Vikings run past Lady Griz
MISSOULA – Malta native Hailey Nicholson tied for a team lead in points but the University of Montana women’s basketball program fell in a Big Sky Conference contest 64-44 to Portland State at Dahlberg Arena on Thursday night.
Nicholson poured in eight points, tied for a team-high with Taylor Goligoski, while also pulling down four rebounds, shooting 3 for 5 from the floor and hitting a pair at the line.
The Lady Griz (3-15, 0-7) of first year head coach Shannon Schweyen spread around the scoring, with Mekayla Isaak putting up seven points while Emma Stockholm chipped in six and five boards.
It was the ninth straight loss for Montana, which has been without veteran players Alycia Sims and Kayleigh Valley due to season-ending injuries.
Courtney West paced Portland State with a game-high 18 points and 13 rebounds, Michaela Kay dropped 14 for the Vikings on 5 of 8 shooting from the floor.
Ashley Bolston added 10 markers for Portland State (10-8, 4-2), adding five rebounds.
The Vikings dominated the paint in the matchup, outscoring the Lady Griz 40-18 down low, while the Montana bench in Nicholson, Sierra Anderson, Jace Henderson and Stockholm put on a solid showing, outdoing the Portland State reserves by a combined 23-12.
Montana remains at home for a Big Sky showdown on Saturday, playing host to Sacramento State at 2 p.m.
Portland State 64, Montana 44
Portland State (10-8, 4-2 Big Sky)
West, Courtney 9-12 0-0 18; Kay, Michaela 5-8 0-0 14; Bolston, Ashley 5-11 0-0 10; Rielly, Sidney 3-7 1-2 8; Torres, Ashley 1-4 3-3 5; Jurhar, Pia 1-1 1-2 3; Wich, Caroline 1-2 0-0 2; West, Cici 1-1 0-0 2; James, Corey 0-1 2-2 2; Streun, Tatiana 0-1 0-0 0; Mcnair, Kian 0-1 0-0 0; Loader, Elizajane 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-51 7-9 64.
Montana (3-15, 0-7 Big Sky)
Nicholson, Hailey 3-5 2-2 8; Goligoski, Taylor 3-10 0-0 8; Isaak, Mekayla 3-4 1-2 7; Stockholm, Emma 3-11 0-0 6; Henderson, Jace 2-5 1-5 5; Anderson, Sierra 1-4 1-3 4; Schoening, Madi 1-7 0-0 3; Johnston, Mckenzie 1-8 0-0 2; Staudacher, Rachel 0-3 1-2 1; Harrington, Gabi 0-4 0-0 0; Keast, Maddie 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-62 6-14 44.
Portland State …18 14 16 16 - 64
Montana …16 8 8 12 - 44
3-point Goals--portland State 5-16 (Kay, Michaela 4-7; Rielly, Sidney 1-3; Torres, Ashley 0-1; James, Corey 0-1; Mcnair, Kian 0-1; Bolston, Ashley 0-3), Montana 4-17 (Goligoski, Taylor 2-5; Anderson, Sierra 1-4; Schoening, Madi 1-3; Johnston, Mckenzie 0-2; Harrington, Gabi 0-2; Stockholm, Emma 0-1). Fouled Out--Portland State-Torres, Ashley, Montana-none. Rebounds--Portland State 44 (West, Courtney 13), Montana 32 (Stockholm, Emma 5; Staudacher, Rachel 5; Henderson, Jace 5). Assists--portland State 17 (Bolston, Ashley 8), Montana 13 (Schoening, Madi 4; Johnston, Mckenzie 4). Total Fouls--Portland State 18, Montana 17. Technical Fouls--Portland State-none, Montana-none. A-2579.