A road sweep against Big Sky opponents is always tough to turn, especially this season having to do it as a sweep against one team: a top-four pre-season pick (Northern Colorado) paced by pre-season pick as the top post player (Alisha Davis). But Montana absorbed a first-quarter body blow from a team looking for revenge, got their feet under them, and turned it into a donnybrook, despite the fact that their own talented post (Abby Anderson) sat out.
I'm ok with this loss, because I think this team has the moxie to learn from it and get tougher. I don't think the loss was ok with this team, and that's good. Nine players with double-digit minutes and 8 minutes from frosh Bria Dixson, who scored 12 points with an uncanny quick-release jumper... and who dished at least one assist (I counted two, though the stats showed 0).
All these newcomers playing for a first-year coach and they are still getting rotations, teamwork, confidence-building down. High regard to the coaches for making mid-game adjustments... and for the players who never gave up or gave in.
They're probably not a top tier team yet. But they are already a dark horse that nobody will want to play down the stretch. Go GrizWBB.