Lady Griz fall to Wildcats in overtime

Saturday, February 21

Missoula, Mont.

2 PM

Montana

7-19, 4-11BSC

Weber State

9-20, 3-13BSC

OT 1

Weber St.

Montana

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke / University of Montana

2/21/2026 6:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The 1-2 punch of Antoniette Emma-Nnopu and Lanae Billy powered Weber State to an 86-79 overtime victory over Montana at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats (9-20, 3-13 BSC) hadn't defeated the Lady Griz (7-19, 4-11 BSC) in Missoula in 20 years, so it was going to take something special for Weber State to break through.

The senior twosome was on this day, combining for 51 points, with Emma-Nnopu getting to the basket for a season-high 28 points and Billy going 5 for 7 from the 3-point line to add 23, which matched her season high.

Paris Lauro added 15 points off the bench on 5-of-10 shooting from the 3-point line, helping the Wildcats go a game-changing 13 for 29 (.448) from the arc.

"Few too many threes from kids we didn't want to let make threes," said coach Nate Harris. "Ten of 17 from their two best 3-point shooters. Then we allowed Emma-Nnopu to get to her left shoulder a little too much. We had to do a better job of taking that away from her."

Avery Waddington, scoreless at the half, poured in 10 points in the third quarter and added four more in the fourth but right when the Lady Griz needed their go-to scorer the most, she fouled out with two-plus minutes left in regulation.

It was the first time Waddington has fouled out in her collegiate career.

Montana never led in overtime but pulled even at 79-79 with 1:12 left. That set the stage for Lauro to hit a late-shot-clock three with 38 seconds left, off the glass from the wing, and the Wildcats were on their way to only their fifth win over the Lady Griz in Missoula in 49 tries.

"We got to overtime, had some chances, didn't quite go our way," said Harris. "They made the plays they needed to."

Weber State used an 8-0 run at the end of the first quarter and start of the second to build a 21-13 lead. Montana got 3-pointers by Rae Ehrman and Mack Konig, who was celebrated pregame on Senior Day, in the final minute of the first half to make it all square at the break, 30-30.

After Montana scored the final seven points of the first half, it felt like the type of game the Lady Griz could take control of with a strong start to the second half.

Weber State didn't allow it, hitting four 3-pointers in the opening five minutes of the second half, then going up 47-42 on a Billy three, the Wildcats going 5 for 6 from the arc in the third quarter.

A Konig 3-pointer and a finish at the rim by Waddington with 4:43 left gave Montana a 63-59 advantage, matching its largest lead of the game, but the Wildcats went to the reliable Emma-Nnopu, who scored on consecutive possessions on finishes of her own at the rim to quickly tie it at 63-63.

It was 65-65 when Waddington fouled out. "We found some good stuff with her late in the game, so it was frustrating for her to have to leave the game," said Harris.

After Emma-Nnopu scored in the paint with 19 seconds left to put the Wildcats up 69-67, Jocelyn Land was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 4.6 seconds left.

She missed the first but made the next two, and Weber State missed an open three at the end of regulation, sending Montana to its third overtime game of the season, the most since 2022-23.

In the overtime, the Wildcats would go 11 for 16 from the free throw line, scoring more with the clock stopped than the 10 points Montana would total in the extra session.

"Got away from us a little bit down the stretch. A few too many fouls and that turned into the difference in the game in overtime," said Harris. "They shot 16 and made 11. They outscored us at the free throw line."

After Konig brought Montana within one, 74-73, with 2:47 left in overtime, the Wildcats scored five points on the play of the game. Sydney White hit a 3-pointer, and while the shot was in the air, Emma-Nnopu was fouled under the basket while fighting for rebounding position.

She hit both free throws to make it 79-73.

Montana answered with six straight points, tying it on a strong cut and finish by Land with 1:12 left.

That set Lauro up for her dramatics, her banked-in 3-pointer with 38 seconds left, and Montana ran out of answers, if not fight.

"I thought we played significantly harder (than we did on Thursday night). Our kids kept fighting the entire time. They never said die," said Harris.

"It was frustrating down the stretch. I thought we did some things that could have helped us win but not enough to get over the hump."

Waddington finished with 14 points to lead five players in double figures for Montana. Ehrman scored 13 off the bench and grabbed a season-high six rebounds. Konig had 12 points and five assists, while Land and Aby Shubert both had 11.

Montana lost its sixth consecutive game, the last five coming while allowing its opponent to shoot 48 percent or better. Weber State shot 49.1 percent on Saturday.

The Lady Griz will play at Sacramento State (12-16, 6-9 BSC) on Thursday, at Portland State (6-21, 2-13 BSC) next Saturday.

Montana will wrap up the regular season with a home game against Northern Colorado (20-8, 11-4 BSC) on Monday night, March 2.