Bobcat Women Open Season with MSU-Billings
11/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The following is the 2006-07 Bobcat outlook…
Heading into her second season at the helm of the Montana State women’s basketball program, head coach Tricia Binford is ecstatic that she’ll have the horses to finish the race this winter.
Last season, Binford had a depleted work force, and despite being competitive with the elite of the Big Sky Conference, finishing the job was a difficult chore.
“We just didn’t have the legs to finish,” Binford said. “We’re very excited for this season, because we have quality athletes and we have a lot of them.”
Binford’s mantra of ‘Strength in Numbers’ will help with Montana State’s up-tempo style on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
“We have the ability to use a lot of different combinations, each with its own strengths,” Binford said. “And, that’s a nice option to have.”
Aside from game day, Binford is also excited about what can be accomplished in the practice setting.
“The practice gym isn’t anything like last season,” Binford said. “We have a lot of people that will challenge and compete for every spot, and that will help prepare us for game situations.
“We have a lot of expectations for this season.”
And, with a deeper, experienced squad, Binford and the Bobcats are looking to cross the finish line in full stride.
The Breakdowns:
Point Guard
Alyssa Nelson, 5-6, Sr.,
Erica Perry, 5-4, Fr.,
Beth Sager, 5-5, Fr.,
Montana State has peace of mind knowing that the captain of their ship, senior Alyssa Nelson, returns as one of the best point guards in the Big Sky Conference. Nelson, who garnered first-team all-league accolades, averaged 11.2 points and 3.2 assists per game, last winter. Nelson has started 51 of the last 52 games and is the key cog in the Bobcat women’s basketball machine.
“Alyssa is our leader,” Binford said. “She is a tough competitor and does what we ask of her. She can score and distribute the ball. She is a tenacious defender and our all-everything. We really want her to finish her career on a positive note.”
While Nelson is the face of MSU women’s basketball present, Erica Perry is the face of the Bobcat’s future. Perry, who is a native of Lynwood, Calif., prepped the last two years at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where she honed her basketball skills.
“Erica is going to be an exciting player to watch,” Binford said. “She is the direction we want our program to go. She is very up-tempo and unselfish. Erica is also a heady defender, and she’ll get a lot of minutes.”
Walk-on Beth Sager of Wilsall will help strengthen the Bobcat backcourt. A redshirt candidate, Sager brings at tenacity to the court that helps push the Bobcats to another level.”
“Beth is mentally tough,” Binford said. “She led us in preseason conditioning and has a great inner motivation.”
Shooting Guard:
Rebecca Mercer, 5-9, Jr.,
Brandie Buckless, 5-6, So.,
Anne Phippard, 5-10, So.,
Jenny Heringer, 5-10, So.,
Junior college transfer Rebecca Mercer enters the Montana State program with an impressive resume` which includes being named a second-team NJCAA All-America performer. At Lake Region College, the Australian native averaged 21.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
“Rebecca is a very skilled player, both offensively and defensively,” Binford said. “She is an exceptional athlete, a great scorer and a good on-ball defender.”
Brandie Buckless returns to the Bobcat roster after sitting out last season with a torn ACL. Buckless will give instant long-range ability to the MSU offense. The Whitefish native posted a strong freshmen season, and is tabbed as a combo guard.
“We’re happy that Brandie is back from her knee injury,” Binford said. “She’s got a great understanding for the game. She was the something that was missing from our squad last winter.”
Sophomore Anne Phippard is coming off a strong freshman campaign, which saw her in a starting role at the end of the season. Phippard is a strong rebounder from the shooting guard spot and has the ability to penetrate, as well as pull up and hit the outside jumper.
“Anne finished very strong last winter and gained a lot of confidence as the season progressed,” Binford said. “She is comfortable with our system and will get a lot of minutes this year.”
Jenny Heringer was MSU’s all-everything last season, rotating between three different positions. The Billings native averaged 9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. However, off-season surgery on both legs will likely sideline her for the 2006-07 season.
“Jenny was a key player for us last year,” Binford said. “She understands the game extremely well, and we’ll miss her presence on the court this season.”
Small Forward
Scotta Morton, 5-10, Sr.,
Amanda DeHaan, 5-11, Jr.,
Callie Goff, 5-9, Fr.,
Montana State will sport three different looks from its small forward spot this season. Morton, a long-distance specialist, returns as MSU’s leading scorer after averaging 11.6 points and 2.9 rebounds, last season. Morton recorded 50 three-pointers last winter, twice as many than any other Bobcat player.
“Scotta is a pure shooter,” Binford said. “She’s worked extremely hard on moving without the ball, which will help expand her game. Scotta is a big part of what we do. She is a competitor and will not back down from anyone.”
Amanda DeHaan will make the move back to her natural position, after playing a lot at the power forward spot last winter. A very athletic guard, DeHaan is a slasher that has worked hard on her perimeter game. Last year, she led the Bobcats at 4.8 rebounds per game.
“Amanda will make the transition from the No. 4 spot to the No. 3,’ Binford said. “It’s a more natural fit for her, and it will give us some mismatch opportunities.”
