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Montana Grizzlies Women's Basketball Wins Big Sky Conference Title, Earns NCAA Tournament Berth

Grizzlies Secure Automatic Bid with 70-50 Victory Over Montana Western

MISSOULA, Mont. - The Montana Grizzlies women's basketball team secured the Big Sky Conference tournament title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament with a dominant 70-50 victory over the University of Montana Western Bulldogs on Saturday night at Dahlberg Arena.

Legendary Coach Robin Selvig Retires After 40 Seasons

The victory marked a fitting end to the legendary career of head coach Robin Selvig, who announced his retirement after the game. Selvig, who has led the Grizzlies to 11 Big Sky titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, guided Montana to an impressive 26-6 record this season.

Balanced Scoring Effort Leads Grizzlies to Victory

The Grizzlies were led by a balanced scoring attack in the championship game. Senior forward Carmen Gfeller led the way with 14 points, while sophomore guards Sammy Fatkin and Sophia Stiles added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Senior forward Abby Anderson also contributed 10 points and pulled down a game-high 9 rebounds.

Selvig Reflects on Historic Career

"It's been an incredible run," said Selvig after the game. "I'm so proud of this team for winning the championship, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have coached these young women. It's been an honor and a privilege to lead this program for the past 40 years."

Grizzlies Set Sights on NCAA Tournament

With the Big Sky title in hand, the Grizzlies will now turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament. Montana will learn their tournament seeding and destination on Monday, March 13th. The tournament is scheduled to begin on March 16th.

Additional Highlights

Montana dominated the game from start to finish, building a 20-point lead in the first half.
The Bulldogs were led by senior forward Dani Urick, who finished with a team-high 13 points.
The Grizzlies forced Montana Western into 20 turnovers, which they converted into 27 points.
The victory marked Montana's first Big Sky tournament title since 2019.