Lady Griz, Bobcats win Saturday

PORTLAND, Ore. — Dani Bartsch scored 19 points, Carmen Gfeller had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Montana rode a huge first quarter to a 76-65 road win over Portland State in Big Sky Conference women’s basketball Saturday.

Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw added 15 points and Gina Marxen chipped in 13 points — she was 4 of 10 from 3-point range — and eight rebounds for the Lady Griz (19-7, 11-4 in the Big Sky). 

With Gfeller pouring in 13 points, Montana surged to a 33-18 lead in the first quarter. The Vikings (7-21, 2-14 in league) got as close as eight points once in the first half, and came no closer than nine the entire second half.

Bartsch was 3 of 6 from the arc and Espenmiller-McGraw was 3 of 8; add in Mack Konig (2 of 6) and the Lady Griz hit 12 of 31 3-point attempts.

Esmeralda Morales hit five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 31 points for Portland State.

Montana St. 55, Sac State 51

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After allowing Sacramento State to hit 6 of 10 from beyond the three-point arc in the opening half, including four triples by sharpshooter Solape Amusan, the Montana State defense clamped down at The Nest Saturday.

Amusan hit her final 3-pointer at the 6:21 mark of the second period, and from there until midway through the third quarter MSU (15-13, 9-6 in the Big Sky) outscored the Hornets 29-10. Malea Eagan’s layup put the Bobcats up 48-38.

The Hornets  (5-22, 4-12) closed  to 52-51 with 2:36 left but didn’t score again. Marah Dykstra led three Bobcats in double figures with 13 points, while hauling down six rebounds and dishing out three assists. Picton and Madison Hall had 11 points apiece and Katelynn Limardo had seven rebounds.

Thursday

Lady Griz 58, Hornets 57

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Montana scored the last six points of the game, including a single free throw by MJ Brno with 0.7 seconds left, to claim the road win.

Gina Marxen hit two free throws with 27 seconds left to trim the Hornets’ lead to 57-54, and after a turnover Carmen Gfeller drilled a three from the top of the key to tie it.

The Hornets missed on their final possession, and Montana inbounded with 1.2 seconds remaining. Bruno broke free and was fouled from behind — a call confirmed by video review.

Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw and Marxen had 15 points each and Gfeller had 10.

Vikings 60, Bobcats 55

PORTLAND, Ore. — Montana State built a 34-25 halftime lead and then went ice-cold, allowing the Vikings to pick up their second Big Sky win.

Esmeralda Morales hit a 3-pointer with 5:10 left in the game to give PSU a 51-50 lead, and the Vikings wouldn’t trail again. Morales scored 18 points after halftime and finished with 20.

Mariah Dykstra scored 16 points to lead the Bobcats and Taylor Janssen added 10.