Bobcat Women Drop Semifinal Game
3/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
from the field and 88 percent (7-8) from three-point range, to defeat Montana State 84-67 insemifinal action at the Big Sky Conference Tournament, Friday night in Pocatello.
A tight early contest, deadlocked at 18-all midway through the first half, seemed to turn
Montana State's favor over the next several minutes, as the Bobcats built a 30-25 lead with
just over four minutes to go in the opening stanza. Montana then got a basket from Linda
Cummings and knocked down seven free throws to take a 34-32 lead at intermission.
We played a great first half, said MSU head coach Frank McCarthy. Montana got up by
five points early, but we settled down and fought back and started to take over the game near
the end of the half, but Montana was able to go to the line and sink their free throws. I thought
Rebecca (Alvidrez) and Jinnifer (Jeresek) gave us a big lift.
Unfortunately, our post players got into foul trouble, McCarthy added. That was something
we could never get back, as Montana wore us down in the second half.
In the early going of the second half, MSU took the lead, but Montana battled back and held a
47-40 advantage with 14-minutes remaining. MSU cut the margin to 51-49 on an Amy
Meckling basket with 11:08 left in the game. However, UM took control and built a 71-58lead with under four minutes and scored their final 15 points from the foul line.
For the game, Montana converted 31-of-39 free throws, while the Bobcats converted14-of-20. MSU had four players in double-figures, led by Meckling with 17 points. Also indouble-digits were Serena Merrill 15, including three-of-six from three-point range, Jeresek 13points and seven rebounds, and Alvidrez 11 points and a game-high eight assists.
MSU finished their season at 18-10 overall and 11-5 in Big Sky Conference play. MontanaState's 11.5 game improvement from the 1999-2000 season is one of the best in the nation thisseason. The Bobcats will lose the services of their four seniors; Meckling, Merrill, Martin andSkarman.
A tight early contest, deadlocked at 18-all midway through the first half, seemed to turn
Montana State's favor over the next several minutes, as the Bobcats built a 30-25 lead with
just over four minutes to go in the opening stanza. Montana then got a basket from Linda
Cummings and knocked down seven free throws to take a 34-32 lead at intermission.
We played a great first half, said MSU head coach Frank McCarthy. Montana got up by
five points early, but we settled down and fought back and started to take over the game near
the end of the half, but Montana was able to go to the line and sink their free throws. I thought
Rebecca (Alvidrez) and Jinnifer (Jeresek) gave us a big lift.
Unfortunately, our post players got into foul trouble, McCarthy added. That was something
we could never get back, as Montana wore us down in the second half.
In the early going of the second half, MSU took the lead, but Montana battled back and held a
47-40 advantage with 14-minutes remaining. MSU cut the margin to 51-49 on an Amy
Meckling basket with 11:08 left in the game. However, UM took control and built a 71-58lead with under four minutes and scored their final 15 points from the foul line.
For the game, Montana converted 31-of-39 free throws, while the Bobcats converted14-of-20. MSU had four players in double-figures, led by Meckling with 17 points. Also indouble-digits were Serena Merrill 15, including three-of-six from three-point range, Jeresek 13points and seven rebounds, and Alvidrez 11 points and a game-high eight assists.
MSU finished their season at 18-10 overall and 11-5 in Big Sky Conference play. MontanaState's 11.5 game improvement from the 1999-2000 season is one of the best in the nation thisseason. The Bobcats will lose the services of their four seniors; Meckling, Merrill, Martin andSkarman.
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