By AUSTIN SMITH
THE LADIES:
Despite holding Montana State’s MVP candidate Rachel Semansky to only 8 points, the Lady Griz were unable to clinch first place in the Big Sky Conference after a heartbreaking 58-49 loss Saturday evening.
Montana played harder from the tip-off than many home games this season, keeping it competitive until the second half’s 5-minute mark brought a flurry of poor shooting that helped the Bobcats tally an impressive total of 30 defensive rebounds.
Sharing a spot on the conference MVP watch list with Semansky, senior guard Katie Baker drained a team-high 23 point, 12 rebound double-double, an effort sadly eclipsed by Montana’s dismal 44% free throw shooting and 19 total turnovers.
Senior Kenzie DeBoer was the only other Lady Griz player in double digits with 13 total points, a constant offensive threat throughout the matchup. As a unit the Griz exhibited a general lack of depth, scoring only four points off the bench and leaving three typically high-scoring standouts (Shanae Gilham, Carly Selvig, and Kellie Cole) with goose eggs in the scoring column.
Now saddled with a record of 13-5 and a tie for second place in the conference, Selvig’s squad will look for redemption when they hit the road to face the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on Monday, January 21st.
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THE MEN:
Conversely, ‘Tinkle’s Titans’ improved their win streak to 19 games after a thrilling 76-71 overtime victory against the Montana State men’s squad. The Griz were down by three as the second half wound to a close, but sophomore Mike Weisner’s spot-on trey forced an extra period with only 3.4 seconds on the clock.
Saturday evening’s second matchup was closely contested, with seven lead changes and both teams shooting 47% from the field. Four Griz players scored in double digits, led by Player of the Game Kareem Jamar’s 23 point, 10 assist double-double.
The win came despite Will Cherry being absent for the better part of the first, saddled with an early technical after bumping a Bobcat player post-layup. Cherry made the most of his second half minutes, scoring 14 points and securing seven rebounds before the final whistle.
The Grizzlies will look for the 20-game streak next Thursday, January 24th, when they host the 6-13 Idaho State Bengals.