MISSOULA — The Montana Lady Griz got across a couple thresholds Monday: First win of 2020-21, first win for new head coach Mike Petrino, and in front of what had to be a record-low crowd.

Sophomore forward Carmen Gfeller’s career-high 27 points led the Lady Griz past North Dakota 86-72 Monday afternoon at nearly empty Dahlberg Arena. Junior guard Sophia Stiles had a double-double — 21 points and 10 rebounds — as Montana squared its record at 1-1.

Unlike in their season-opening 81-74 loss at Utah State, the Lady Griz put together the key surge at the end of the first half and made the plays down the stretch. An offense built around two players that are tough to handle — Stiles also had five steals and a pair of blocked shots — hummed most of the game.

“Last week we had some lulls,” Petrino said. “This one was a little more consistent for us. I thought we were more set on offense, we were more balanced. I thought we established inside the paint, getting Carmen and Abby (Anderson) some touches, which was great. And I thought we had some great offensive rebounds from Madi (Schoening).”

Schoening grabbed half of her eight rebounds at the offensive end, and went 7-for-8 at the line — much of that down the stretch. She and guard Hannah Thurmon had nine points; Anderson added 13.

Eleven Lady Griz played and eight scored. Kyndall Keller and Jordyn Schweyen hit key threes. The only thing missing was a crowd, kept away because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was so weird,” Petrino said. “I guess the positive is we have so many new players, they have no idea what they’re missing. But for our returners and us (the coaches), it was surreal. It was like practice with a lot of fancy banners.

“We know our Lady Griz fans are out there, but it’s hard. We miss them. When you’re used to playing in front of a great crowd, you miss it.”

Gfeller and the Lady Griz went cold for part of the fourth quarter, during which North Dakota (0-3) — which trailed 57-42 late in the third — closed to 66-62 and 72-68.

The first time UND got close, Thurman knocked down an in-your-face three to push the lead back to 69-62; the second time Stiles drove the lane and drew a foul, hitting two free throws, and then Gfeller converted an old-fashioned three-point play.

That made it 77-68 with 1:48 left and began a closing 14-4 surge.

“I love playing with Sophia,” said Gfeller, who was 11 for 17 from the floor. “I didn’t get much of a chance to as a freshman because she was hurt, and then I redshirted last year. She’s an aggressive point guard; I always knew I’d love playing with her. To see it finally coming together like tonight has been awesome.”

“This is the best I’ve seen her play,” Petrino said of Stiles, who missed 2018-19 with a knee injury and played with a bad shoulder all last season. “Last time she played North Dakota (as a true freshman) it was not a happy ending — she had the season-ending injury.

“She’s playing with confidence and doing a great job.”

Three times in the final 4:55 of the first half the Malta product drove for layups; in between Keller, a true freshman from Havre, knocked down a three as Montana turned a 26-25 deficit into a 38-28 lead.

In the third period Schweyen drilled a 3-pointer to start an 11-4 surge that ended with Montana up 57-42.

North Dakota, playing its second game in two days — the Fighting Hawks lost 84-72 at Montana State Sunday — fought back behind reserve guards Maggie Manson (21 points) and Juliet Gordon (13). The Lady Griz didn’t falter.

“We didn’t let up,” Gfeller said. “It felt good to just go out there in our second game, and we were tough and played a full 40 minutes and came away with the win.”

The next game for Montana is Sunday at Gonzaga. Two Big Sky Conference home games against Southern Utah were canceled because the Thunderbirds had a positive COVID test.

Montana could end up in the same boat, so no fans. Petrino for the time being is dressing 15 players. They’ve all heard the same maxim.

“Don’t get caught up in who’s starting and who’s finishing,” he said Monday. “Just be ready to go.”

MONTANA 86, NORTH DAKOTA 72

NORTH DAKOTA (0-3) — Julia Fleecs 7-16 7-7 23; Maggie Manson 8-17 1-2 21; Juliet Gordon 4-9 4-5 13; Melissa Leet 3-6 0-0 7; Mikayla Reinke 2-5 0-0 4; Makayla Wallace 1-3 0-0 2; Jaclyn Jarnot 1-4 0-0 2; Aly VanLoo 0-0 0-0 0; Megan Zander 0-5 0-0 0; Claire Orth 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-65 12-14 72.

MONTANA (1-1) — Carmen Gfeller 11-17 4-5 27; Sophia Stiles 8-16 5-6 21; Abby Anderson 5-12 3-6 13; Hannan Thurmon 3-6 0-0 9; Madi Schoening 1-2 7-8 9; Jordyn Schweyen 1-2 0-0 3; Kyndall Keller 1-4 0-0 3; Willa Albrecht 0-1 1-2 1; Lauren Mills 0-0 0-0 0; Karsen Murphy 0-0 0-0 0; Nyahg Morris-Nelson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-61 20-27 86.

No. Dakota 16 12 24 20 — 72

Montana 16 22 23 25 — 86

3-point goals—UND 8-25 (Manson 4-10; Fleecs 2-4, Leet 1-2, Gordon 1-3, Zander 0-3, Jarnot 0-1, Reinke 0-2), Montana 6-15 (Thurmon 3-6, Keller 1-2, Schweyen 1-2, Gfeller 1-2, Morris-Nelson, Stiles 0-2.Rebounds—UND 32 (Fleecs 9), Montana 42 (Stiles 10). Assists—UND 11 (Reinke 3), Montana 10 (Keller 3).

Total fouls—UND 23, Montana 16. Fouled out—Reinke.

Technical fouls—None.