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Surprised I don't see it yet

http://www.gogriz.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/011413aaa.html
Katie Baker becomes Montana's second player of the week this season

Jan. 14, 2013
8474189.jpeg

A Montana women's basketball player, someone who averaged 17.5 points on 50 percent shooting and 7.0 rebounds in a pair of wins last week over North Dakota and Northern Colorado, was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week Monday. And if that's as specific as it gets, that's fine with her.

"I have to give all the credit to the team," said Katie Baker, the humble co-winner of this week's award, along with Sacramento State's Fantasia Hilliard. It was the second career player of the week award for Baker and the second for Montana this season. Senior Alyssa Smith was recognized last month.

"We have great chemistry and confidence in one another, and everyone is contributing right now, including a bench that I'm so proud of. No single player goes into a game with a load of responsibility on her shoulders, and that's what I love about this team."

Playing at home last week in front of enthusiastic crowds that are starting to realize their return to Dahlberg Arena this winter needs to become a regular occurrence, the Lady Griz picked up the kind of victories a team needs if it wants to be in the chase for a Big Sky Conference championship when the calendar reaches March.

Baker had 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and needed to play just 22 minutes as Montana ran away from North Dakota on Thursday 77-45.

The Lady Griz jumped out to an 11-1 lead, held UND without a field goal through the opening eight minutes and limited North Dakota to 28.3 percent shooting for the game.

Baker followed that up with 18 points and 10 rebounds, her fourth double-double in six league games, against Northern Colorado in Saturday's 56-42 win.

Montana relied on its defense once again, but this time in a game when its offense wasn't clicking. The Lady Griz held the Bears without a field goal the final 10:36 of the first half, and that allowed Montana to turn a 13-9 lead into a 28-11 halftime advantage.

"We just watched the film (from last week's games), and our defense was incredible," Baker said. "There was communication, there was grit, there was hustle. It takes a solid team effort to hold Northern Colorado to 11 points for a half and force North Dakota into 21 turnovers.

"It's encouraging to know we have our defense to rely on so that in games like Saturday, when we're not shooting it well, we know we're still going to be in it."

Montana shot just 31.5 percent against Northern Colorado, and that allowed the Bears to hang around in the second half and cut what had been a 17-point lead down to nine with more than seven minutes still to play.

That's when Baker put her stamp on the game. She scored inside, she scored inside again, and she knocked down a pair of free throws -- she was 7 for 8 from the line in the two games -- to push the lead to a more comfortable 15 and for the most part end UNC's threat.

Of course Baker's baskets that pushed the lead to 11, then to 13, came by way of assist, both from Smith, and it's the passes and not the finishes that Baker points to when asked about a key stretch in the game.

"As a player, my instinct at a time like that says, Get me the ball," Baker said, "but really I just wanted to do my part. They were amazing reads and passes from Alyssa, so it's really just a matter of teamwork."

Baker currently ranks fourth in the Big Sky during league action in both scoring (16.3) and rebounding (10.2) and is second in blocks (1.8/g). She is one of four players in the Big Sky averaging a double-double.

Montana (11-4, 5-1 BSC) sits atop the Big Sky Conference standings with Montana State (11-4, 5-1 BSC) with the league schedule already 30 percent complete.

The Lady Griz will host the Bobcats, who play at third-place Southern Utah (9-6, 3-2 BSC) Thursday night, Saturday at 3 p.m. at Dahlberg Arena.
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Jamar named the Big Sky Player of the Week Junior averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in two road victories

Jan. 14, 2013
8400117.jpeg

The University of Montana's Kareem Jamar has been selected as the Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for games played Jan. 7-12, the league announced today (Jan. 14).

Jamar, a 6-foot-5 junior guard-forward from Venice, Calif., averaged 18.5 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block per game as Montana earned road wins over North Dakota and Northern Colorado.

Jamar shot .706 percent from the floor, .667 percent from 3-point range, and .692 percent from the free-throw line in the two Griz victories.

