Lady Griz bounce back, win 82-73

Saturday, February 10

Missoula, Mont.

2 PM

Montana

16-7, 8-4BSC

Northern Colorado

10-12, 5-6BSC

Northern Colo.

Montana

Photo by: Tanner Ecker/University of Montana

2/10/2024 6:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

It took just a few minutes on Saturday afternoon for Montana to mostly erase the memory of Thursday night's home loss to Big Sky Conference leader Northern Arizona.

Facing Northern Colorado, a team that defeated the Lady Griz 67-57 in Greeley last month, Montana struck early and often, putting up 24 first-quarter points and never looked back, winning 82-73 at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.

The Lady Griz (16-7, 8-4 BSC) built an 18-point second-half lead and snapped a two-game losing streak that came against the Big Sky's top two teams, Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington.

Playing for the first time this season without starter MJ Bruno, who sat out, and with Carmen Gfeller scoring just four points, her first time in 22 games not in double figures, Montana showed its depth of talent.

Dani Bartsch scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Mack Konig had 18 points and four assists, and Gina Marxen, getting her first start since last season, matched a season high with 17 points.

Montana never trailed on Saturday but saw its lead cut to five, 63-58, after the Bears (10-12, 5-6 BSC) scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter.

That was Marxen time. She hit back-to-back 3-pointers just 31 seconds apart, then scored at the basket to complete her own 8-0 run that put Montana up 73-59.

"Gina is fantastic. She is a starter on any team. Offensively, it's hard to beat Gina from a shooting, passing and play-making perspective," said coach Brian Holsinger.

"We're really good with her in the lineup. We're a threat all over the floor. She came in and took it on her shoulders and took over the game in that moment."

On Thursday, Northern Arizona found its success – holding Montana to 60 points – but gumming up Montana's attack at the perimeter, keeping the Lady Griz from getting downhill and into their devastating drive-and-kick game.

That led to a massive imbalance in points scored in the paint, with Northern Arizona's inside points adding up quicker than Montana's 3-point shooting in the Lumberjacks' 69-60 victory.

On Saturday, Montana was more diversified, going 15 for 30 inside the arc while doing its usual damage from the 3-point line, going 13 for 33.

The Bears had the more productive post players but the Lady Griz still put up 28 points in the paint to UNC's 32.

"We wanted to go inside and go inside-out, whether it was driving it to the paint or throwing it to the post. We wanted more inside-out and less swing stuff," said Holsinger. "That was our focus the last 24 hours.

"We spaced them out. As much as we were getting beat inside, they had to guard us on the perimeter. We took advantage of what we're good at."

Bartsch was on her way to her 12th career double-double by the end of the first quarter, when she put up 10 points and six rebounds. And she never stopped. Montana was +21 in the 32:13 she was on the floor, -12 in the 7:47 she rested.

"I told Dani the other day, it's time for you to be a star," said Holsinger. "It's time for you to not just be a rebounder. You need to be a star. You're good enough. You're capable. Be a player. She was big time."

Montana led 38-31 at the half, 63-50 after three quarters. After Northern Colorado made it a five-point game early in the fourth quarter, the Lady Griz answered with a 15-2 run that put the game out of reach.

"How big is it, when Carmen doesn't play her best, for us to be able to pull out a victory?" asked Holsinger. "That's what team is about. Proud of them. (Northern Colorado) cut it down a couple of times and how we responded was awesome. Good job finishing it out."

UNC bigs Tatum West and Aniah Hall combined to score 35 points on 11-of-19 shooting – they also got to the line 15 times – but that was preferred to Hannah Simental, one of the Big Sky's most dangerous offensive players, getting on a roll.

Or her perimeter teammates. Northern Colorado is one of the nation's best 3-point shooting teams, basically Montana with fewer attempts.

Simental finished with just six points on 3-of-14 shooting as the Bears went 5 for 15 from the arc. "We're having trouble guarding in the post, but we did what we're supposed to do with (Simental)," said Holsinger.

"We wanted to limit their 3-point shots. Our kids really listened. They were focused and locked in on the game plan. Really proud of our players."

Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw added 11 points, Macey Huard had nine points and a season-high six rebounds off the bench as Montana bounced back for win No. 16 of the season.

"They were a little down yesterday," Holsinger said of the team's mood after a big opportunity on Thursday night slipped away. "Credit to our kids, we played better today."

With the win, Montana moved back into a tie for third in the Big Sky with Montana State (14-11, 8-4 BSC). The Lady Griz will host the Bobcats next Saturday at 2 p.m.

Northern Arizona (18-6, 10-1 BSC), which won 71-58 at Montana State on Saturday, is atop the Big Sky, followed by Eastern Washington (19-5, 9-2 BSC).