With heavy hearts, Lady Griz top Idaho

MISSOULA  — MJ Bruno scored 15 points and four more Montana players reached double figures as the Lady Griz beat Eastern Washington 78-70 Thursday in Big Sky Conference women’s basketball.

The win came in UM’s first game since the shocking loss of Lady Griz alum Malia Kipp. Kipp, who played at Montana from 1992-96, passed away at the age of 49 on Wednesday according to a Facebook post by her mother.  

The Lady Griz held a moment of silence for Kipp, a 1992 Browning High graduate who was the first Native American to join Coach Robin Selvig’s club. Leann Montes, Tamara Guardipee and Mandy Morales followed.  

As a senior Kipp averaged 6.2 points and 6.7 rebounds on a team that went 24-5. No cause of death was listed, and funeral arrangements are pending. 

Thursday saw UM (5-7 overall, 1-0 in the Big Sky) take the lead for good at 57-55 on a 3-pointer by Dani Bartsch at 7:48 of the fourth quarter. Bartsch scored again and a three by Macy Donarski had the Lady Griz ahead 63-55 with 6:40 left. 

Eastern (4-9, 0-1 in league) closed to 66-63 on a layup by Alex Pettis, but the Lady Griz scored the game’s next seven points: a jumper from Mack Konig, a driving layup by Avery Waddington and a three from Bruno. The latter made it 73-63 with 2:01 remaining. 

Konig made 5 of 6 free throws from there to keep UM comfortably ahead. She finished with 11 points, as did Bartsch — the two combined to hit just 6 of 24 shots, though Bartch had five rebounds and eight assists. Tyler McCliment-Call also had 11 points.  

Waddington had 12 points and 10 boards. 

Ella Gallatin had 22 points, including 4 of 7 shooting from the arc, and 10 rebounds for Eastern. 

Peyton Howard added 16 points and Pettis 11. 

The Lady Griz play host to Idaho Saturday, while Eastern visits Montana State.