Lady Griz win big, advance to round of 32

Wednesday, March 20

Missoula, Mont.

7 PM

Montana

23-9

Boise State

21-14

Boise St.

Montana

Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana

3/20/2024 10:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw was a middle schooler when it happened, the last time the Montana women's basketball team won a game in a postseason national tournament.

She joined the Lady Griz last summer, after four years at Iowa State, lured to Missoula by the vision her new head coach had for his program, of making waves in March.

With Montana hosting Boise State in the opening round of the WNIT on Wednesday night inside a festive Dahlberg Arena, Espenmiller-McGraw and her teammates delivered a memorable performance, one the Lady Griz used to be known for.

Montana hit 15 3-pointers, shot 52.5 percent overall and dominated the Broncos in the second half, pulling away for a 92-66 victory, its first in a national tournament since knocking off Washington State in the 2014 WNIT.

It was the most points ever scored in a game by the Lady Griz in their now 28th trip to a national tournament. Shock and awe and advance.

"When (head coach Brian Holsinger) was recruiting me, this was a big emphasis, to get this program back where it used to be with (Robin Selvig) coaching," said Espenmiller-McGraw, who scored a team-high 20 points, one of five players in double figures in the usual Lady Griz way, so much balance.

"This has been such a cool journey for this team to accomplish something in the postseason. Looking back in five or 10 years, I can say I helped get this program back to where it used to be."

Of course, this is no time for reminiscing but of looking ahead. Montana will face North Dakota State in the round of 32, either in Missoula or in Fargo on a date still to be determined.

Montana blitzed Boise State early and often, going 5 for 8 from the 3-point line in the first quarter alone. One of those came off the fingertips of Espenmiller-McGraw, who went 4 for 7 from the arc for the game.

She now has 79 made 3-pointers on the season, breaking the old program record of 75 she entered the game sharing with McCalle Feller.

Montana went 10 for 15 from the 3-point line in the first half, then hit three of five in the fourth quarter to make it a one-and-done WNIT for the Broncos (21-14).

"It was nice to see the shots go in. Maybe we just needed a little bit of rest," said Holsinger, whose team improved to 23-9 and took most of last week off after returning from Boise and the Big Sky Conference tournament, where Montana lost in the semifinals.

It was that rest that gave Boise State its only lifeline.

Montana turned the ball over six times in the first quarter, unforced errors mixed with hot shooting. The Lady Griz had 10 turnovers at the half, which allowed the Broncos to be within seven at the break, 46-39.

"Probably a little rust," said Holsinger. "We haven't played for a week and really didn't practice after Boise. Some of our timing was off. I just told them to slow down a little bit."

The game flipped totally in Montana's favor as the second half started. Boise State missed its first 10 shots of the third quarter and the Lady Griz turned the ball over just three times in the second half.

Montana outscored Boise State 26-21 in the third quarter, then buried the Broncos in the fourth, outscoring them 20-6.

"I thought we really, really buckled down defensively in the second half and did a nice job," said Holsinger, whose team broke 90 for the first time this season against a Division I opponent.

"You get to the postseason and it's almost a relief. You grind it out in conference against teams that know you so well, then you get to the postseason and it's hard to prepare that quickly for teams."

Montana's 15 3-pointers were its most in a game since January.

"There are things you have to take away from us or we can really score it," added Holsinger. "Tonight, 92 points, it was going to be hard to beat us no matter what."

Mack Konig scored 16 points, as did Macey Huard, a season high. She was part of a critical boost Montana got from its bench with Espenmiller-McGraw and Gfeller both in foul trouble.

Alex Pirog and Adria Lincoln both scored and Haley Huard had three assists, all in the fourth quarter, all on post feeds from the top of the key. Montana's 25 bench points were its most since January.

"Really proud of our bench. Alex gave us a great lift and Haley had three straight assists when we needed them," said Holsinger. "They just played right. It was a total team effort."

Gfeller scored 14 points, as did Gina Marxen on 4-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line. She also had nine assists, her most in a game since early January.

It was part of Montana's personnel and stylistic difference with Boise State, which plays with a two-post system that the Lady Griz exploited time and time again. Montana had 20 assists on its 32 made baskets.

"They play different than us, with two posts," said Holsinger. "We do our best to space the floor, make those posts guard, drive those kids hard, look for the kickout. Fifteen threes. That's always a good thing."

With Boise's starting post players limited to 11 points between them, guards Natalie Pasco and Mya Hansen did what they could, scoring 21 and 20 points, respectively.

But 18 turnovers and 34.8 percent shooting, plus Montana's hot shooting, was too much for the Broncos to overcome.

So, it's Montana that moves on to face the Bison, who are 21-11 and finished second behind South Dakota State in the Summit League at 13-3 in league.

"We'd love to play again at home. It's so fun. This is such a neat place to play. We're so fortunate," said Holsinger.