Box score/play-by-play

Senior Lauren Beck scored 22 points and freshman Katie Baker added 19 to help Montana overcome Sheryl Swoopes and Idol Sports Sunday afternoon at Dahlberg Arena, 77-57. The game was the Lady Griz’ only exhibition contest of the preseason.

Montana opens its regular season next weekend with games at Colorado State and Wyoming. The Lady Griz will face the Rams Friday at 7 p.m. in Fort Collins, Colo., and the Cowgirls Sunday at 2 p.m. in Laramie, Wyo.

Playing in Missoula for the first time since leading Texas Tech to a pair of West Regional victories in the 1993 NCAA tournament, Swoopes led both teams with 31 points and 15 rebounds. She knocked down four 3-pointers and added a game-high four steals.

Montana’s balance won in the end. In addition to Beck’s 22 and Baker’s 19, junior Sarah Ena had 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The high-scoring trio combined to hit 20-of-31 shots (.645). Baker was 7-for-7 until her eighth and final shot of the game rimmed out with under 30 seconds remaining.

Swoopes, Sonya Rogers and Corrie Villegas were the only Idol Sports players to score in the first half and the only players to finish the game with more than three points.

Rogers, a first team All-Big Sky Conference selection for the Lady Griz last year, finished with 13 points for Idol Sports, which shot just 26.6 percent and turned the ball over 22 times.

Beck hit a 3-pointer early in the game to put Montana up 5-3, and the Lady Griz would lead the rest of the way, but it took a late surge before they had comfortable separation.

Montana had a 12-point lead late in the first half. A running shot by Rogers from mid court at the halftime horn brought Idol Sports within eight, 37-29, at the break.

A pair of free throws by Rogers with 8:06 remaining brought Idol Sports within six, 57-51.

Rogers missed the third of three free throw attempts, and Idol Sports turned the ball over on its next possession. That would be as close to Idol Sports would be the rest of the game.

Junior Jessa Loman Linford hit a jumper in the lane to make it 59-51, senior Shaunte Nance-Johnson and Ena hit free throws to make it 62-51 and Beck put the game out of reach with a 3-pointer at the 5:49 mark to make it 65-51.

Montana led by double digits the final 6:57. The final 20-point margin of difference was the Lady Griz’ largest of the game.