MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho women's basketball team fell to the Lady Griz of the University of Montana, 85-66 in the Cowan Spectrum Saturday night.

With the loss the Vandals fall to 3-5 on the season. Montana improves to 8-1 for the year.

The Vandals struggled at times against the Lady Griz zone defensive scheme.

"That zone is something Robin (Selvig) has run ever since I have been in the Northwest," Idaho coach Mike Divilbiss said. "He has always been very successful with it and he recruits young ladies who fit into that scheme and who buy into what he wants to do."

For Selvig the game plan was to avoid letting Idaho's big freshman post Katie Madison get to the free throw line.

"I thought they had a good attack on our zone, Madison had a nice game against us," Selvig said. "One of the things we wanted to do was not let her get to the foul line, but she got there 12 times.?"

Mandy Morales was a force on the night for Montana. The 5-9 sophomore had 19 points in the first half on her way to a 28 point game. Morales shot well from behind the 3-point line she was 6-9 from behind the arc. She also had seven assists on the night.

"That was the best team we have played all year," Divilbiss said. "Morales is very good and they are experienced up and down their bench."

Madison continued to be a strong presence in the Vandal lineup as the freshman post player had 25 points. Madison was 11-12 from the free throw line. She nearly racked up her fourth double-double of the season as she had nine rebounds, five on the defensive end. Madison had eight points at the intermission and was sick in the locker room, but came out to score 17 in the second half.

"I didn't think it was that physical being in the zone, because in man-to-man someone is bodying you up the whole time," Madison said. "It was just really crowded in the lane and hard to make a move."

Two straight 3-point baskets by Dana Conway and Morales helped the Lady Griz open a 6-1 lead in the games first two minutes. Montana continued to push the lead riding Johanna Closson's hot hand as she had two baskets in a 90 second stretch helping the Lady Griz to a 13-7 edge.

The Vandals continued to chip away at the lead, cutting it to 13-10 before a 27-16 run opened up a 40-26 lead with just over two minutes to play in the first half.

"This was really a good tough game, except two big runs, from them," Divilbiss said. "They had one in the first half, that pushed us but we fought back. In the second half we had cut the lead to about 10 and then they pulled away again."

An old-fashioned three-point play by Madison had cut the Grizzlies lead to 59-48, with 13:30 left in the game. Montana then went on a 15-1 run to push its lead to 74-49.

The Vandals return to action Dec. 20 against Portland State at Portland, Ore. Tip off is set for 7:05 p.m.