Lady Griz earn home win over Wildcats

Thursday, January 16

Missoula, Mont.

7 PM

Montana

6-10, 2-3BSC

Weber State

5-9, 2-2BSC

Weber St.

Montana

Photo by: Ella Palulis/University of Montana

1/16/2025 10:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's basketball team rediscovered its offense and in the process put an end to a three-game losing streak, defeating Weber State 74-70 on Thursday night at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.

The Lady Griz hadn't scored more than 50 points in its three previous losses but stormed out of the gates against the Wildcats, putting up 29 first-quarter points and shooting 45.2 percent for the game.

Tyler McCliment-Call, who totaled five points over Montana's previous three games, came off the bench with a ferocity of play that earned her a team-high 18 points, her most since November and her most against a Division I opponent this season.

Filling in for Mack Konig, who did not play, Macy Donarski dished out seven assists and all 10 Lady Griz who stepped on the floor scored in a balanced attack, with Montana piling up 17 assists against seven turnovers.

"Just so proud of the kids," said acting head coach Nate Harris. "They put in a tremendous effort over the last few days to just keep battling and stick together. I'm so proud of what they did tonight together.

"That was the biggest thing, them coming together and finding a way. I told them, let's just have one more point than them. It's hard to put into words just how proud I am of them and what they've done over the last 24 hours."

Weber State was picked last in the preseason poll but is no last-place team, not with the pieces coach Jenteal Jackson collected in the off-season and put together.

The Wildcats entered the game 2-1 in league and hung right with Montana through the first 20 minutes, the visitors trailing by just a point, 41-40 at the half.

Weber State was sparked in the first half by the outside shooting of Lanae Billy, a transfer from Division II Fort Lewis. She went 4 for 5 from the 3-point line in the first quarter alone and had 15 points at the half on 5-of-7 shooting from the arc.

Montana led by a point at the break despite shooting 53.3 percent through the first two periods.

"They are a good basketball team and put you in some tough spots," said Harris. "It's hard to decide how you're going to guard them.

"We went zone and that kind of stymied them and helped us. It got us that big lead and thank goodness we had it because they came roaring back."

After giving up 40 first-half points, Montana outscored Weber State 19-9 in the third quarter and built its lead to 14 points with five minutes left in the fourth, the game all but locked up.

Not quite.

Weber State hit four of its next six shots and after McCliment-Call hit a 3-pointer to make it 73-61 with 3:37 left, Montana would score just one more point, the Lady Griz missing their final three shots while twice turning the ball over.

Two free throws cut the lead to 10. A 3-pointer made it 73-66. Two more free throws made it a five-point game. And a lay-up with 42 seconds left turned a walk-off into a nail-biter, especially when the Lady Griz missed two free throws with 11 seconds left that gave the Wildcats one final opportunity.

After advancing the ball, Weber State forced a potential tying 3-pointer from the right wing, right into the waiting arms of Avery Waddington, who collected the volleyball block. MJ Bruno hit a free throw with four seconds left for the game's final margin.

"It was a great chance to teach the kids that panic doesn't work," said Harris. "Intensity works. Focus works. Just stay the course and do your job."

Waddington had another excellent overall game, scoring 13 points, grabbing seven rebounds, blocking two shots, going 3 for 6 from the 3-point line. She and McCliment-Call helped Montana score 38 key bench points on a night when no starter reached 10.

Dani Bartsch had nine points and 10 rebounds, her 31st career game with 10 or more boards. That leaves her five from breaking into the top 10 in program history for career rebounds.

Izabella Zingaro had an efficient game, scoring nine points in 13 minutes on perfect 3-of-3 shooting, while Bruno and Aby Shubert both scored eight. Draya Wacker had four assists in nine minutes off the bench spelling Donarski at the point.

Montana hit 11 3-pointers, its sixth game this season with 10 or more makes from the arc.

"We talked before the game, just have no fear. Fire away. If you're thinking about it, you're probably going to miss," said Harris. "We had a lot of kids who played in a confident way. Just go out and if you're going to shoot it, shoot it like you mean it."

Donarski played 31 minutes in her first collegiate start, a dozen more than her previous season high. She had 12 assists on the season before dishing out seven against the Wildcats.

"Anyone who knows Macy knows she is a winner, she is a competitor, a kid you trust in big moments," said Harris. "She is a consummate coach's kid.

"As a coach, she just makes you feel good. She's going to be in the right spot, make the right play and she is going to give everything she has to winning. Tonight was a Macy performance."

Kendra Parra led both teams with 19 points while totaling six assists. Billy finished the game with the same 15 points she had at the half. Weber State's leading scorer, Taylor Smith, had 13 points but shot just 5 for 15.

Montana (6-10, 2-3 BSC) will host Idaho State (6-9, 1-3 BSC) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the program's annual N7 game. The Bengals lost 94-52 at Montana State on Thursday night, leading 19-14 at the end of the first quarter, then getting outscored 80-33 over the final 30 minutes.