In a 77-62 win at North Dakota last Thursday (Jan. 10), Jamar scored 11 points with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Last Saturday (Jan 12), Jamar netted a career-high 26 points as the Grizzlies rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit to beat Northern Colorado 85-77. Jamar made 9-of-10 shots from the floor and was 4-of-5 from 3-point range. He also dished out six assists, had three rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

"He's had an outstanding career so far for us," said seventh-year Griz head coach Wayne Tinkle. "I know he was frustrated at the start of the season because there was so much thrown at him in Will's (Cherry) absence (Cherry missed UM's first seven game due to an injury). It just seemed like in the second half from the Portland State game (a 62-57 Griz win at home) that he's really turned it on.

"He had a really good all-around performance this past weekend on the road," Tinkle continued. "We had a couple of other guys who could have been nominated (for player of the week), but he certainly is very deserving, and we're glad that he's found his form.

"He's played awfully well, but he has plenty of good basketball in front of him," Tinkle said. "He's the most multi-dimensional player we've had. In the last eight minutes of the Northern Colorado game, on his own he said `I want to guard (junior forward) Derrick Barden.' Kareem didn't do too much from that point on, either scoring or rebounding, but it was really neat to see him take on that challenge to shut down someone who was really hurting us."

Jamar is currently ranked third in the Big Sky in assists (4.0 apg), seventh in scoring (14.2 ppg), eighth in rebounds (6.0 rpg), 10th in field goal percentage (49.6%), and 13th in three-point percentage (41.5%).

This is Jamar's second career Player of the Week honor.

Montana improved to 6-0 in conference games and has won 17 straight regular-season conference games dating back to a loss at Weber State last year on Jan. 14, 2012.

The Griz are home for their next four Big Sky games, beginning with Southern Utah on Thursday, Jan. 17, followed by intrastate rival Montana State on Saturday, Jan. 19. Both games tip off in Dahlberg Arena at 7:05 p.m.

"There's a long way to go, but we've gotten out of the gate well," Tinkle said. "We've found ways to win when we're not always at our best, which means we still have potential to get better. As long as our guys stay hungry and humble, and continue to work every day, I think we will progress. This is a big week, starting on Thursday with a really good Southern Utah team; then obviously, the Bobcats on Saturday. We've got to stay focused and keep chipping away one game at a time and see what shakes out."
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Surprised I also don't see this posted...

http://www.gogriz.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/011413aah.html
Grizzly basketball team breaks into mid-major top 25 Montana has won six games in a row, hosts SUU and MSU this week in BSC action

Jan. 14, 2013

Mid-Major Poll

The University of Montana Grizzly basketball team has broken into the CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major's Top 25 for the first time this season, it was announced today (Jan. 14).

The Grizzlies have won six consecutive games this season en route to a 10-4 overall record, and are undefeated and currently in first place in the Big Sky Conference with a 6-0 ledger.

The Griz are ranked 25th in the poll and received 48 points. Fellow Big Sky member Weber State (5-0 in league) also broke into the poll. The 10-3 Wildcats are ranked 24th and received 60 points.

Creighton remained in first place, followed by second-place Gonzaga, and both of those teams sport 16-1 records. The remaining top-ranked teams are Bucknell (14-3) in third, Utah State (14-1) is fourth, and Wichita State (15-2) is fifth.

Two of Montana's early, non-conference opponents are also ranked in the poll. BYU (14-4) is sixth, while South Dakota State (13-6) is 19th.

The Grizzlies were ranked 14th in the final Mid-Major poll last season. Montana went 25-7 overall last year and won the Big Sky title by winning a school record 15 games (going 15-1 in league play).

Montana hosts new Big Sky member Southern Utah on Thursday, Jan. 17, and intra-state rival Montana State on Saturday, Jan. 19. Both games start at 7:05 p.m. in UM's Dahlberg Arena.