True-freshman Callie Goff also played a lot of post as a senior at Oregon City High School, and will make the move to the small forward position this winter. A physically gifted athlete, her strength will help the Bobcats under the boards.
“Callie is an explosive player,” Binford said. “She possesses a lot of strength and will help us in rebounding, which is an area of concern this season. She is a physical player that is working hard on her perimeter game.”
Power Forward
Erin Goodman, 5-11, Jr.,
Krislyn Wallace, 6-1, Jr.,
Nubia Garcia, 6-2, So.,
Montana State finished last in the Big Sky Conference in rebounding last winter, and Binford is putting a lot of focus on action under the boards this season.
Erin Goodman, a junior from Great Falls, is the incumbent at the position, after starting the last seven games of the season. During that stint, she averaged 3.1 rebounds per game.
“Erin is a very physical player,” Binford said. “She is another player that does all the little things that don’t show up in the newspaper. She really came on strong last season, and we’re looking for more out of her this year.”
Junior college transfer Krislyn Wallace was brought in for her prowess underneath the glass. Last season, she averaged 7.7 rebounds per game at the College of Eastern Utah.
“She will give us immediate help in rebounding,” Binford said. “Krislyn has one speed, and that’s hard. She runs the floor and gives us good experience.”
Nubia Garcia was another freshman that made in impact as a freshman. When not battling injuries, she averaged 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
“Getting her healthy has been one of our goals,” Binford said. “For her size, she is very quick and agile. She’s another player that presents match-up problems.”
Center
Whitney Connolly, 6-3, Sr.,
Mara Hoefer, 6-2, Jr.,
Jamie Thornton, 6-4, Fr.,
Whitney Connolly enters her final season following a strong finish to the 2005-06 campaign. The Ennis native averaged 8.1 points and 4.2 rebounds coming off the bench. She was in double-figure scoring in three of MSU’s last five games.
“She brings us a presence on the inside,” Binford said. “Things really started to click for her at the end of last year, and she’ll use that as a springboard into this season.”
Junior college transfer Mara Hoefer was another student-athlete brought in to held shore-up MSU’s rebounding deficiencies. At Kansas City Kansas Community College, the native of Germany averaged a team-best 6.5 rebounds per game. However, Hoefer recently had shoulder surgery that will sideline her for the season.
“Size and depth is what Mara brings to the program,” Binford said. “She is very mobile on the defensive end of the court.”
Jamie Thornton is another freshman that Binford hopes defines the future of the Montana State program. At Pullman High School, the 6-foot-4 center averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
“Jamie was a great signing,” Binford said. “She has a tremendous attitude that goes along with her playing ability.”
Heading into her second season at the helm of the Montana State women’s basketball program, head coach Tricia Binford is ecstatic that she’ll have the horses to finish the race this winter.
Last season, Binford had a depleted work force, and despite being competitive with the elite of the Big Sky Conference, finishing the job was a difficult chore.
“We just didn’t have the legs to finish,” Binford said. “We’re very excited for this season, because we have quality athletes and we have a lot of them.”
Binford’s mantra of ‘Strength in Numbers’ will help with Montana State’s up-tempo style on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
“We have the ability to use a lot of different combinations, each with its own strengths,” Binford said. “And, that’s a nice option to have.”
Aside from game day, Binford is also excited about what can be accomplished in the practice setting.
“The practice gym isn’t anything like last season,” Binford said. “We have a lot of people that will challenge and compete for every spot, and that will help prepare us for game situations.
“We have a lot of expectations for this season.”
And, with a deeper, experienced squad, Binford and the Bobcats are looking to cross the finish line in full stride.
The Breakdowns:
Point Guard
Alyssa Nelson, 5-6, Sr.,
Erica Perry, 5-4, Fr.,
Beth Sager, 5-5, Fr.,
Montana State has peace of mind knowing that the captain of their ship, senior Alyssa Nelson, returns as one of the best point guards in the Big Sky Conference. Nelson, who garnered first-team all-league accolades, averaged 11.2 points and 3.2 assists per game, last winter. Nelson has started 51 of the last 52 games and is the key cog in the Bobcat women’s basketball machine.
“Alyssa is our leader,” Binford said. “She is a tough competitor and does what we ask of her. She can score and distribute the ball. She is a tenacious defender and our all-everything. We really want her to finish her career on a positive note.”
While Nelson is the face of MSU women’s basketball present, Erica Perry is the face of the Bobcat’s future. Perry, who is a native of Lynwood, Calif., prepped the last two years at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where she honed her basketball skills.
“Erica is going to be an exciting player to watch,” Binford said. “She is the direction we want our program to go. She is very up-tempo and unselfish. Erica is also a heady defender, and she’ll get a lot of minutes.”
Walk-on Beth Sager of Wilsall will help strengthen the Bobcat backcourt. A redshirt candidate, Sager brings at tenacity to the court that helps push the Bobcats to another level.”
“Beth is mentally tough,” Binford said. “She led us in preseason conditioning and has a great inner motivation.”
