WBB: 'Cat-Griz Round I
1/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ON THE AIR: All Montana State women’s basketball games will be carried live on My 103.5 FM. Veteran broadcaster Mark Martello will handle play-by-play duties for his second straight season. Martello will begin his broadcast with the Bobcat Pregame Show, originating 15-minutes prior to tip-off.
ON THE TUBE: Thursday’s ‘Cat-Griz contest will be broadcast on the MTN Network throughout the state of Montana. The game can be seen in Bozeman on KBZK-TV (CBS) 7/26 or on cable channel 4.
SERIES FACTS: Montana owns a 60-17 advantage in the all-time series dating back to the 1974-75 campaign. UM has won six straight, with the last Bobcat victory coming at the Big Sky Tournament, March 14, 2003 (70-64).
FAST BREAKS: Montana State went 1-1 to open its 2007 Big Sky season…The Bobcats dropped its league-opener to Eastern Washington on Thursday, as the Eagles rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit…MSU was led by Whitney Connolly, who came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points against the Eagles…Connolly has come off the bench in all 14 games this season, and is averaging 10.6 points per outing. She has also posted eight games in double-figure scoring…Also in double-figures against EWU were Rebecca Mercer and Erica Perry with 12 and ten points, respectively…MSU shot 49 percent in the first half vs. the Eagles, but hit only 5-of-28 attempts (18 percent) in the second stanza…MSU posted its first Big Sky win over Portland State as Nubia Garcia recorded 16 points and eight rebounds…MSU also received a big effort from Brandie Buckless, who came off the bench to tally 15 points, including a three-of-six effort from three-point range…MSU out-rebounded the Vikings 49-37 and were paced by Krislyn Wallace who had ten rebounds for the Bobcats.
BOBCAT PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sophomore Nubia Garcia was named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her efforts against Eastern Washington and Portland State. In MSU’s win over PSU, Garcia posted 16 points, which included an 8-of-11 effort from the field. In addition, she added eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. Against EWU, Garcia posted eight points and six rebounds.
WHO’S HOT:
*Rebecca Mercer leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.1 points per contest. In addition, she is chipping in 3.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game. The Australian native has been in double-figure scoring on nine occasions this season, including a career-high 18 points against North Dakota State and UM-Western.
*Brandie Buckless came off the bench against Portland State to give the Bobcats a much needed spark. Buckless, a sophomore from Whitefish, matched a career-high with 15 points, including a four-of-eight night from the field and three 3-pointers. Buckless saw 23 minutes of action against the Vikings- her longest outing of the season.
*Krislyn Wallace has been a force for the Bobcats under the boards this winter. The transfer from Eastern Utah is averaging a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game. The mark is also the third highest in the Big Sky Conference. Wallace recorded a season-high 11 rebounds against UM-Western. In all, she has been in double-digit rebounding on four occasions.
SHORING UP THE ‘D’:
Last winter, Montana State ranked last in the Big Sky in scoring margin, rebounding offense, rebounding margin, scoring defense and defensive rebounds. Heading into this season, MSU head coach Tricia Binford placed emphasis on shoring up the Bobcat defense. Here’s a look at where the Bobcats currently rank in the same categories entering the Big Sky Conference season: scoring margin (4th), rebounding offense (3rd), rebounding margin (3rd), scoring defense (4th), and defensive rebounds (4th). The Bobcats currently lead the Big Sky in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing its opponents to hit at an icy 27 percent from beyond the arc.
IT TAKES A THIEF:
Montana State is second in the Big Sky averaging 10.43 steals per game. The Bobcats have three players ranked among the top 10 in the league for steals. They include: Alyssa Nelson (2nd, 2.86), Erica Perry (4th, 2.29), and Nubia Garcia (9th, 1.71).
A WELL BALANCED DIET:
The Bobcats do not have a player ranked among the top 10 in the Big Sky in scoring; however, MSU has four players ranked from Nos. 11-20. They include: Rebecca Mercer (12th, 12.1), Alyssa Nelson (15th, 11.1), Whitney Connolly (16th, 10.6) and Nubia Garcia (19th, 9.9).
A VIEW FROM THE PINE:
Montana State has received excellent support from its bench this season. MSU’s eight players coming off the pine are averaging 22.3 points per game. The group is led by senior Whitney Connolly, who is averaging 10.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.
