Tag Archives: Big Sky Conference

Robin Selvig named coach of the year

19 Mar

Tuesday the Big Sky Conference recognized Lady Griz head coach Robin Selvig as the Big Sky Conference coach of the year.

In 35 years of coaching, Selvig has 798-254 record. He has won Big Sky Conference coach of the year 14 times, won five times in the Mountain West Conference and once in the Northwest Women’s Basketball League.

“Everyone is very loyal to him,” sophomore Maggie Rickman said. “He has earned it in every way and I haven’t met someone who doesn’t like him for everything yet.”

Rickman was drawn to the program for Selvig’s respect others give him for his accomplishments and personality.

Senior Katie Baker and Big Sky Conference MVP said she wanted to join Montana four years ago because Selvig said they were about more than just basketball.

“He said we love the game but it’s not just about basketball, we want them to have a good college career and a good life,” Baker said. “Basketball ball coaches across the country live and breathe basketball and he loves the team but it’s more than just basketball with him. It’s a family and a love and that’s what pulled me in.”

Lady Griz receive 13 seed, to face 4 Georgia seed

19 Mar
Tim Goessman/Montana KaiminFrom left, Kenzie De Boer, Alexandra Hurley and Lady Griz teammates watch a tv screen at the Press Box March 18, 2013 moments before they learned of their seeding against 4-seed Georgia Saturday, March 23, 2013 for a second-round NCAA tournament game.

Tim Goessman/Montana Kaimin
From left, Kenzie De Boer, Alexandra Hurley and Lady Griz teammates watch a tv screen at the Press Box March 18, 2013 moments before they learned of their seeding against 4-seed Georgia Saturday, March 23, 2013 for a second-round NCAA tournament game.

Every player’s eyes on the Lady Griz basketball team were glued to the TV’s in the Press Box waiting to hear who and where they would play in the Women’s 2013 NCAA tournament. At 5 p.m. the first three teams were announced.

Then it finally came: 13th seeded Montana vs. 4th seeded Georgia in Spokane, Wash. at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The room erupted in cheers. Continue reading 

Lady Griz win Big Sky Conference championship, to head to NCAA tournament

19 Mar

The Northern Colorado Bears were second once again in the Big Sky Conference championship as the Lady Griz fought their way to a 56-43 win for the BSC championship. Montana has the Big Sky automatic berth to the NCAA tournament and will find out Monday evening who and where they play.

“I’m thrilled for these ladies, from day one they’ve been determined and they backed it up,” head coach Robin Selvig said. “I think we beat a really good team today, a really good defensive and rebounding team. You know I watched them and we played them twice and I think how in the heck are we going to score.” Continue reading 

Lady Griz headed to conference championship game

19 Mar
Samuel Wilson/ Montana KaiminUniversity of Montana forward Torry Hill (2) fights her way past the half court line Friday, March 15, 2013 in Dahlberg Arena. UM beat Sacramento State 74-53.

Samuel Wilson/ Montana Kaimin
University of Montana forward Torry Hill (2) fights her way past the half court line Friday, March 15, 2013 in Dahlberg Arena. UM beat Sacramento State 74-53.

Forget that six days ago the Lady Griz (23-7) lost to the Sacramento State Hornets (19-12) in Montana’s final regular season game. Montana’s memorable part about the two team’s history this season is when No. 1 Montana beat the Hornets 74-53 in the 2013 Big Sky Conference Tournament semi-final game.

Montana will face the No. 2 seeded Northern Colorado Bears Saturday at 2 p.m. for the Big Sky Conference championship. Continue reading 

North Dakota blows out Southern Utah 69-52

19 Mar
Thom Bridge/Montana KaiminUND's Mitch Wilmer(22) and Josh Schuler(32) defend SUU's Damon Heuir (3) March 14, 2013 at Dahlberg Arena. UND defeated SUU 69-52

Thom Bridge/Montana Kaimin
UND’s Mitch Wilmer(22) and Josh Schuler(32) defend SUU’s Damon Heuir (3) March 14, 2013 at Dahlberg Arena. UND defeated SUU 69-52

In the second game of the men’s Big Sky Conference quarterfinal game Thursday, the conference’s two newest teams battled it out. The No. 3 seed University of North Dakota emerged victorious over Southern Utah with a 69-52 win.

After a close first half, North Dakota came out on fire to start the second half. The team started the half with a six-point run, with five points coming from junior guard Troy Huff. He led UND with 15 points and sevw=en rebounds. Teammate Mitch Wilmer had a double-double with 11 points and 14 boards.

