Box Score   I  Box Score (pdf)

MISSOULA, Mont. --- Junior Jasmine Wooton scored a career-high 20 points and four Pilots scored in double figures, but the Montana Lady Griz prevailed 68-61 over Portland in a non-conference women's basketball game played on Monday night at Dahlberg Arena. After a close game for most of the night, the Pilots (2-2) nearly erased a 10-point deficit in the closing minutes, but Montana held on to improve to 2-0 on the year.
 
Wooton was eight of 13 from the field en route to her new career high in scoring. Cassandra Brown added 13 points, while Alexis Byrd and Kari Luttinen both finished with 10 points.
 
The first half was low scoring as neither team was able to find much of an offensive rhythm. Portland twice jumped out to a five-point lead but the Lady Griz responded both times. Byrd hit a jumper to make it 7-2 nearly eight minutes in, and Wooton hit a jumper and a free throw moments later to help the Pilots maintain the five-point cushion.
 
Montana would then take a 22-21 lead into the locker room at half.
 
Again Portland would claim a five-point lead in the second half and again Montana had an answer. A Brown mid-range jumper gave the Pilots a 35-30 lead with about 12:21 remaining, but about four minutes later the Lady Griz had pulled even at 40-40.
 
That's when Montana embarked on a 12-2 run to seemingly take control of the game with a ten-point lead.
 
The Portland deficit was still 10 points with 1:12 remaining when the Pilots made things interesting with some buckets and some defensive stops. Luttinen hit a three-pointer to cut into the lead, and Wooton followed with a steal and a traditional three-point play to make it just a four-point game.


The Lady Griz then converted just one of two free throws after a Portland foul to push the lead to 64-59 with :52 left to play, but the Pilots would miss a three-pointer at the other end. After some made free throws, Wooton hit another clutch jumper to pull Portland within five, but the Lady Griz would make enough free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
 
Torry Hill and Kellie Cole each score 16 points for the Lady Griz, who shot 33.3 percent (21-for-63) from the field. Montana was a solid 20 of 23 from the free throw line and connected on sis three-pointers.
 
The Pilots shot 35.6 percent (21-for-59) overall, went 15 of 21 at the foul line and hit four three-pointers.
 
Both teams finished with 43 rebounds and Portland was led by Amy Pupa's nine boards.
 
The game featured eight ties and five lead changes.
 
The Pilots next return home to host Seattle U at the Chiles Center next Sunday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.