Season ends in Boise

Sunday, March 8

Boise, Idaho

2:30 PM

Montana

9-22

(2) Montana State

24-6

Montana

Montana St.

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke

3/8/2026 6:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's basketball team's season came to an end on Sunday with a 78-57 loss to No. 2-seeded Montana State in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Conference Championship at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

The Bobcats (24-6), as they did in both regular-season wins over the Lady Griz (9-22), got off to a fast start, leading 9-0 less than three minutes in and 23-7 after the first quarter.

They led 40-24 at the half and by 20 or more over the game's final 15 minutes.

Montana State advances to face either No. 3 Northern Colorado or No. 6 Eastern Washington in a semifinal game on Tuesday. The Bears and Eagles square off on Monday on the second day of quarterfinal games.

In Saturday's 61-60 first-round victory over No. 7 Northern Arizona, the 8-seeded Lady Griz survived the absence of Avery Waddington, thanks to a signature performance from Mack Konig, who had 17 points and five assists.

The illness that has been sidelining players and staff all weekend came for Konig on Sunday. Waddington was in uniform and got the start but played only six minutes of the opening period before her day was done.

"Any time your starting point guard is at the hotel in bed and your all-conference player can't go, it's challenging," said coach Nate Harris. "Avery tried like crazy but five minutes in she looked and said, I can't do it."

With Montana's starting five limited to 15 points, it was the team's bench players who were asked to step up and contribute and contribute they did.

Rae Ehrman, who had 16 points against the Lumberjacks on Saturday, scored 17 points, going 4 for 5 from the 3-point line. Draya Wacker hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 points. And getting her most minutes of the season, Ava Cossette had seven points and two steals.

Kennedy Gillette played a team-high 32 minutes, with Chloe Larsen and Lauren Dick getting career-high minutes off the bench.

"The kids we had available showed up and answered the bell, just kept going out and playing their hearts out," said Harris. "Every kid we put out there left what they had out there to try to fight their way through it.

"You always wish you're 100 percent but you're rarely 100 percent. Life happens outside these walls. Is it disappointing? Absolutely. It's a great example for our kids. Life is going to happen. You have to answer the bell. I thought people played hard and seized the opportunity they had."

Montana State hit four 3-pointers, more than half the Bobcats' per-game average, in the first quarter and converted 10 Montana turnovers into eight points, leading to a 16-point lead after 10 minutes.

The Bobcats would go 10 for 24 (.417) from the 3-point line for the game, three off their season high for makes. "Hats off to Montana State," said Harris. "They shot it incredibly well."

In the final 90 seconds of the first half, Ehrman and Wacker both hit 3-pointers to make it 40-24 at the break. Ehrman would score 14 of her points in the second half, going a perfect 3 for 3 from the arc.

"I just want to do what my team needs me to do," said Ehrman. "Willing to shoot when I'm open and making plays off the ball as well."

Montana State built its lead to 28 points in the third quarter and went up 30, 70-40, on a Taylee Chirrick 3-pointer early in the fourth.

Chirrick, the Big Sky MVP, finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals. Addison Harris had 13 points, Teagan Erickson added 12 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting.

The Bobcats turned the Lady Griz over 26 times in winning their eighth straight game, their sixth straight over Montana.