MISSOULA -- Coming into Saturday's contest, the Lady Griz were in danger of losing their fourth straight game. In the past three loses, Montana failed to shoot over 33 percent from the field. All that changed on Saturday afternoon, as the Lady Griz saw four separate scorers go for over 10 points in a blowout win over Weber State.
From the tip the Lady Griz controlled the game and never looked back en route to their fifth Big Sky Conference win of the season. Montana started the game on a 6-0 run with the help of a technical foul to open the game. Montana continued to expose Weber's defense the rest of the game, using inside play from Emma Stockholm and Abby Anderson, while Taylor Goligoski and others knocked down key 3-pointers. Goligoski finishing 3 for 4 from deep and finished with 15 points.
Stockholm finished the game with a rare, zero rebounds but was effective on the offensive side. She finished the game shooting 5 for 9 (55 percent) from the field and took advantage of free points, as she went 3 for 4 (75 percent) from the free throw line.
One of the major differences in this game was the performance from point guard McKenzie Johnston. Over the past three games, Johnston had shot a combined 11 for 38 (28.9 percent). On Saturday afternoon the senior found her rhythm once again, finishing the game 7 for 10 from the field and 1 for 1 from beyond the arc to finish with 15 points in just 22 minutes. Freshman Jamie Pickens also had one of the best games of her young career, as she finished with 15 points on 7 of 11 from the field and 1 for 3 from deep.
The rebound battle was even with each team pulling down 31 boards, with the difference coming in the steals and turnover categories. Weber State nearly doubled Montana's turnovers with 22 compared to the Lady Griz 11. Montana was also swarming on defense all day long, as it finished with 14 steals.
As a team the Lady Griz finished shooting 36 for 70 (51.4 percent) from the field and went 7-14 (50 percent) from beyond the arc. Weber State shot 18 for 44 (40.9 percent) from the field, 0 for 5 from three and 21 for 27 (77.8 percent) from the stripe.
Montana (10-8 overall, 5-4 in Big Sky Conference) will host Portland State (12-8, 6-4) on Jan. 30 in Dahlberg Arena. Portland State defeated Montana 78-65 on Jan. 13.
