MISSOULA (AP) – Sonya Rogers scored a career-high 32 points to help lead Montana to a 78-65 victory against Montana State on Friday night in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.
Rogers was 5-of-6 from 3-point range and made all nine of her free throws. Tamara Guardipee was the only other Montana player in double figures with 12 points. She and Johanna Closson each grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lady Griz (11-3, 1-0 Big Sky).
Montana star guard Mandy Morales, playing in her third straight game after sitting out the previous six with a foot injury, scored nine points. The junior from Billings still appeared severely hobbled, and was just 2-of-6 from the field.
The Bobcats (5-8, 0-1) trailed 40-29 at the break and shot just 39 percent from the field. Montana shot 44 percent from the floor and took advantage of 19 Montana State turnovers.
Rebecca Mercer led the Bobcats with 19 points. Krislyn Wallace added 13 points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Nubia Garcia scored 10 points.