SMART COOKIES:
The 2005-06 Montana State women’s basketball team ranked 5th in the nation for cumulative grade-point average by the WBCA, last season. All ten players on the roster garnered All-Big Sky Conference Academic honors.
For this week's complete women's basketball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
ON THE TUBE: Thursday’s ‘Cat-Griz contest will be broadcast on the MTN Network throughout the state of Montana. The game can be seen in Bozeman on KBZK-TV (CBS) 7/26 or on cable channel 4.
SERIES FACTS: Montana owns a 60-17 advantage in the all-time series dating back to the 1974-75 campaign. UM has won six straight, with the last Bobcat victory coming at the Big Sky Tournament, March 14, 2003 (70-64).
FAST BREAKS: Montana State went 1-1 to open its 2007 Big Sky season…The Bobcats dropped its league-opener to Eastern Washington on Thursday, as the Eagles rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit…MSU was led by Whitney Connolly, who came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points against the Eagles…Connolly has come off the bench in all 14 games this season, and is averaging 10.6 points per outing. She has also posted eight games in double-figure scoring…Also in double-figures against EWU were Rebecca Mercer and Erica Perry with 12 and ten points, respectively…MSU shot 49 percent in the first half vs. the Eagles, but hit only 5-of-28 attempts (18 percent) in the second stanza…MSU posted its first Big Sky win over Portland State as Nubia Garcia recorded 16 points and eight rebounds…MSU also received a big effort from Brandie Buckless, who came off the bench to tally 15 points, including a three-of-six effort from three-point range…MSU out-rebounded the Vikings 49-37 and were paced by Krislyn Wallace who had ten rebounds for the Bobcats.
BOBCAT PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sophomore Nubia Garcia was named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her efforts against Eastern Washington and Portland State. In MSU’s win over PSU, Garcia posted 16 points, which included an 8-of-11 effort from the field. In addition, she added eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. Against EWU, Garcia posted eight points and six rebounds.
WHO’S HOT:
*Rebecca Mercer leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.1 points per contest. In addition, she is chipping in 3.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game. The Australian native has been in double-figure scoring on nine occasions this season, including a career-high 18 points against North Dakota State and UM-Western.
*Brandie Buckless came off the bench against Portland State to give the Bobcats a much needed spark. Buckless, a sophomore from Whitefish, matched a career-high with 15 points, including a four-of-eight night from the field and three 3-pointers. Buckless saw 23 minutes of action against the Vikings- her longest outing of the season.
*Krislyn Wallace has been a force for the Bobcats under the boards this winter. The transfer from Eastern Utah is averaging a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game. The mark is also the third highest in the Big Sky Conference. Wallace recorded a season-high 11 rebounds against UM-Western. In all, she has been in double-digit rebounding on four occasions.
SHORING UP THE ‘D’:
Last winter, Montana State ranked last in the Big Sky in scoring margin, rebounding offense, rebounding margin, scoring defense and defensive rebounds. Heading into this season, MSU head coach Tricia Binford placed emphasis on shoring up the Bobcat defense. Here’s a look at where the Bobcats currently rank in the same categories entering the Big Sky Conference season: scoring margin (4th), rebounding offense (3rd), rebounding margin (3rd), scoring defense (4th), and defensive rebounds (4th). The Bobcats currently lead the Big Sky in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing its opponents to hit at an icy 27 percent from beyond the arc.
IT TAKES A THIEF:
Montana State is second in the Big Sky averaging 10.43 steals per game. The Bobcats have three players ranked among the top 10 in the league for steals. They include: Alyssa Nelson (2nd, 2.86), Erica Perry (4th, 2.29), and Nubia Garcia (9th, 1.71).
A WELL BALANCED DIET:
The Bobcats do not have a player ranked among the top 10 in the Big Sky in scoring; however, MSU has four players ranked from Nos. 11-20. They include: Rebecca Mercer (12th, 12.1), Alyssa Nelson (15th, 11.1), Whitney Connolly (16th, 10.6) and Nubia Garcia (19th, 9.9).
A VIEW FROM THE PINE:
Montana State has received excellent support from its bench this season. MSU’s eight players coming off the pine are averaging 22.3 points per game. The group is led by senior Whitney Connolly, who is averaging 10.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.
SMART COOKIES:
The 2005-06 Montana State women’s basketball team ranked 5th in the nation for cumulative grade-point average by the WBCA, last season. All ten players on the roster garnered All-Big Sky Conference Academic honors.
For this week's complete women's basketball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
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