Feb. 5, 2005
Box Score
Pocatello, ID--Despite a 33-28 halftime lead and a game-high 20 points from Molly Hays, Idaho State dropped a 75-69 decision to Montana Saturday afternoon at Reed Gym.
With the loss, Idaho State falls to 8-12 overall, 3-4 in Big Sky Conference play. Montana improves to 14-6 overall, and remains perfect in league play at 7-0. The Lady Griz have now notched 21 straight Big Sky wins dating back to last season.
ISU built a nine point lead on a Monika Marekova jumper with two minutes remaining in the first half, but Montana battled back to cut the lead to just five, 33-28 at the break. The Bengals came out strong early in the first half, building its lead back to eight points, 38-30, but Montana battled back to go on a 15-6 run through the next five minutes to take the lead, 45-44 with 13:13 remaining.
ISU took back the lead, 49-47, at the 11:46 mark, but would never see it again as the Grizzlies went up by as many as 13 points with three minutes left to play. The Bengals did make one last run to cut the lead to just three points with 22 seconds left, but were forced to foul. UM's Katie Edwards then hit one of two free throws to go up 73-69, and ISU missed it's final opportunity to cut into the lead.
"We played back on our heals in the second half," said ISU head coach Jon Newlee. "Some of our kids played scared and made some bad decisions with the ball. You can't play scared against Montana and win. I thought we came into the game fired up and had a good first half, but let that fire go in the second."
Hays led all scores with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. The Missoula native also collected seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. Freshman
Natalie Doma helped the Bengal effort with 16 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
Camile Michaelson added 14 points and a game-high seven assists.
As a team, Idaho State shot 38 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arc. The Lady Griz shot 41 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the arc. The Bengals went to the free throw line 12 times, connecting on nine shots, while Montana saw the charity stripe 26 times and connected on 22 of its shots.
Montana saw five of its players score double figures. Jody McLoeod led the Griz with 16 points and Hollie Tyler added 15. Linsey Monaco scored 13, while Edwards and Johanna Closson each added 10.
Idaho State now heads out on the road, traveling to Northern Arizona and Sacramento State next week. The Bengals will face NAU on Feb. 10 before taking on Sacramento State on Feb. 12. ISU returns home on Feb. 17 when the team hosts Portland State.
