Tuesday, November 10
Manhattan, Kan.
10 AM (MT)
Montana
1-2
62
at
67
Kansas State
4-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 14 | 11 | 19 | 18 | 62 |
| Kansas St. | 16 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 67 |
Photo by: Marley Barboeisel/University of
11/10/2026 1:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The result – a road loss against an unbeaten team from the Big 12 – was the same on Tuesday as it was on Saturday but the postgame vibes couldn't have felt more different.
After losing 97-53 at BYU on Saturday, the Cougars having their way on the glass and on the offensive end, Montana put up a fight and nearly pulled off the upset on Tuesday at Kansas State.
After the Wildcats (4-0) used a strong start to the second half to build a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter, the Lady Griz, behind the scoring of Paige Lofing, began their comeback.
It was a 10-point game, 54-44, entering the fourth quarter, a two-point game, 62-60, after Lofing scored inside with 1:50 to go, part of her 20-point second half, her 25-point game.
But that would be as close as the Lady Griz (1-2) would get as the Wildcats sent thousands of kids home happy after holding on for the victory.
"We're not into moral victories, but if we can show some improvement in how we're battling on the glass and in how we're guarding the ball, I thought we did that today," said coach Nate Harris.
The big question Tuesday would be if Montana would be able to score enough to hang with the Wildcats, who held their first three opponents to an average of 42.3 points on 28.6 percent shooting.
None of Kansas State's first three opponents had even reached 50 points.
The first half followed that trend, with Montana trailing 34-25 at the break after the Wildcats turned 12 Lady Griz turnovers into 14 points. "We got a little stagnant, had a few too many turnovers," said Harris.
Kansas State appeared to be on the verge of blowing the game open in their third quarter, holding Montana without a basket the opening four minutes and going up 44-27.
Then: Paige Lofing.
She finished through contact for an and-one, then two minutes later hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions after toying with defenders on ball screens to announce that Montana wasn't done quite yet.
"Paige knows how to score the basketball," said Harris. "I thought she did some great things in the second half. We just needed a couple more to go in, but proud of our effort."
She opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to make it 54-47, Jocelyn Land hit three free throws with 5:14 to go to make it 60-54 and Lofing scored at the rim to make it 60-56 with 4:07 left.
Two more Land free throws with 2:41 to go and Lofing's basket at 1:50 on the clock pulled Montana within two, 62-60.
Kansas State point guard Gina Garcia had six assists and two made baskets. Her drive and finish at the rim with 1:26 left, in a two-point contest, was the game's key moment.
Down four, Montana missed a good look at a three and one possession later missed a contested lay-up. Two free throws in the final seconds finally allowed the Wildcats to emerge with an unblemished record.
The Lady Griz out-scored the Wildcats 37-33 in the second half, nearly matching the game output of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, which lost 68-39 at Kansas State on Sunday.
"Scoring 37 points on that team in a half is a big deal," said Harris. "That's a team that hadn't given up 50 this year. We moved the ball better in the second half and did a better job getting downhill.
"Our juice, our energy, just sticking together, it matters. I thought our group responded really well. We got a really energetic performance, something we can build on."
Montana got out-rebounded 46-22 in Saturday's loss at BYU. On Tuesday it was 36-34 in favor of Kansas State, which had only five second-chance points.
"For a team with that kind of size and that kind of ability in the paint, I thought we battled on the glass. That was a strong takeaway," said Harris.
Lofing's 25 points are the most for Montana since Avery Waddington's 29-point game at Portland State last season.
Hayden Kaut scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, making life miserable for KSU's bigs, who had to defend the freshman to the 3-point line but couldn't stop her from driving by them to the basket.
Waddington had seven rebounds and three assists, both team highs, while adding a blocked shot and a steal.
Taryn Sides led Kansas State with 18 points.
Montana will host Houston on Friday at 7 p.m. inside Dahlberg Arena. The Cougars, who host Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday night, are 2-0.
After losing 97-53 at BYU on Saturday, the Cougars having their way on the glass and on the offensive end, Montana put up a fight and nearly pulled off the upset on Tuesday at Kansas State.
After the Wildcats (4-0) used a strong start to the second half to build a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter, the Lady Griz, behind the scoring of Paige Lofing, began their comeback.
It was a 10-point game, 54-44, entering the fourth quarter, a two-point game, 62-60, after Lofing scored inside with 1:50 to go, part of her 20-point second half, her 25-point game.
But that would be as close as the Lady Griz (1-2) would get as the Wildcats sent thousands of kids home happy after holding on for the victory.
"We're not into moral victories, but if we can show some improvement in how we're battling on the glass and in how we're guarding the ball, I thought we did that today," said coach Nate Harris.
The big question Tuesday would be if Montana would be able to score enough to hang with the Wildcats, who held their first three opponents to an average of 42.3 points on 28.6 percent shooting.
None of Kansas State's first three opponents had even reached 50 points.
The first half followed that trend, with Montana trailing 34-25 at the break after the Wildcats turned 12 Lady Griz turnovers into 14 points. "We got a little stagnant, had a few too many turnovers," said Harris.
Kansas State appeared to be on the verge of blowing the game open in their third quarter, holding Montana without a basket the opening four minutes and going up 44-27.
Then: Paige Lofing.
She finished through contact for an and-one, then two minutes later hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions after toying with defenders on ball screens to announce that Montana wasn't done quite yet.
"Paige knows how to score the basketball," said Harris. "I thought she did some great things in the second half. We just needed a couple more to go in, but proud of our effort."
She opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to make it 54-47, Jocelyn Land hit three free throws with 5:14 to go to make it 60-54 and Lofing scored at the rim to make it 60-56 with 4:07 left.
Two more Land free throws with 2:41 to go and Lofing's basket at 1:50 on the clock pulled Montana within two, 62-60.
Kansas State point guard Gina Garcia had six assists and two made baskets. Her drive and finish at the rim with 1:26 left, in a two-point contest, was the game's key moment.
Down four, Montana missed a good look at a three and one possession later missed a contested lay-up. Two free throws in the final seconds finally allowed the Wildcats to emerge with an unblemished record.
The Lady Griz out-scored the Wildcats 37-33 in the second half, nearly matching the game output of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, which lost 68-39 at Kansas State on Sunday.
"Scoring 37 points on that team in a half is a big deal," said Harris. "That's a team that hadn't given up 50 this year. We moved the ball better in the second half and did a better job getting downhill.
"Our juice, our energy, just sticking together, it matters. I thought our group responded really well. We got a really energetic performance, something we can build on."
Montana got out-rebounded 46-22 in Saturday's loss at BYU. On Tuesday it was 36-34 in favor of Kansas State, which had only five second-chance points.
"For a team with that kind of size and that kind of ability in the paint, I thought we battled on the glass. That was a strong takeaway," said Harris.
Lofing's 25 points are the most for Montana since Avery Waddington's 29-point game at Portland State last season.
Hayden Kaut scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, making life miserable for KSU's bigs, who had to defend the freshman to the 3-point line but couldn't stop her from driving by them to the basket.
Waddington had seven rebounds and three assists, both team highs, while adding a blocked shot and a steal.
Taryn Sides led Kansas State with 18 points.
Montana will host Houston on Friday at 7 p.m. inside Dahlberg Arena. The Cougars, who host Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday night, are 2-0.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballTeam Stats
UM
KSU
FG%
.396
.373
3FG%
.261
.250
FT%
.875
.773
RB
34
36
TO
18
14
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Monday, November 09
Sunday, November 08
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