Continue reading 

Griz conference champs after 12-year drought

5 Nov

© Tim Goessman/Montana Kaimin
Tyler Adair (27) and Chansi Crompton (2) jump in the air as Stacy Bair (30) head-butts the ball during the Grizzlies’ match against Weber State on Sept. 23 at the South Campus Stadium. The Griz won 1-0.

When the Big Sky added soccer to conference play in 2000, the Montana Grizzlies clinched the first regular season title. Fast forward to 2010, and the Griz were at the bottom of the stat sheets.

Move to 2012 and the Grizzlies (10-6-2, 6-2-1 BSC) once again hold the honor of Big Sky regular-season champions with their Sunday win against Northern Arizona University.

“It feels great because it shows how much hard work we have put into this season,” sophomore Paytyn Wheeler said. “We had a rough start, but we’ve gone five games in a row, and we shut out each team, too.”

The team has not had a five-match winning-streak shutout since 2000 under the program’s first coach, Betsy Duerksen. The 2000 season was the best program in history, going 16-5-1 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Continue reading 

Griz want to finish vs. UND

1 Nov

© Samuel Wilson/ Montana Kaimin
Peter Nguyen leaps over SUU’s Tommy Collett during the Grizzlies’ loss to the Thunderbirds Saturday, Oct. 13, at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The last time the Grizzly football team traveled to Grand Forks, N.D., Richard Nixon was engulfed in the Watergate scandal, “The Exorcist” was released in theaters and North Dakota dominated the Griz in a 31-10 victory.

This year, things are a little different as the Montana Grizzlies (3-4 overall, 1-3 Big Sky Conference) take on North Dakota (3-4 overall, 1-3 BSC) in the Alerus Arena.

Their last meeting was in Missoula in 2010. The Griz won 27-17 and led the series 11-7-1. This is the first year that North Dakota is competing in the Big Sky Conference for football.

Last week Montana continued its season struggles, losing 30-20 at home to Southern Utah University. The Thunderbirds killed the possibility of a winning streak for the Griz after they outscored UM 17-3 in the second half.

Losing is not a pastime that Grizzly fans are accustomed to.

“It’s one of those situations that, man, to lose at home, particularly with the things that have happened here at Washington-Grizzly Stadium over the past several years since Washington-Grizzly Stadium opened, is really difficult,” head coach Mick Delaney said. “In both losses there was a point in each of those games that we had control.”  Continue reading 

SUU, UND happy under the Big Sky

1 Nov

Geographically, it made sense for Southern Utah University and the University of North Dakota to join the Big Sky Conference.

While in the Summit League, the closest school for Southern Utah was in Tulsa, Okla., and North Dakota played schools in Illinois and Texas in the Great West Conference.

This past summer both schools joined the Big Sky Conference as full-time members.

“Travel was difficult and expensive,” said Neil Gardner, Southern Utah’s media relations for football, men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf, and assistant athletic director. “While we liked it, Southern Utah University has aspired to be in the Big Sky for a long time. It’s a prestigious and successful conference.” Continue reading 

UM’s old married couple going strong

1 Nov

© Taylor Romack/ Montana Kaimin
Doubles partners Heather Davidson (left), and Laurence Pelchat (center) return serves from their head coach Steve Ascher at Tuesday afternoons practice. The two have been improving their communication and styles with each other over the year.

“Say it,” Heather Davidson said.

“You say it,” Laurence Pelchat responded. “We argue a lot.”

“We are a married couple,” Davidson said.

Both women erupted in laughter.

University of Montana tennis doubles partners Pelchat and Davidson giggled at the definition of their relationship.

Their banter was friendly, as they goaded one another to answer questions. This doubles marriage was meant to be from the start. Continue reading 

To ‘air’ on the side of caution

1 Nov

© Abby Redfern/Montana Kaimin
Precious Gbadamosi practices with the UM tennis team despite the smoky conditions. Tennis coach Steve Ascher says the smoke has definitely affected the players practicing outside.

On a Monday afternoon, Missoula can look as picturesque as a postcard — endless skies, green mountains and a bustling college campus. But a dry summer has led to several ravaging forest fires in western Montana, and Missoulians have suffered. A Monday afternoon with a hazy sky that smells of fire turns Missoula into an industrial scene.

For some athletes, practicing outside in the smoky air is not even an option. Sophomore Ciara Lozier has dealt with asthma her entire soccer career, but growing up in Tacoma, Wash., made it manageable. Come to Montana and combine asthma with dry air, high altitude and smoke, and you get a soccer player who struggles. Continue reading 

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