Bobcat women cruise, Lady Griz rally falls short
Daily Inter Lake | Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 1 month, 1 week AGO
BOZEMAN — Taylee Chirrick scored 16 points to lead a balanced Montana State offense and the Bobcats rolled to a 68-48 win over Northern Arizona in Big Sky Conference women’s basketball Monday.
Teaga Erickson and Addison Harris added nine points each for the Bobcats, who shot just 38 percent but handled the Lumberjacks by outscoring them 14-5 and 21-11 in the first and third quarters. MSU improved to 23-6 overall, 16-2 in league and will take the No. 2 seed into the Big Sky Conference Tournament that begins Saturday in Boise.
Chirrick shot just 5 of 18 from the floor but also had seven rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. She fueled the Bobcats’ strong third quarter with six points.
Naomi White scored 21 points for the Lumberjacks (10-21, 6-12 BSC) but shot just 7 of 26 from the floor and 5 of 14 from the 3-point arc. Audrey Taylor added seven points and three steals; NAU committed 32 turnovers.
No. Colorado 61, Montana 59
MISSOULA — Julia Riley scored 15 points, and Northern Colorado survived a late rally by Montana to beat the Lady Griz in Big Sky play.
Aniah Hall’s layup with 6:46 left put the Bears (22-9, 13-5 BSC) up 57-43. Starting with a 3-pointer by Aby Shubert the Lady Griz (8-21, 5-13) crawled back.
Two Mack Konig free throws cut the gap to 59-55 with 2:46 left and Montana had a pair of chances to get closer but missed both times. The teams traded turnovers before Avery Waddington scored in the paint and drew a foul.
She missed the free throw, leaving it 57-55 with 32 seconds remaining. Konig then made a steal, but the Lady Griz missed another shot, and two Neenah George free throws sealed it for the Bears with 6 seconds left.
Shubert and Jocelyn Land scored 19 points each to lead the Lady Griz.