Beck leads Lady Griz past Idol Sports, 77-57

Veteran Montana Lady Griz coach Robin Selvig has built a stable women’s basketball program on several foundational principles, one of which was severely tested in the Lady Griz’ 77-57 win over All-American great Cheryl Swoopes’ Idol Sports Warriors Sunday.

With every new season, Selvig gives his returning upper-class players the first opportunity to step into starting positions vacated by departed seniors, and Sunday’s pre-season contest was the perfect test to see which of several solid vets would step into the vacancies left by all-conference starters Mandy Morales, Sonya Rogers and Britney Lohman.

But no fewer than five promising freshmen are pushing to turn the tables of tradition on this young season, and one -- frosh forward Katie Baker -- was named “player of the game” after scoring 19 points while grabbing seven rebounds in 20 minutes of play against the Warriors Sunday.

Baker is one of a trio of frosh -- off-guard Kenzie De Boer (6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists), and forward Alyssa Smith (3 points, 3 boards, 3 assists) are the others -- who are in the thick of the battle for those two open starting positions.

Two more, redshirt frosh Alexandra Hurley and freshman point guard Ashley Ferda -- whose play might be limited by a potential chronic injury -- may see increased playing time as the season progresses.

Selvig made certain every player got significant floor time to make their case.

With the exception of senior shooting guard Lauren Beck -- who played 31 stellar minutes, scored 22 points and stepped assertively into the role of team leader -- nine players logged between 15 and 22 minutes. All played well in short spells in a game that was never in doubt.

PHOTOS: Senior Lauren Beck (above) scored 22 points, grabbed 5 boards, and dished 3 assists while frosh Katie Baker (right) scored 19 points and grabbed 7 boards.

Joining Beck as a returning starter will be junior power forward Sarah Ena, who had a slightly off-kilter game, but still scored 14 points and grabbed eight boards. Senior Shaunte Nance-Johnson made only one of six shots, but dished four assists at point and will likely assume the starting role.

Those three will be expected to provide leadership until two starters and three more first-line reserves claim roles on a team that looks -- on paper -- to be inexperienced.

But several upperclass players -- backcourt players Stephanie Stender and Tianna Ware, and front court vets Shadra Robison, Jessa Linford and Misty Atkinson -- all played solid floor games, though only Atkinson (5 points and 4 rebounds) produced a stat line to scrutinize.

With such solid production from his frosh, Selvig will likely redshirt only one or two, while the others -- in their quest for playing time -- will likely push this year’s Lady Griz squad at an accelerated pace. There were few, if any, disappointed fans after Sunday’s game.

Swoopes led the Warriors with 31 points and 15 rebounds while Rogers donned the unfamiliar blue and red Idol Sports uniform and scored 13 points.

The Lady Griz jump into the fray on Friday, with a tough season-opening two-game road swing to Colorado State and Wyoming (11/15).

POSTGAME NOTES: Redshirt frosh Ashley Ferda sat at the end of the bench with a plastic boot on her right foot. Selvig said that Ferda was dealing with a chronic condition and her playing status wouldn’t be known until Monday or Tuesday. Ferda’s injury makes it even more likely that Selvig will play at least thee of his four true freshmen. The fourth true frosh, Kelsey Hildal, did not play and is a likely candidate for redshirt.