Konig, Bartsch honored by Big Sky

Montana junior Mack Konig and senior Dani Bartsch were honored on Friday as the All-Big Sky Conference teams and individual awards were announced by the league office.

Konig, the Big Sky Freshman of the Year in 2022-23, was voted second-team All-Big Sky, Bartsch was named honorable mention.

Bartsch was second team last season and a member of the Big Sky's All-Defensive Team.

Konig leads Montana in both scoring (10.6/g) and assists (146). Her assists average ranks second in the Big Sky and 30th nationally.

Konig broke a finger on her right hand in late January and played the next seven games with a splint and a restrictive tape job. She played through it as best she could, averaging 7.9 points on 33 percent shooting.

It wasn't a coincidence that the Lady Griz had a four-game losing streak during Konig's injury.

"That's a kid who loves basketball and did everything she could to be out on the floor," said Montana interim head coach Nate Harris. "She wasn't 100 percent but wanted to be there for her team.

"She found ways to use her left hand and found ways to continue to get to the hoop and create shots for other people. She battled through but it was definitely a struggle to manage that."

After a fourth consecutive loss, Konig ditched the splint and tape and returned to her best self as Montana closed the season with three games in five days against Sacramento State, Portland State and Eastern Washington.

Konig averaged 16.3 points on 65.4 percent shooting, 8.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds in those three games and on Tuesday was named the Big Sky co-Player of the Week.

"She decided to take it all off and compete through it. She got back to looking like Mack," said Harris, who knows point guard play in March can be the separator as teams shift from the regular season to tournament mode.

"Mack is somebody I trust, somebody I believe in," said Harris. "When she's at her best, we're at our best. Her ability to get to the middle of the paint is second to none.

"When she's healthy, she is one of the best point guards in our league, so this is a well-deserved honor for her. She can do it all."

Bartsch averaged 7.9 points last season and 10.4 rebounds, her 342 boards for the year a new single-season record in the Lady Griz history book.

She injured her foot late last season, had surgery in the summer and has been playing at less than 100 percent for the entirety of her senior year. These days she's getting it done through grit and her veteran smarts.

She is still averaging 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds.

"This has been a year that's really shown Dani's basketball IQ. She hasn't had the ability physically to do what she's been able to do in the past, but you can still see her nose for the ball, her anticipation, her understanding of what we're trying to do and what needs to happen," Harris said.

Bartsch has had 10 games with 10 or more points, six games with 10 or more rebounds as a senior.

"I think this is a reward for people really respecting Dani's basketball IQ and her commitment to playing the right way," said Harris.

"In the same way that when Mack is at her best, we're at our best, when Dani is able to be involved in all parts of the game, that's when we're at our best."

Montana went 12-17 during the regular season and tied for fifth in the Big Sky with an 8-10 league record.

The Lady Griz will take the No. 6 seed into the Big Sky Conference Championship, which starts on Saturday in Boise. Montana will face No. 3 Idaho on Monday at 2:30 p.m. in a quarterfinal game.

"We're thankful Mack and Dani received honors," said Harris. "Now we're back to figuring out how our team goes and wins three games in three days and accomplishes something big as a team."

2024-25 Big Sky Conference Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Esmeralda Morales, Montana State
Newcomer of the Year: Olivia Nelson, Idaho *
Freshman of the Year: Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington
Defensive Player of the Year: Taylee Chirrick, Montana State
Top Reserve: Saniyah Neverson, Northern Arizona
Coach of the Year: Tricia Binford, Montana State

2024-25 First-Team All-Big Sky Conference
Esmeralda Morales, Montana State *
Olivia Nelson, Idaho *
Taylor Feldman, Northern Arizona *
Sophie Glancey, Northern Arizona *
Marah Dykstra, Montana State
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State
Taylor Smith, Weber State

2024-25 Second-Team All-Big Sky Conference
Kendra Parra, Weber State
Tasia Jordan, Idaho State
Jaydia Martin, Sacramento State
Katelynn Martin, Montana State
Nyah Moran, Northern Arizona
Mack Konig, Montana

2024-25 Honorable Mention All-Big Sky Conference
London Gamble, Northern Colorado
Dani Bartsch, Montana
Hope Hassmann, Idaho
Peyton Howard, Eastern Washington
Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington

2024-25 Big Sky Conference All-Defensive Team
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State (DPOY)
Katelynn Martin, Montana State
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State
Kacey Spink, Idaho State
Sophie Glancey, Northern Arizona

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Dani Bartsch

Mack Konig

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