The Lady Griz won this game on grit, determination, hard work and heart. Despite shooting poorly from the field (35%), especially 3-pt. range (29%), the LG battled back from a fast Wyo. start and eventually outrebouned (42-31) and wore down a talented and taller Wyo. squad.
Ena was the high point scorer (19) and announced game MVP, but I would give equal kudos to Lohman, Morales, Rogers and Beck. Lohman had 12 rebounds, played great defense, and played well overall, despite missing 4 free throws later in the game (to go 7-11 from the line) and shooting only 1-5. Morales was a bit off on shooting (5-18 and 2-9), but had some tremendous and important rebounds and great assists. She also rallied back from a bad leg cramp late in the game. Rogers played the whole game, had some nice 3-pointers, and played good defense. Wyo. defended her hard, especially in the second half. Beck rebounded (9), played some nice D, made some nice shots and had an important block later in the game.
Wyo. had some good players, including no. 21, who could shoot the 3 and shoot off the dribble. She had 20. I believe she is a frosh from Australia, 1 of 4 Aussies on the team. Former Griz Vanderjagt's sister started, but didn't score. She is tall and skinny like he was.
Johnson had some nice minutes at the point, defending well, running the team and driving on occasion. Linford had some good minutes, but picked up 3 quick fouls in the first half. Robinson had some nice plays in a few good minutes. Selvig said in postgame that he apologized to some of the other players for not getting them in the game, but he wanted to win this game and felt it was important to keep experience on the floor.
The LG were down 0-8, 3-13 and and 5-14 (at 11:52), and then were up 21-14 until 4:47. Wyo. was up 31-29 at the half. The second half was a battle, and the game was closer than the score. 62-61 at 2:38 and 66-64 until 32 seconds. The LG switched from man to zone defense when they were way down, and stayed with the zone for the rest of the way.
LG had only 10 turnovers, to Wyo's 18. Wyo. shot 42% and 41%, and were 11-27 from 3-pt. range. LG had 10 offensive rebounds.
The 2 women refs (especially the blonde) were into calling ticky tack fouls, both ways. There was no need for most of those calls. The fouls went against Wyo., tho, with 24, compared to LG's 12. That stat is a bit surprising.
The crowd wasn't huge, but was completely into the game. The cheerleaders/dancers and Monte were good, as always. The coach picked up his 698th win, I believe.
(too good to refuse that one.)
