The 2022 regular-season in Big Sky Conference women’s basketball came to an end on Friday night. Northern Colorado’s second straight impressive win — this one a 71-61 victory over Montana State two nights after a 72-64 overtime win over Montana on Wednesday night — denied MSU a share of the league title.
Idaho State won a share of the league title last weekend but lost to Southern Utah on Wednesday in its season finale to finish at 15-5 in league. The Bengals, who were idle Friday night, are the outright champions of the Big Sky for the second year in a row with MSU’s loss.
The Bobcats got locked into the No. 2 seed first, falling to 14-6 in league play despite 32 points from junior point guard Darian White. Southern Utah, who won 75-65 over Weber State on Friday, also finished 14-6. The Bobcats hold the tie breaker over the Thunderbirds.
Northern Arizona won three straight down the stretch, including an 86-69 win over Idaho on Friday night. That victory helps NAU finish 12-8 in league play, good enough to earn the No. 4 seed.
Montana’s loss in Greeley put pressure on the Lady Griz to win their game at Sacramento State on Saturday night in order to secure a seed. Sophia Stiles poured in 29 points to lift the Lady Griz to a 59-53 win and into the quarterfinals of the tournament with a bye as the No. 5 seed.
BIG SKY CONFERENCE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FINAL STANDINGS
| SCHOOL | CONF | PCT | OVERALL | PCT | CONF HOME | CONF AWAY | HOME | AWAY | NEUTRAL | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho State %* | 15-5 | .750 | 19-10 | .655 | 9-1 | 6-4 | 12-1 | 7-7 | 0-2 | L1 |
| Montana State * | 14-6 | .700 | 19-12 | .613 | 9-1 | 5-5 | 13-2 | 6-9 | 0-1 | L1 |
| Southern Utah * | 14-6 | .700 | 18-11 | .621 | 8-2 | 6-4 | 10-4 | 8-7 | 0-0 | W2 |
| Northern Arizona * | 12-8 | .600 | 15-13 | .536 | 6-4 | 6-4 | 9-6 | 6-7 | 0-0 | W3 |
| Montana * | 12-8 | .600 | 19-10 | .655 | 9-1 | 3-7 | 12-3 | 5-7 | 2-0 | W1 |
| Idaho | 11-9 | .550 | 12-17 | .414 | 7-3 | 4-6 | 8-5 | 4-7 | 0-5 | L1 |
| Sacramento State | 10-10 | .500 | 14-15 | .483 | 4-6 | 6-4 | 6-7 | 7-7 | 1-1 | L2 |
| Northern Colorado | 9-11 | .450 | 13-15 | .464 | 6-4 | 3-7 | 9-4 | 4-11 | 0-0 | W2 |
| Eastern Washington | 7-13 | .350 | 9-20 | .310 | 4-6 | 3-7 | 6-9 | 3-10 | 0-1 | W1 |
| Weber State | 6-14 | .300 | 10-19 | .345 | 4-6 | 2-8 | 8-7 | 2-12 | 0-0 | L2 |
| Portland State | 0-20 | .000 | 5-23 | .179 | 0-10 | 0-10 | 4-11 | 0-12 | 1-0 | L18 |
% – Clinched Regular-Season Title
* – Clinched First Round BYE
The league tournament begins on Monday. The No. 8 seeded UNC Bears play an Eastern Washington team that finished 7-11 in league play in Jodie Gleason’s first season at the helm. The 8-9 game tips at 2:30 p.m. on Monday.
Seventh-seeded Sac State finished at 10-10 in league play but won nine of 10 during one February hot streak. The Hornets will take on 10th place Weber State, a talented yet sporadic team that finished 6-14 in league play. That Vandals and Vikings tip at 5:30 on Monday.
Sixth-seeded Idaho won six games in a row before losing Friday. The Vandals will take on Portland State at 8:00 p.m. Monday to wrap up the first day.
Top-seeded Idaho State plays the winner of UNC and EWU at noon on Tuesday.
The fourth-seeded Lumberjacks play No. 5 Montana at 2:30 p.m..
Montana State awaits the winner of Sacramento State and Weber State in the 2-7 game at 5:30 Tuesday evening. And the third-seeded Thunderbirds await the winner of Idaho and Portland State. The final game Tuesday tips at 8 p.m.
