Montana Girl Griz dropping streak hits 4 video games with house setback to Grand Canyon | UM Grizzlies

MISSOULA — Pitted towards one of the efficient defensive groups within the nation, the Montana girls’s basketball group practically beat Grand Canyon at its personal sport Thursday.

Their low-scoring tussle was knotted at 56 with simply over 4 minutes to play. Then youth caught up with the host Girl Griz somewhat bit, with consecutive turnovers by a pair of freshman guards paving the way in which for a 71-63 win by the Antelopes in entrance of two,064 followers at Dahlberg Enviornment.

Montana second-year coach Brian Holsinger voiced his frustration afterwards. 

“I am bored with being good to this group,” he stated. “We defend for a half after which we come out and we’re delicate. For some cause I am unable to get this group to comprehend how vital it’s to play for 40 minutes.

“… We’ll proceed to get the outcomes we’re getting as a result of we do not take protection significantly sufficient, to be trustworthy … We’re simply not very powerful proper now. I am mad.”

Freshman guard Libby Stump led Montana with 14 factors, adopted by Carmen Gfeller, Sammy Fatkin and Gina Marxen with 10 factors apiece and Haley Huard with 9. The Girl Griz fell to 2-6 general and 1-6 towards NCAA Division I competitors with their fourth-straight loss.

Sydney Palma led Grand Canyon (7-1) with 22 factors, however reserve Olivia Lane was the hero down the stretch. The junior ahead from North Dakota scored eight of her 19 factors within the ultimate 3 minutes and 9 seconds.

Along with her group clinging to a 58-56 lead, Lane delivered on three straight possessions. First got here a 3-point play that stretched her group’s result in 61-56 at 3:09, then a 3-point shot at 2:33 and a deuce at 1:27 to make the rating 66-58 with 1:27 remaining.

The primary half was a defensive battle. Factors have been laborious to return by inside however Montana was higher from behind the arc, hitting 7 of 16 makes an attempt in rising with a 27-25 halftime lead.

Montana gained the battle of the boards within the first half, 19-18, behind three rebounds by Fatkin and Stump. Huard led a balanced scoring assault for the hosts within the first half with six factors on two 3-pointers.

Montana took a 46-44 lead into the fourth quarter towards fullcourt-pressing Grand Canyon, who entered the sport ranked thirty third within the nation defensively, permitting 55.1 factors per sport. The Girl Griz hit simply 5 of 12 photographs within the ultimate body and appeared jittery and out of sync throughout key possessions, whereas the Lopes hit 8 of 12 photographs within the ultimate body.

Montana’s mettle was mirrored in its 32-30 edge on the boards. Gfeller grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, however she additionally had a game-high 5 turnovers. 

Grand Canyon had a 28-12 edge in factors within the paint. Montana completed with 18 turnovers to 9 for the Lopes.

The Girl Griz will play at South Dakota Sunday.

Invoice Speltz is Missoulian Sports activities Editor and has served as Sunday columnist the previous 16 years. Do you’ve got a narrative thought? Electronic mail Invoice at bill.speltz@missoulian.com.