The Big Sky Conference released the league’s women’s basketball schedule for the 2022-23 season on Wednesday morning.
With the recent departure of Southern Utah from the league, the Big Sky’s 10 teams will play an 18-game schedule, with home and road games against the other nine teams.
League play will start after Christmas and wrap up in late February, with occasional Monday games sprinkled in, allowing for an earlier start to the Big Sky tournament in Boise.
The new postseason format will have the Big Sky tournament opening on Saturday, March 4, and concluding with the women’s and men’s championship games on Wednesday, March 8.
Montana will open its Big Sky schedule with games at Eastern Washington and Idaho on Dec. 29 and 31.
The Lady Griz will close out January with four straight home games, including a matchup against Montana State at Dahlberg Arena on Saturday, Jan. 21.
After playing five of seven games on the road to open February, including at Montana State on Feb. 18, Montana will wrap up the regular season with a home game against Idaho on Monday, Feb. 27.
Montana’s other Monday game also will be at home, against Eastern Washington on Jan. 16. All 10 teams will end the regular season with games on Monday, Feb. 27, before traveling to Boise.
The Lady Griz, under then first-year head coach Brian Holsinger, went 19-11 last season, the most wins for the program since 2015-16. Montana went 12-8 in league, tying for fourth.
Montana returns three starters from that team: Carmen Gfeller, who was voted first-team All-Big Sky last year as a junior, Sammy Fatkin and Haley Huard.
To a group of five returning letter-winners, Montana adds six newcomers, transfers Gina Marxen and Keeli Burton-Oliver and four true freshmen.
Montana’s pre-Christmas, nonconference schedule will be announced at a later date.
Montana’s Big Sky schedule:
Thursday, Dec. 29 – at Eastern Washington
Saturday, Dec. 31 – at Idaho
Thursday, Jan. 5 – Northern Arizona
Saturday, Jan. 7 – Northern Colorado
Thursday, Jan. 12 – at Weber State
Saturday, Jan. 14 – at Idaho State
Monday, Jan. 16 – Eastern Washington
Saturday, Jan. 21 – Montana State
Thursday, Jan. 26 – Sacramento State
Saturday, Jan. 28 – Portland State
Thursday, Feb. 2 – at Northern Colorado
Saturday, Feb. 4 – at Northern Arizona
Thursday, Feb. 9 – Idaho State
Saturday, Feb. 11 – Weber State
Saturday, Feb. 18 – at Montana State
Thursday, Feb. 23 – at Portland State
Saturday, Feb. 25 – at Sacramento State
Monday, Feb. 27 – Idaho
Saturday, March 4 – Big Sky tournament first-round games
Sunday, March 5 – Big Sky tournament quarterfinal games
Monday, March 6 – Big Sky tournament quarterfinal games
Tuesday, March 7 – Big Sky tournament semifinal games
Wednesday, March 8 – Big Sky tournament championship games