NOTE: The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Great West, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, West Coast. The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 is now in its 14th season of existence.
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with a #25 ranking and Weber at 24 setting up quite a match up in Missoula end of month, barring some big time upsets we should see both at least that high or a bit higher up on the rankings
 
Speaking of the Collegeinsider.com Top 25, it's cool they are now doing one for the ladies:

http://www.collegeinsider.com/womens-mid-major-top-25.php

I'm not really surprised league leaders UM and MSU aren't receiving any recognition, yet. But it kind of makes one wonder the valiadity of the poll when Idaho State (8-7, 3-3) is receiving votes. Are they still riding preseason accolades, a good showing for a tough early OOC, or just getting sympathy votes because their coach is on the voting panel?
 
DoubleNicks said:
http://www.gogriz.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/011413aaa.html
Katie Baker becomes Montana's second player of the week this season

Jan. 14, 2013
8474189.jpeg

A Montana women's basketball player, someone who averaged 17.5 points on 50 percent shooting and 7.0 rebounds in a pair of wins last week over North Dakota and Northern Colorado, was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week Monday. And if that's as specific as it gets, that's fine with her.

"I have to give all the credit to the team," said Katie Baker, the humble co-winner of this week's award, along with Sacramento State's Fantasia Hilliard. It was the second career player of the week award for Baker and the second for Montana this season. Senior Alyssa Smith was recognized last month.

"We have great chemistry and confidence in one another, and everyone is contributing right now, including a bench that I'm so proud of. No single player goes into a game with a load of responsibility on her shoulders, and that's what I love about this team."

Playing at home last week in front of enthusiastic crowds that are starting to realize their return to Dahlberg Arena this winter needs to become a regular occurrence, the Lady Griz picked up the kind of victories a team needs if it wants to be in the chase for a Big Sky Conference championship when the calendar reaches March.

Baker had 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and needed to play just 22 minutes as Montana ran away from North Dakota on Thursday 77-45.

The Lady Griz jumped out to an 11-1 lead, held UND without a field goal through the opening eight minutes and limited North Dakota to 28.3 percent shooting for the game.

Baker followed that up with 18 points and 10 rebounds, her fourth double-double in six league games, against Northern Colorado in Saturday's 56-42 win.

Montana relied on its defense once again, but this time in a game when its offense wasn't clicking. The Lady Griz held the Bears without a field goal the final 10:36 of the first half, and that allowed Montana to turn a 13-9 lead into a 28-11 halftime advantage.

"We just watched the film (from last week's games), and our defense was incredible," Baker said. "There was communication, there was grit, there was hustle. It takes a solid team effort to hold Northern Colorado to 11 points for a half and force North Dakota into 21 turnovers.

"It's encouraging to know we have our defense to rely on so that in games like Saturday, when we're not shooting it well, we know we're still going to be in it."

Montana shot just 31.5 percent against Northern Colorado, and that allowed the Bears to hang around in the second half and cut what had been a 17-point lead down to nine with more than seven minutes still to play.

That's when Baker put her stamp on the game. She scored inside, she scored inside again, and she knocked down a pair of free throws -- she was 7 for 8 from the line in the two games -- to push the lead to a more comfortable 15 and for the most part end UNC's threat.

Of course Baker's baskets that pushed the lead to 11, then to 13, came by way of assist, both from Smith, and it's the passes and not the finishes that Baker points to when asked about a key stretch in the game.

"As a player, my instinct at a time like that says, Get me the ball," Baker said, "but really I just wanted to do my part. They were amazing reads and passes from Alyssa, so it's really just a matter of teamwork."

Baker currently ranks fourth in the Big Sky during league action in both scoring (16.3) and rebounding (10.2) and is second in blocks (1.8/g). She is one of four players in the Big Sky averaging a double-double.

Montana (11-4, 5-1 BSC) sits atop the Big Sky Conference standings with Montana State (11-4, 5-1 BSC) with the league schedule already 30 percent complete.

The Lady Griz will host the Bobcats, who play at third-place Southern Utah (9-6, 3-2 BSC) Thursday night, Saturday at 3 p.m. at Dahlberg Arena.
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[/quote]

Kalispell's Daily Inter Lake had a nice, interesting feature on Baker this week too:

http://dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_0eb26cee-5df2-11e2-9419-001a4bcf887a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
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