The Lady Griz basketball team picked up a big win Saturday afternoon as they beat Northern Colorado 56-42. Not only did Montana get the win, but they were able to remain in first place in the Big Sky Conference standings.

It was not the best the Lady Griz have played this year, but they finished the game victorious. Senior forward Katie Baker was the only player to hit double digits in the game. Baker finished the game with 18 points and used her leadership to help carry the Lady Griz to victory.   

Montana led 28-11 at halftime, part of that was because the Bears only shot 21 percent from the floor. Northern Colorado fell behind early in the game and the Lady Griz never slowed down.

The Lady Griz bench saw plenty of playing time, they combined to score 19 points.

The Lady Griz scored just 12 points through the first 12 minutes of the second half, and that allowed Northern Colorado to cut a 17-point deficit to nine, 40-31. Northern Colorado shot 42.1 percent in the second half and actually outscored Montana 31-28, mostly by getting to the foul line.

The win snapped Montana's two-game losing streak against Northern Colorado. The Bears, who dropped to 0-8 on the road this season, had won on their previous two visits to Missoula.

Montana is not alone atop the Big Sky Conference. There also sits Montana State (10-4, 4-1 BSC), which faces the Lady Griz next Saturday afternoon at Dahlberg Arena.