Shooting Guard:
Rebecca Mercer, 5-9, Jr.,
Brandie Buckless, 5-6, So.,
Anne Phippard, 5-10, So.,
Jenny Heringer, 5-10, So.,
Junior college transfer Rebecca Mercer enters the Montana State program with an impressive resume` which includes being named a second-team NJCAA All-America performer. At Lake Region College, the Australian native averaged 21.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
“Rebecca is a very skilled player, both offensively and defensively,” Binford said. “She is an exceptional athlete, a great scorer and a good on-ball defender.”
Brandie Buckless returns to the Bobcat roster after sitting out last season with a torn ACL. Buckless will give instant long-range ability to the MSU offense. The Whitefish native posted a strong freshmen season, and is tabbed as a combo guard.
“We’re happy that Brandie is back from her knee injury,” Binford said. “She’s got a great understanding for the game. She was the something that was missing from our squad last winter.”
Sophomore Anne Phippard is coming off a strong freshman campaign, which saw her in a starting role at the end of the season. Phippard is a strong rebounder from the shooting guard spot and has the ability to penetrate, as well as pull up and hit the outside jumper.
“Anne finished very strong last winter and gained a lot of confidence as the season progressed,” Binford said. “She is comfortable with our system and will get a lot of minutes this year.”
Jenny Heringer was MSU’s all-everything last season, rotating between three different positions. The Billings native averaged 9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. However, off-season surgery on both legs will likely sideline her for the 2006-07 season.
“Jenny was a key player for us last year,” Binford said. “She understands the game extremely well, and we’ll miss her presence on the court this season.”
Small Forward
Scotta Morton, 5-10, Sr.,
Amanda DeHaan, 5-11, Jr.,
Callie Goff, 5-9, Fr.,
Montana State will sport three different looks from its small forward spot this season. Morton, a long-distance specialist, returns as MSU’s leading scorer after averaging 11.6 points and 2.9 rebounds, last season. Morton recorded 50 three-pointers last winter, twice as many than any other Bobcat player.
“Scotta is a pure shooter,” Binford said. “She’s worked extremely hard on moving without the ball, which will help expand her game. Scotta is a big part of what we do. She is a competitor and will not back down from anyone.”
Amanda DeHaan will make the move back to her natural position, after playing a lot at the power forward spot last winter. A very athletic guard, DeHaan is a slasher that has worked hard on her perimeter game. Last year, she led the Bobcats at 4.8 rebounds per game.
“Amanda will make the transition from the No. 4 spot to the No. 3,’ Binford said. “It’s a more natural fit for her, and it will give us some mismatch opportunities.”
True-freshman Callie Goff also played a lot of post as a senior at Oregon City High School, and will make the move to the small forward position this winter. A physically gifted athlete, her strength will help the Bobcats under the boards.
“Callie is an explosive player,” Binford said. “She possesses a lot of strength and will help us in rebounding, which is an area of concern this season. She is a physical player that is working hard on her perimeter game.”
Power Forward
Erin Goodman, 5-11, Jr.,
Krislyn Wallace, 6-1, Jr.,
Nubia Garcia, 6-2, So.,
Montana State finished last in the Big Sky Conference in rebounding last winter, and Binford is putting a lot of focus on action under the boards this season.
Erin Goodman, a junior from Great Falls, is the incumbent at the position, after starting the last seven games of the season. During that stint, she averaged 3.1 rebounds per game.
“Erin is a very physical player,” Binford said. “She is another player that does all the little things that don’t show up in the newspaper. She really came on strong last season, and we’re looking for more out of her this year.”
Junior college transfer Krislyn Wallace was brought in for her prowess underneath the glass. Last season, she averaged 7.7 rebounds per game at the College of Eastern Utah.
“She will give us immediate help in rebounding,” Binford said. “Krislyn has one speed, and that’s hard. She runs the floor and gives us good experience.”
Nubia Garcia was another freshman that made in impact as a freshman. When not battling injuries, she averaged 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
“Getting her healthy has been one of our goals,” Binford said. “For her size, she is very quick and agile. She’s another player that presents match-up problems.”
Center
Whitney Connolly, 6-3, Sr.,
Mara Hoefer, 6-2, Jr.,
Jamie Thornton, 6-4, Fr.,
Whitney Connolly enters her final season following a strong finish to the 2005-06 campaign. The Ennis native averaged 8.1 points and 4.2 rebounds coming off the bench. She was in double-figure scoring in three of MSU’s last five games.
“She brings us a presence on the inside,” Binford said. “Things really started to click for her at the end of last year, and she’ll use that as a springboard into this season.”
Junior college transfer Mara Hoefer was another student-athlete brought in to held shore-up MSU’s rebounding deficiencies. At Kansas City Kansas Community College, the native of Germany averaged a team-best 6.5 rebounds per game. However, Hoefer recently had shoulder surgery that will sideline her for the season.
“Size and depth is what Mara brings to the program,” Binford said. “She is very mobile on the defensive end of the court.”
Jamie Thornton is another freshman that Binford hopes defines the future of the Montana State program. At Pullman High School, the 6-foot-4 center averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
“Jamie was a great signing,” Binford said. “She has a tremendous attitude that goes along with her playing ability.”
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