Back-to-Back for Lady Griz
Big Sky Conference
3/14/2009
MISSOULA, Mont. - Senior Mandy Morales scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Montana to a 69-62 victory over Portland State in the Big Sky Conference women's basketball championship game here on Saturday afternoon.
It was Montana's 11th straight victory. The Lady Griz (28-4) secured the Big Sky's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week. Montana captured its second straight Big Sky Championship and their 14th in the 21-year history of the tournament. Counting their Mountain West titles from 1983-88, Montana has won 20 conference tournament championships.
Portland State (22-9) was playing in its first championship game since 1999. The Vikings will represent the Big Sky Conference in the WNIT Tournament.
Montana forward Sarah Ena scored 19 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for the Lady Griz. Morales, Ena and senior Sonya Rogers represented Montana on the All-Tournament team. Morales was named the MVP for the second season in a row, becoming just the second player in league history to win multiple tournament MVP Awards. Montana's Shannon Cate won three in a row from 1990-92.
Montana held a 27-26 halftime lead. Montana outrebounded PSU 46-34, and outrebounded the Vikings by 14 in the second half.
All-Tournament Team
MVP - Mandy Morales, Sr., G, Montana
Sarah Ena, So., F, Montana
Sonya Rogers, Sr., G, Montana
Claire Faucher, Jr., G, Portland State
Kelli Valentine, So., F, Portland State
Oana Iacovita, Jr., F, Idaho State