• Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts access private forums and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your eGriz.com experience today!

Montana Griz WBB face 25th Ranked Gonzaga

grizzlyjournal

grizzlyjournal

Well-known member
Montana's young WBB team will play the 25th ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs in Spokane today. Gonzaga is the defending West Coast Conf. champ, are predicted to repeat and are led by three seniors -- 5-8 shooting guard Cierra Walker, and 6-3 dual post players LeeAnne Wirth and Jenn Wirth. Gonzaga returns 79 percent of its scoring power from last year. The Bulldogs have compiled four straight 25-win seasons. They lost their opener at top ranked South Carolina 79-72, beat South Dakota 54-50 and lost in ot at 22nd ranked South Dakota State 75-72. Gonzaga beat Wyoming 89-50 on Tuesday... in Laramie. The Cowboys were picked as a middle-of-the-pack Mountain West team this season.

Montana and Gonzaga are longtime foes. The Griz lead the series, 17-14 but Gonzaga has won the last seven. The game tips at 3 p.m. on the WCC network and on tv at SWX network.

This will obviously be a good test for Montana coach Mike Petrino and assistants. Much like the Montana mens' games this season, how the team plays is more important than getting a win. It's going to be tough. Looking forward to seeing how this young program and young team will do. Go Griz.
 
Going to add something about this game that I think is important for this new coaching staff and Montana women's basketball. I'm sure coach Petrino will view Gonzaga women's basketball as program example with which Montana can once again compete toe to toe. They're a perfect team in terms of regional proximity to emulate. Gonzaga is a program that's been ranked in the top 50 women''s teams nationally for the past 4-5 years. Montana, I believe, is capable of equaling that achievement. For many reasons... but one major reason: the way Montana fans support Montana WBB... and all its women's programs, for that matter. Here's a telling stat: Gonzaga, as the defending West Coast Conference champion for FOUR straight seasons, had an average per-game attendance last season of... 1032 fans per game. By comparison, Montana's per game average last season was 3065. Winning today's game is not all that important for Montana hoops. But: using Gonzaga basketball as a measure for future success is an achievable goalfor Petrino and his staff. Montana women's hoops fans -- all 3 thousand plus of them, are ready and waiting to support a winning women's hoops program once again. With the kind of fan support that Montana fans have given their women's teams, I believe it could be one of the best programs in the country for recruiting players who love to play in front of a field house full of fans.
 
Griz are holding their own. What a change from the last few years and nothing against Shannon but there seems to be a new attitude and fight in these girls. Sophie Stiles is one quick and heady guard. If she only had a little bulk she could play with most college teams. Very impressed. If they could just put down a couple of threes and pull the defense out Sophie would kill them with her quickness and moves.
GO LADY GRIZ!
 
grizzlyjournal said:
Going to add something about this game that I think is important for this new coaching staff and Montana women's basketball. I'm sure coach Petrino will view Gonzaga women's basketball as program example with which Montana can once again compete toe to toe. They're a perfect team in terms of regional proximity to emulate. Gonzaga is a program that's been ranked in the top 50 women''s teams nationally for the past 4-5 years. Montana, I believe, is capable of equaling that achievement. For many reasons... but one major reason: the way Montana fans support Montana WBB... and all its women's programs, for that matter. Here's a telling stat: Gonzaga, as the defending West Coast Conference champion for FOUR straight seasons, had an average per-game attendance last season of... 1032 fans per game. By comparison, Montana's per game average last season was 3065. Winning today's game is not all that important for Montana hoops. But: using Gonzaga basketball as a measure for future success is an achievable goalfor Petrino and his staff. Montana women's hoops fans -- all 3 thousand plus of them, are ready and waiting to support a winning women's hoops program once again. With the kind of fan support that Montana fans have given their women's teams, I believe it could be one of the best programs in the country for recruiting players who love to play in front of a field house full of fans.
Click to expand...

This is Gonzaga's Home attendance last year = 14 home games - 5,692 per game
 
Praise God we moved on from Shannon. This team has way more fire, grit, scrappiness, and skill. The changes on offense are very noticeable.
 
Very very respectable loss to a top 25 team in the nation. This team is fun to watch and is going to be a team who can beat anyone on any given day in the Sky. Haven’t felt like that for a while. One of those teams you don’t want to play.
 
Long time Lady Griz fan. Fun to watch a team fight so hard and give the Zags all they could handle. The announcers had nothing but praise. They see nothing but success in the big sky.
 
Side note: Anyone watch Sophia grab a loose ball, turn around to start the break and completely get body checked by her own player? Accident of course, but it made me laugh out loud.
 
HookedonGriz said:
Very very respectable loss to a top 25 team in the nation. This team is fun to watch and is going to be a team who can beat anyone on any given day in the Sky. Haven’t felt like that for a while. One of those teams you don’t want to play.
Click to expand...

Caught the 2nd half of the game. As many have posted, this team has transformed into a dynamic styled offense, and angry Griz defense. And the players exude every bit of excitement that good team play brings. We have some young players, that have been encouraged to play here and now ball exhibiting their talents , with opportunity to gain confidence in themselves, team and coaches. Madi---wow!!, I could go on to comment on other players...but I am very impressed with this team overall. Ferocious LGriz!
 
Holy smokes,,,,what a transformation. They held a ranked team to 31% shooting and 20 points below their average. What impressed me the most was their ability to "play ball" when sets broke down. They never seemed lost, or wide eyed or intimidated. They were at quite a length disadvantage, but you would have never guessed watching them. They were physical and tough. Great to hear commentators and Gonzaga head coach rain praise on them. Loved hearing the commentator reference that they are really good given it is basically a whole new team from a year ago. It's early,, but right now I am really impressed with the team and especially the coaching staff. What a transformation.
 
The Ladies had a few too many turnovers down the stretch, without those, they coulda really put a scare in the Zags. But Gonzaga is quick with reach.

Madi was not blessed with a basketball player's body, but she more than makes up for it with hustle and grit. She never quits.

I'm really impressed with Coach Mike and staff. Anyone but me notice the subtle dig toward Shannon in Sundays' Missoulian by Bill Speltz, giving support to Petrino and staff for being "Classy"?
 
maroonandsilver said:
The Ladies had a few too many turnovers down the stretch, without those, they coulda really put a scare in the Zags. But Gonzaga is quick with reach.

Madi was not blessed with a basketball player's body, but she more than makes up for it with hustle and grit. She never quits.

I'm really impressed with Coach Mike and staff. Anyone but me notice the subtle dig toward Shannon in Sundays' Missoulian by Bill Speltz, giving support to Petrino and staff for being "Classy"?
Click to expand...

Yes. :thumb:
And this paragraph by Speltz: "Instead of one or two players standing around watching a set play develop in a deliberate offensive scheme, every athlete on the floor seems to be engaged in Petrino's motion offense. Veterans like Carmen Gfeller and Sophia Stiles are oozing confidence right now and it's nice to see the way all the Lady Griz interact with the coaches at practice and in games."

I don't know that it's a subtle dig or not, but it is a description of the contrast already noticed between this season and last season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top