BYU Routs Montana 97-53 in Provo
BYU built a 15-point first-half lead and cruised to a 97-53 win over Montana, which shot 28.3 percent from the floor.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Basketball
BYU defeated Montana 97-53 in Provo, Utah, on November 7, 2026. Paige Lofing scored a career-high 18 points for Montana in the loss.
Why it matters
The win moves BYU to 3-0 on the season while Montana drops to 1-1 after a lopsided defeat. Montana's struggles on the glass and from the field were central to the margin.
BYU shot 56.1 percent from the floor (37 of 66) against Montana's 28.3 percent (15 of 53), and held a 46-22 rebounding edge. The second-quarter run of 19-3 turned a close game into a rout.
The players
Paige Lofing
Montana guard who scored a career-high 18 points in the loss, converting 4 of 9 three-point attempts.
Nate Harris
Montana head coach who said his team struggled defending and rebounding with intensity.
The details
BYU outscored Montana 23-13 in the second quarter after a 19-3 run, having already built a 15-point first-half lead. Montana struggled to corral offensive rebounds and relied heavily on the three-point shot while committing turnovers, according to coach Nate Harris.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: BYU defeats Montana 97-53 in Provo.
Tuesday morning: Montana plays at Kansas State at 10 a.m. Mountain.
Season Trajectory
Montana's 1-1 start follows a 9-22 finish in 2025-26, leaving the program still searching for consistency early in the new season. BYU's 3-0 start positions it as an early contender in the conference while Montana works to halt its slide.
Montana's loss drops it to 1-1 and pushes the team into a Tuesday road test at Kansas State just two days later. For fantasy and bracket watchers, Lofing's 18-point night is the most notable individual line from the game.
The takeaway
Early-season defensive and rebounding lapses can swing a game quickly, as Montana's 19-3 second-quarter slide showed. Teams that protect the glass and limit turnovers give themselves the best chance to stay competitive against deeper opponents.
What happens next
Montana returns to action Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. Mountain at Kansas State.
Further reading
For more on women's college hoops across the region, browse Basketball.
