Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preview: Montana at Northern Arizona FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks and Montana Lady Griz, each seeking momentum to start the new year, will open their Big Sky Conference women’s basketball schedules against one another Thursday at Walkup Skydome. The matchup pits two teams with sub-.500 nonconference records. Northern Arizona (4-9) enters on a three-game winning streak, including a 71-68 road victory at UC San Diego on Dec. 20. Montana (3-8) snapped a three-game skid with a dramatic 90-85 overtime win at Tarleton State on the same date. A key battle will feature Montana’s high-scoring guard Mack Konig against Northern Arizona’s steady facilitator Audrey Taylor. Konig is coming off a career performance, pouring in 35 points with five rebounds and four assists in 41 minutes against Tarleton State. Over her last five games, the guard is averaging 17.8 points per contest. Taylor, directing the Lumberjacks’ offense, has dished out 15 assists over the last three games, all wins. She scored 12 points in the victory at UC San Diego. Montana’s recent success was a full-team effort. Alongside Konig’s 35 points against Tarleton State, Avery Waddington posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double and Jocelyn Land added 19 points and nine boards. The Lady Griz will need similar balance to counter a Northern Arizona squad that has found its rhythm, winning those three games by an average margin of 19.3 points. The Lumberjacks’ defense was stifling in a 77-56 win at Cal State Northridge on Dec. 18, holding the Matadors to 32.8% shooting. Montana’s offense, which scored 90 in its last outing but was held to 48 points in a loss at Abilene Christian the day before, must prepare for variability. This conference opener serves as a critical early benchmark for both programs. The rematch in this home-and-home series is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19, in Missoula. Tip-off is set for Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Flagstaff.