Strength in Numbers: Bobcat Women Open Hoop Practice
10/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
“We’re excited to get going,” Binford said. “The first thing anyone will notice with this year’s team is that we’ve got some numbers. We have good, quality depth at every position, and that should give us the legs to finish off games. That was something we were missing last winter.”
Montana State will return nine letterwinners, including five starters. However, the Bobcats will most likely be without the services of Jenny Heringer (leg) and Mara Hoefer (shoulder) for the season. Heringer is rehabilitating from surgery on her legs, while Hoefer, a junior college transfer, recently had shoulder surgery.
“Certainly, the loss of Jenny and Mara are big hits,” Binford said. “But now, we’ve got the people to step into those positions and fill a void.”
Three seniors return to the Bobcat line-up, including part-time starter Scotta Morton, who led MSU in scoring at 11.6 points per game. Point-guard Alyssa Nelson started all 26 games for the Bobcats and averaged 11.2 points and 3.4 assists. Whitney Connolly, a 6-foot-3 center from Ennis, led Montana State in scoring in four of its last seven contests, as well as, guiding the team with 31 blocks.
Other returning letterwinners that started at some point of the 2005-06 season include, Nubia Garcia, Amanda DeHaan, Erin Goodman and Anne Phippard. Brandie Buckless, who redshirted last season after suffering a torn ACL, also returns to the Bobcat roster.
“There’s a lot of excitement for what we can do,” Binford said. “We have a different look. We’re deeper and we will be a lot more up-tempo.
“Practice will also be much better, as we can compete and challenge at every position,” Binford added. “That alone, will help prepare us for game situations.”
Despite going 3-23 overall and 2-12 in Big Sky Conference action, the Bobcats were competitive, notching a victory over Northern Arizona, who went on to capture the league title and represent the Big Sky in the NCAA Tournament. Montana State fell to Idaho State, the conference’s regular-season champion, by two-points on the last day of the season in Pocatello.
“We had a lot of challenges, last season,” Binford said. “But our kids played with heart in every game. If we can bring that attitude, coupled with a year of experience and some talented newcomers, we’ll find a lot more success this season.”
MSU will open its 2006-07 season with an exhibition game against MSU-Billings on Nov. 2.
Montana State will return nine letterwinners, including five starters. However, the Bobcats will most likely be without the services of Jenny Heringer (leg) and Mara Hoefer (shoulder) for the season. Heringer is rehabilitating from surgery on her legs, while Hoefer, a junior college transfer, recently had shoulder surgery.
“Certainly, the loss of Jenny and Mara are big hits,” Binford said. “But now, we’ve got the people to step into those positions and fill a void.”
Three seniors return to the Bobcat line-up, including part-time starter Scotta Morton, who led MSU in scoring at 11.6 points per game. Point-guard Alyssa Nelson started all 26 games for the Bobcats and averaged 11.2 points and 3.4 assists. Whitney Connolly, a 6-foot-3 center from Ennis, led Montana State in scoring in four of its last seven contests, as well as, guiding the team with 31 blocks.
Other returning letterwinners that started at some point of the 2005-06 season include, Nubia Garcia, Amanda DeHaan, Erin Goodman and Anne Phippard. Brandie Buckless, who redshirted last season after suffering a torn ACL, also returns to the Bobcat roster.
“There’s a lot of excitement for what we can do,” Binford said. “We have a different look. We’re deeper and we will be a lot more up-tempo.
“Practice will also be much better, as we can compete and challenge at every position,” Binford added. “That alone, will help prepare us for game situations.”
Despite going 3-23 overall and 2-12 in Big Sky Conference action, the Bobcats were competitive, notching a victory over Northern Arizona, who went on to capture the league title and represent the Big Sky in the NCAA Tournament. Montana State fell to Idaho State, the conference’s regular-season champion, by two-points on the last day of the season in Pocatello.
“We had a lot of challenges, last season,” Binford said. “But our kids played with heart in every game. If we can bring that attitude, coupled with a year of experience and some talented newcomers, we’ll find a lot more success this season.”
MSU will open its 2006-07 season with an exhibition game against MSU-Billings on Nov. 2.
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