Lady Griz open league with 78-70 win

Thursday, January 2

Missoula, Mont.

7 PM

Montana

5-7, 1-0BSC

Eastern Washington

4-9, 0-1BSC

Eastern Wash.

Montana

Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana

1/2/2025 10:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's basketball team opened its Big Sky Conference schedule with a 78-70 win over defending league champion Eastern Washington on Thursday night at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.

Trailing by one, 55-54, early in the fourth quarter, the Lady Griz (5-7, 1-0 BSC) hit three 3-pointers as part of a 9-0 run that propelled Montana to its first victory since November.

The Lady Griz had five players in double figures and turned the ball over a season-low four times after piling up 59 giveaways in two games at the West Palm Beach Classic before Christmas.

MJ Bruno scored a season-high 15 points, freshman Avery Waddington had her first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Dani Bartsch, Mack Konig and Tyler McCliment-Call each had 11 points as Montana snapped a four-game losing streak.

The Lady Griz won their Big Sky opener for the fourth time in four seasons under coach Brian Holsinger. "You just want to go 1-0. That's it. And we did," he said.

How it came to be leaves Holsinger and his staff plenty to work through as the Lady Griz prepare to face Idaho on Saturday afternoon.

The teams played a first quarter that resembled the NBA All-Star game, the Lady Griz and Eagles combining to shoot 21 for 35 (.600) with just a single turnover as both teams raced up and down the court freely.

Montana led after 10 minutes 28-25, quite a change for teams that played to 61-56 and 56-55 final scores a year ago as the Eagles (4-9, 0-1 BSC) rode that defense to a league title.

"It was an interesting start to say the least. We didn't come out with the defensive intensity I thought we should have," said Holsinger.

"The best defensive teams are the ones who are there at the end. We have to continue to work at it and get better at that end of the floor."

The teams were tied 40-40 at the break, the Eagles there after shooting 51.6 percent through 20 minutes, the Lady Griz even with them after hitting six 3-pointers, two each from Waddington and McCliment-Call off the bench.

Remarkably, Montana had a single turnover at the half. The Lady Griz had 30 turnovers against Michigan State in Florida, then added another 29 a day later against Tulsa. Both games were losses.

"You are what you work on, and we worked on taking care of the ball and did a better job not giving them extra possessions," said Holsinger. "Proud of them for that. That is a big improvement."

Montana never trailed in the third quarter but could never break free of Eastern Washington either, the Eagles going up 55-54 less than a minute into the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Ella Gallatin.

Bartsch made sure the visitors would never lead again.

She was 2 for 13 at that point, but she hit a 3-pointer that gave Montana a lead, then one possession later did it again, putting the Lady Griz up five, 60-55.

On a night when her shots, for the most part, weren't falling, Bartsch did everything else well, including totaling a career-high eight assists, grabbing five rebounds and blocking two shots.

"We're going to stick with her. We're going to roll with her. She's one of our players who I count on," said Holsinger. "She stuck with it mentally, which is hard. Credit to her. That's mental toughness."

Montana would lead by at least two possessions the rest of the way except for one last dicey situation, when Eastern Washington had the ball down three with just over three minutes left.

This time it was Bruno to the rescue, stepping in to take a charge on Peyton Howard, who would finish with 16 points and seven assists.

Konig hit a pull-up jumper on Montana's next possession, Waddington finished at the rim after creating a clear path to the basket and Bruno hit the dagger, a 3-pointer with 2:01 left that made it 73-63.

Heroes all around, none larger than Bartsch and Bruno. "I put a lot on them. MJ stepped up and made some big shots and Dani down the stretch made the ones we needed," said Holsinger, who gave a postgame nod to the festive, post-holiday crowd of 2,304.

"I love how many people were here. The crowd was amazing. The support was amazing. I appreciate them."

Montana's five players in double figures were a season best. "It makes us harder to guard. We need people to step up," said Holsinger. "But scoring wasn't our issue today. That first quarter was crazy."

Eastern Washington scored nearly six more points than its season average, though Montana held the Eagles to just 31.3 percent shooting in the second half.

Gallatin, who was averaging 7.8 points, finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Kourtney Grossman, the Eagles' freshman from Billings, had 14 rebounds as EWU out-boarded Montana by three.

The Lady Griz went 13 for 31 (.419) from the 3-point line, matching a season high for makes.

Montana and Idaho (8-4, 0-1 BSC) will tip off at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Vandals lost 59-56 at Montana State on Thursday in their Big Sky opener.