and we didn't handle it very well. That's what they do. If you handle their press well, then you can be successful. We didn't."

Montana hung with Michigan State early, getting 3-pointers from Dani Bartsch, Avery Waddington and Tyler McCliment-Call to pull within two, 13-11, late in the first quarter.

Mack Konig scored the opening points of the second quarter to make it 18-15 but the Spartans scored the game's next 21 points, holding the Lady Griz scoreless for nearly seven minutes.

Michigan State led 41-19 at the half. A 19-0 run in the third quarter gave the Spartans a 43-point lead, 65-22. Montana outscored Michigan State 16-4 over the game's final 10 and a half minutes.

Adria Lincoln scored seven points to lead Montana, which did not get to the free throw line, a first for the Lady Griz since at least the late 1970s.

"We knew it would be a challenge. We switched things up, used multiple press breaks," said Holsinger. "There is nothing like getting out there and playing against long, athletic, strong, tough kids.

"We don't have a ton of ball-handling, so our rhythm was off and we were slow to make the right reads. We got thrown out there against a really good team. Credit to them. They are good, no question."

Montana was in a two-point game in the first quarter when Bartsch picked up her second foul. She played less than six minutes in the first half, less than 16 for the game.

"We need to keep Dani on the floor. When she goes out, we get really young and inexperienced. That hurt us," said Holsinger.

Thursday marked the return of backup point guard Macy Donarski, who hadn't played since Montana's game at Minnesota in late November.

Donarski played a bulk of the fourth quarter, when she scored five points on perfect shooting while adding two rebounds and an assist. She had just one turnover in her 19 minutes on the court.

"Nothing like getting thrown out there in your first game back after almost a month away and you're getting pressed all over the floor," said Holsinger.

"Really proud of her. She played well today. It's great to have her back."

Montana will face Tulsa (5-5) at 10 a.m. (MT) on Friday. The Golden Hurricane, which does not play on Thursday, will take a three-game winning streak into its match-up against the Lady Griz.