Lady Griz rout Boise St.

MISSOULA — Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw scored 20 points, four more Montana players reached double figures and the Lady Griz thumped Boise State Wednesday in the Women’s NIT, 92-66 on Robin Selvig Court.

Espenmiller-McGraw hit 4 of 7 from 3-point range and as a team Montana went 15 of 25 (60 percent) from the arc. The Lady Griz scored 51 points over the middle two quarters to build a 72-60 lead, and then closed the game on a 17-2 run.

Billings Central product Mya Hansen scored 20 points for the Broncos (21-14), a former Big Sky Conference rival of Montana’s. Hanson hit two 3-pointers; teammate Natalie Pasco hit three treys and scored 21 points.

Gina Marxen’s 3-pointer at 1:44 of the second quarter gave Montana (23-9) a 42-31 lead, and the Lady Griz were up 46-37 at intermission. The gap grew to 55-39 on two Mack Konig free throws midway through the third though Boise State whittled it under 10 before the period ended.

It was 75-64 early in the fourth quarter after Pasco hit a jumper for the Broncos; Marxen answered with a three at the 8:32 mark and the rout was on.

Konig had 16 points, shooting 6 of 9 from the floor with two 3-pointers; Marxen and Carmen Gfeller had 14 points each, and Marxen was credited with nine assists.

Macey Huard added another 16 points off the bench for Montana, which will play North Dakota State in the next round. The date and time had not been set at press time.

Dani Bartsch had eight rebounds to go with three points for UM. which won a national tournament game for the first time since topping Washington State — current Lady Griz coach Brian Holsinger was a Cougars assistant — 90-78 in 2014.

The Lady Griz improved to 39-12 all-time against Boise State, and 22-3 against the Broncos in Missoula.