It was the first round of the NCAA tournament last March and it didn't go so well for either program. The Cowgirls dropped a 63-58 decision to Pitt and the Lady Griz a 75-47 verdict to Vanderbilt.
A lot has changed for Wyoming over the past eight months. Montana isn't so different, which should give the Lady Griz a leg up when the teams meet in Montana's season debut Sunday at 2 p.m. at Dahlberg Arena.
While it's true the Lady Griz return four senior starters in Morales, guard Sonya Rogers and posts Britney Lohman and Tam Guardipee, all is not peachy at this point. Guardipee is out with a hip injury and Montana must replace four other key role players from last season.
“We have a lot of work to do on offense and defense,” said Morales, whose team is picked to win the Big Sky Conference, “but we have a good team coming back and some bench players that are coming on.”
Two of those are junior post Shadra Robison and sophomore forward Jessa Linford, who will be relied on to provide quality minutes off the bench. Junior college transfer Shaunte Nance-Johnson is also expected to see significant playing time as a reserve point guard.
“I'm excited about this team,” Montana coach Robin Selvig said. “I think I've got some great competitors and a great nucleus of older kids to lead this team.”
That doesn't stop Selvig, just three wins shy of Magic No. 700, from wrestling with anxiety. It's something most coaches confront this time of year, and Montana's lack of proven scorers outside its starting five doesn't help matters this season.
“I wish I didn't get the same butterflies I've gotten for how ever many years, but I do,” the 31-year skipper said. “I start losing weight, start waking up early in the morning. I should just be able to relax and say, ‘Hey, I've got some really good players. Don't worry about it.' ”
When it comes to the Cowgirls, Selvig has reasons to be concerned. For starters, Wyoming already has a game under its belt, posting a 61-54 win at Denver on Friday behind 18 points by freshman reserve guard Kristen Scheffler.
The Cowgirls also have their share of veteran players, with senior letterwinners Rebecca Vanderjagt, Elisabeth Dissen and Megan McGuffey in the starting lineup. Vanderjagt is 6-foot-3 and Dissen 6-1, and together with freshman forward Emma Langford (6-2), Wyoming has size that will make Montana's starting lineup look comparatively smaller.
“You look at them and say, ‘They shouldn't be as good as last year,' but the program is good,” Selvig said. “They've brought in some players that can score for them.”
Those players include sophomore Randi Richardson, a 5-7 transfer from the University of San Francisco, and Langford, a true freshman from Australia. Langford scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds on Friday.
“But we've got some challenges with a brand new backcourt,” said Legerski, forced to start the season without seasoned junior guard Aubrey Vandiver, sidelined by mononucleosis.
Sunday's contest will be a rubber game of sorts for Selvig and Legerski. In their four previous meetings since Legerski took over at Wyoming in 2003, they've each won twice.
Selvig has the utmost respect for Legerski and the Cowgirls, who stayed in the national rankings for 13 weeks last season and earned an at-large berth into the NCAA tourney.
“I look at this as an opportunity to make a splash,” he said. “We have a good team and you get better playing the best.”
Notes: Freshmen Alexandra Hurley of Anaconda and Ashley Ferda of Whitefish will redshirt. That could change if Montana runs into more injury problems ... Guard Tianna Ware is the only freshman who will not redshirt. The Lady Griz may look to her for help on the defensive end ... Wyoming is picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West Conference this season. The Cowgirls have won at least 20 games in each of the past three seasons.
Sports writer Bill Speltz can be reached at 523-5255 or bill.speltz@lee.net.
Wyoming at Montana Lady Griz
Sunday, 2 p.m.,
Dahlberg Arena (7,320)
Tickets: $5 general admission; $6-$16 for reserved seats. Children 12 and under free in general admission with a paying adult.
Radio: KENR 107.5 FM.
TV: none.
Web: montanagrizzlies.com
Records: Wyoming of the Mountain West Conference is 1-0. Montana is 0-0.
Series: Montana leads, 7-3.
Last meeting: Wyoming won, 65-54, in Laramie, Wyo., on Nov. 29, 2007.
Up next: Montana will play at Idaho on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Probable starters
Montana
3-Mandy Morales, 5-9, sr.
10-Sonya Rogers, 5-7, st.
14-Sarah Ena, 5-11, so.
22-Britney Lohman, 6-1, sr.
45-Lauren Beck, 6-0, jr.
Wyoming
3-Randi Richardson, 5-7, so.
24-Megan McGuffey, 5-11, sr.
33-Elisabeth Dissen, 6-1, sr.
10-Rebecca Vanderjagt, 6-3, sr.
21-Emma Langford, 6-2, fr.
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