Bobcat Women Fall Short in Season Finale
3/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ISU clinched the Big Sky title with the victory, Saturday afternoon in Reed Gym.
“It was definitely our best team game of the season,” said MSU first-year head coach Tricia Binford. “Idaho State got to the free throw line more than we did. I’m proud of the way this team played the last 3-4 weeks of the season.”
Junior Whitney Connolly paced Montana State (3-23, 2-12) with 17 points and seven rebounds. Also in double-figures for the Bobcats were Nubia Garcia 14, Alyssa Nelson 14, and Jenny Heringer 10.
MSU opened the game building a 19-11 lead at the 11:07 mark following an Anne Phippard layup. Idaho State (17-11, 11-3) rallied to take a 24-22 advantage. MSU entered intermission with a 41-39 advantage.
“We did a great job defensively,” Binford said. “We kept the ball out of Lightfoot and Doma’s hands,” she added, referring to ISU’s two leading scorers.
In the second stanza, the game was tied six times, before the Bengals surged to a 71-64 lead with 4:43 left on a Jeni Boesel layin. The Bobcats rallied with a 9-0 run to take a 73-71 lead with two-minutes remaining on a Garcia basket.
ISU received an old-fashion three-point play from Joanna Hixon with 1:43 left to take the lead for good.
A pair of Jenny Heringer free throws cut the margin to 76-75 with 47-seconds remaining. With ten-seconds left, the Bobcats missed a field-goal attempt and fouled Danica Boyce.
Boyce converted one-of-two free throw attempts with two-seconds remaining for the final outcome.
Montana State shot a school-record 17-of-17 from the line and Heringer established a new Bobcat mark with 25 consecutive free throw makes. The record will carry over into next season.
ISU was led in the win by Andrea Lightfoot with 20 points, while Natalie Doma added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
For the game, the Bengals held a 44-41 margin in rebounding. MSU was led under the glass by Garcia with eight rebounds.
“We leave the season with a real positive approach,” Binford said. “We finally had our kids feeling comfortable with their roles and understanding what we want to accomplish.
“Our freshmen were put in a lot of different situations this season and that will pay dividends in the long run,” Binford said. “Our future looks very bright.”
Montana State does not have a senior on this year’s squad and inked two high school standouts during the fall signing period for next season.
“It was definitely our best team game of the season,” said MSU first-year head coach Tricia Binford. “Idaho State got to the free throw line more than we did. I’m proud of the way this team played the last 3-4 weeks of the season.”
Junior Whitney Connolly paced Montana State (3-23, 2-12) with 17 points and seven rebounds. Also in double-figures for the Bobcats were Nubia Garcia 14, Alyssa Nelson 14, and Jenny Heringer 10.
MSU opened the game building a 19-11 lead at the 11:07 mark following an Anne Phippard layup. Idaho State (17-11, 11-3) rallied to take a 24-22 advantage. MSU entered intermission with a 41-39 advantage.
“We did a great job defensively,” Binford said. “We kept the ball out of Lightfoot and Doma’s hands,” she added, referring to ISU’s two leading scorers.
In the second stanza, the game was tied six times, before the Bengals surged to a 71-64 lead with 4:43 left on a Jeni Boesel layin. The Bobcats rallied with a 9-0 run to take a 73-71 lead with two-minutes remaining on a Garcia basket.
ISU received an old-fashion three-point play from Joanna Hixon with 1:43 left to take the lead for good.
A pair of Jenny Heringer free throws cut the margin to 76-75 with 47-seconds remaining. With ten-seconds left, the Bobcats missed a field-goal attempt and fouled Danica Boyce.
Boyce converted one-of-two free throw attempts with two-seconds remaining for the final outcome.
Montana State shot a school-record 17-of-17 from the line and Heringer established a new Bobcat mark with 25 consecutive free throw makes. The record will carry over into next season.
ISU was led in the win by Andrea Lightfoot with 20 points, while Natalie Doma added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
For the game, the Bengals held a 44-41 margin in rebounding. MSU was led under the glass by Garcia with eight rebounds.
“We leave the season with a real positive approach,” Binford said. “We finally had our kids feeling comfortable with their roles and understanding what we want to accomplish.
“Our freshmen were put in a lot of different situations this season and that will pay dividends in the long run,” Binford said. “Our future looks very bright.”
Montana State does not have a senior on this year’s squad and inked two high school standouts during the fall signing period for next season.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
