Just a few things to add to the comments above:
1. Carroll returns two starters and Cassidy (Hashley) Kosena returns after sitting out last year with an injury. The Saints are ranked 7th nationally in the NAIA, went undefeated last year in the Frontier Conf, and made it to the round of 16 in last year's national NAIA playoffs. Last year, Montana beat the Saints by 6. Tonight it was a blowout by halftime. Coach Schweyen played all of her bench during the second half in a wide variety of rotations. All the younger players, except Lee Camel, logged considerable minutes.
2.Jace Henderson looks like she spent the entire summer in the weight room. Pound for pound, she's one of the strongest Lady Griz players I've ever watched. Perhaps Ann Lake, who was more solid, but not more muscular than Henderson. NO one pushed her around. She's undersized for a post, but will not get pushed around. She had 12 points and 13 rebounds... AND -- because she's an adept ball-handler on the dribble -- ran the fast break from all of her defensive rebounds. It's part of Montana's early O and very effective, because no Saints front court player could stay with her on early O. Undersized, but very versatile in the paint, with a suitcase full of post up moves, step throughs and reverse pivots. She got at least two buckets from offensive positioning & rebounding.
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3. McKenzie Johnston, a Junior, now has two years as Montana's point guard notched into her belt of experience. Composed and confident, she controls this team from the point. She's also undersized, but moved well in the key for several smooth midrange jumpers. Most importantly, she shoud be able to get some rest mid-game this season, now that freshman Katie Mayhue is on the roster. Mayhue started as off guard, but played considerable minutes at point in the second half. :thumb:
4. Mayhue will be a major player on this year's team. She moves well on both offense and defense, but it is her defense that'll get her court time. She reminds me, in some way, of Timmy Falls (she possesses a gutbucket of internal fire as well). Lanky, lean, but ultra-quick, she possesses skills to be a game-changer. One of her early O drives for a layup was highlight reel as she cut through traffic from the right sideline, thrreaded through 3 defenders, crossed the key and under the basket, scoring a layup with a twisting right-handed scoop shot.
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5. Madi Schoening appears fully healthy and played wing. Her aggressive style seems to now be matched by a decidedly more aggressive Montana offensive uptempo game. This team is now fully Shannon's and the pace is much faster than under the previous coach (??). She rebounds well for her size and had 2 very nice twisting drives for buckets.
[media]https://twitter.com/MontanaGrizWBB/status/1057454302019481600[/media]
6. The most improved player, in my view, was Gabbi Harrington. She redshirted last season and seems to have grown an inch or so. Gabbi, as well, has spent considerable time in the weightroom and played wing and forward positions. With just Henderson in the key, that makes Montana seem undersized, but both Harrington and Schoening rebounded well. She nailed a beauty of a trey with 3 at the halftime buzzer, but scored on a couple of drives in the key.
7.Junior Taylor Goligoski played the two off the bench behind Mayhue, but impacted the game the second she hit the floor. Her defense was intense and she had 2 steals (that resulted in early O) and several deflections. She hit an early trey from downtown and then drove into the lane when defenders jumped at her. She had 2-3 classy dribble enter jumpers in the paint. Last season she was injured for the first two months. This year she looks very healthy and is playing with confidence.
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8. Junior Emma Stockholm is the team's tallest player and subbed in for Henderson. However, they did several rotations together on the floor. Stockholm is an imposing addition in the key on defense, but team speed is down when she's on the floor. She did not shoot any treys, but showed the results of summer work with several nice pivots. I think she'll be a key first-level reserve this season. Redshirt freshman Abby Anderson is imposing (6-2) and showed some nice pivot moves, but doesn't have the toughness on D mid-key. Abby's more of a finess than a physical player and perhaps just needs some time on court to acclimate from a year off.
9. In that regard, I saw some high promise from freshman post (6-1) Carmen Gfeller. She plays the frontcourt like a freshman right now, was getting tossed around quite a bit, but. Gfeller (who I heard could redshirt) obviously has the tools to be an important frontcourt presence. She grabbed several rebounds and took 3-4 shots in the key... two that bounced, rolled and skipped off the rim and out. I think she's a potential scorer. I think it's possible that she could redshirt or play.
10. Two other freshmen who saw good minutes were Jordan Schweyen and Kylie Froelich. Both play solid defense. Schweyen an arcing laser-trey from the hinterlands late in the first half. I can't remember seeing Froelich shoot. Both play solid Defense for freshmen.
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The good about this game is that Montana could have beat Carroll by 30, but coach Schweyen made certain that every player got good minutes. That has already paid dividends. Montana's got a very tough November schedule. This was a good breakin for the team.
My final thoughts. Besides Lee Camel, who looks like she's still learning the Griz playbook, ALL of these players showed the potential to contribute this season. Much may depend upon whether (or how soon) Sophia Stiles returns to action. If she does in late November (as I've heard she might) then the Griz will have the luxury of redshirting a couple of frosh.
This game accomplished, in textbook fashion, exactly what an exhibition game should... Go Montana.
