Big Sky Hoops: Lady Griz heading into new year with March on the mind
The Daily Inter Lake
The college basketball season is almost half way over, but the Big Sky Conference is already taking shape.
The Lady Griz (9-3 overall) are wrapping up a dominating run through nonconference play and looking to make another run at March Madness this season. Montana, who returns four starters from last year's NCAA tournament team that was beat in the first round by Vanderbilt, is led by senior Mandy Morales with 14.2 points-per-game. Morales recently passed Lisa McLeod for third place all-time in total points for Montana with 1,570. Shannon Cate, who played from 1988-92, is first with 2,172. In the first week of December, Morales won her 10th conference Player of the Week award after averaging 14.5 points, 8 rebounds and 6.5 assists in two straight games.
Sonya Rogers (12.4 ppg) and Sarah Ena (10.6 ppg) have also shined for Montana thus far and helped coach Robin Selvig, in his 31st year as head coach, win his 700th career game on Dec. 7. Under Selvig, the Lady Griz have had 28 winning seasons and won 21 conference championships. Equally impressive is the team's record at home with Selvig coaching ? 409-38.
On Dec. 28, Montana kicks off the 29th Lady Griz Holiday Classic before conference play starts. The conference tournament starts March 12.
Across the divide in Bozeman, the Bobcats (5-5) battled through nonconference games with mixed results, but went into Christmas with a win against Idaho on Dec. 20. Jenny Heringer is averaging 11.4 ppg for Montana State, just ahead of Nubia Garcia with 11.3. Garcia leads her team in rebounds as well, averaging 8.5 boards-per-game. Erica Perry and Kate Bussey are averaging 9.6 ppg for the Bobcats, who return to play on Dec. 28 at the UTPA Tourney. After that, they head to Missoula to start conference play against the Lady Griz.
On the men's side, the Griz (6-6) survived a grueling nonconference schedule that included beat-ups from Duke University (L, 78-58) and Colorado State (L, 85-55). But conference play hasn't been any easier.
The Griz were drubbed by Portland State 72-45 on Dec. 20 in the first of two meetings this season. The Vikings (9-3), led by former MVP Jeremiah Dominguez, were picked to win the conference for the second straight year ahead of Montana, and upset No. 7 Gonzaga 77-70 on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Montana has been searching for its spark as of late. The team went on a four-game winning streak in early December, but followed by dropping two straight while averaging under 50 ppg, including the 27-point rout by Portland.
New Griz Anthony Johnson, who transferred from Yakima Valley Community College, leads the team in scoring with 12.7 points-per-game. Senior Jordan Hasquet follows with 12.1 ppg. Hasquet also leads the team in rebounding with 5.8 boards-per-game.
The Griz face one last nonconference heavyweight, Washington, on Dec. 28 before returning to Big Sky competition.
The Bobcats (5-5) have a deceptive record at this point. They beat Colorado 85-82 in overtime three days after falling to Nevada 72-63 in a close one at home. Then, the 'Cats traveled to Boise State and narrowly lost 71-64, but toppled Oregon State in another overtime victory, 82-79.
The rollercoaster went through Washington and California twice, with California being on the upswing. The 'Cats beat Cal State Fullerton 74-60 and Long Beach State 75-61, but fell to conference foe Eastern Washington, 61-55, and then Washington State handed them the worst loss of their season so far, 70-51.
Bobby Howard leads the Bobcat attack with roughly 13 ppg. Divaldo Mbunga is averaging 12.3 ppg, followed by Will Bynum and Danny Piepoli, who average roughly 10 ppg.
Montana State returns to play against Lethbridge at home on Dec. 28.