THE MATCHUP
The Montana Lady Griz fell 69-61 to defending Big Sky Conference champion Idaho State in Pocatello on Thursday. Starting guard Sophia Stiles did not play in the game. Saturday, UM played at upstart Weber State, a team that beat Montana State 68-63 Thursday.
THE RESULT
Weber State, a team that won just 12 games in the previous three seasons combined and just two games last season, moved to 3-1 in league play and 7-6 overall with its 66-56 win over Montana. The loss drops the Lady Griz to 0-2 in league play and 9-4 overall.
UM (9-4, 2-2 BSC) fell behind 16-4 after the first quarter and trailed the final 36 minutes of the game, more than half of it by 10 or more points.
Montana shot 32.1 percent, two days after struggling to score in a 69-61 loss at Idaho State. The Lady Griz were averaging 71.6 points on 45.0 percent shooting prior to Christmas.
Montana went just 1 for 10 in the opening period with nine turnovers. That allowed Weber State (7-6, 3-1 BSC) to build a lead it would never relinquish.
The Lady Griz fell behind early at Idaho State as well, 11-2, and got outscored in the first quarter by both teams 36-16.
“We’re not executing on offense, and I don’t know exactly what it is right now,” Lady Griz first-year head coach Brian Holsinger. “We’ll figure it out and get it turned around and get back to playing the way we should.”
THE STANDOUTS
Abby Anderson had 14 points, Fatkin added 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Back after missing the Idaho State game, Sophia Stiles had seven points and 10 rebounds after returning from injury.
Carmen Gfeller was limited to nine points on six shots, just the second time this season she has not reached double digits.
Kori Pentzer had 20 points to lead Weber State. She went 7 for 10 and hit four of her five 3-point attempts.
The Wildcats, who had made just 38 3-pointers through their first 12 games, hit a season-high eight against Montana and shot 44.2 percent, the best an opponent has shot against the Lady Griz this season.
QUOTEABLE
“I don’t know what happened to us over the break,” Montana first-year coach Brian Holsinger said. “Whatever happened to us, we have to figure it out.
“We’re just not a good team right now, that’s the bottom line. We didn’t play well either game. As good as we were early (in the season), I’m not sure we’d win any games with the way we’re playing.”
BOX SCORE (click)
SOCIAL
WHAT’S NEXT
Montana will host Eastern Washington (2-8, 0-1 BSC) on Thursday at 7 p.m., then play at Montana State (7-8, 2-2 BSC) on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 1 p.m.
