Avery Waddington scored a game-high 20 points, 10 coming in the fourth quarter, to lead the Montana women’s basketball team to a 51-50 victory over Weber State on Thursday night at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.
The Lady Griz, who have won consecutive games for the first time this season, grabbed the lead late in the first quarter and built their advantage to 11 points in the second quarter, 12 in the third before having to hold off the Wildcats down the stretch.
Montana (5-13, 2-5 BSC) took a 41-33 lead into the final period but Weber State (6-14, 0-7 BSC), which was seeking its first Big Sky win, opened the quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers to tighten the game in a hurry.
It would be a one-possession game over the final eight minutes.
Waddington made a pair of game-winning plays in the closing moments. After Weber State tied it at 44-44 with 4:29 to go, Waddington hit a 3-pointer. Her lay-up with 48 seconds left put the Lady Griz up 51-48.
The Wildcats made it 51-50 with 13 seconds left but had only committed one foul in the period. By the time Weber State was able to foul enough to put Montana at the free throw line, the clock had run out.
It was Waddington’s third 20-point scoring game of the season, her first since early December. With Mack Konig still sidelined, Montana needed every one of Waddington’s points to secure the victory.
“That’s what we needed from her today,” said coach Nate Harris. “I don’t know how many times I told her, lead us there. Take over. This is yours. And she did. She made some huge plays down the stretch.”
Montana won despite shooting 7 for 30 from the 3-point line and 35.1 percent overall. Defensively, the Lady Griz held the Wildcats to 33.3 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
“Any win is a good win. I’m never going to apologize for the kids finding a way to get it done,” said Harris. “Proud of the kids for battling, proud of the kids for finding a way.
“Our kids really leaned on our defense. We’re starting to make some strides as a defensive team that can take some things away.”
