Lone Star Bound
11/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Next Up:
The Montana State women’s basketball squad will begin a four-game road stand, beginning at the University of Texas at Arlington on Saturday at 1 p.m. (MST) in Texas Hall. The Bobcats will play at Denver (11/24), Iowa State (11/30) and Drake (12/2) before returning to the friendly confines of Worthington Arena, Dec. 5 to face Utah Valley. MSU opened its season with back-to-back wins; defeating Idaho and MSU Billings. The Bobcats are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season when the ‘Cats won their first five games. UTA is 1-1 overall, losing to Big Sky Conference foe Northern Arizona (64-50), before defeating Pittsburg State (69-56). Last season, the Mavericks went 24-9 overall and 16-0 in Southland Conference play. UTA advanced to the NCAA Tournament, losing in the first-round to Texas A&M (58-50). This season, the Mavericks are led by Candice Champion, a 6-foot-1 forward, who is averaging 16 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
‘Cat Tracks:
Last year’s Big Sky Newcomer of the Year Rebecca Mercer got off to a good start, scoring a game-high 21 points in Montana State’s win over Idaho. Mercer connected on 7-of-13 from the field, including a 5-of-7 night from beyond the arc…In its first two games, the Bobcats average margin of victory has been +25.5 points…MSU has also shot 44 percent from the field and 72 percent from the line…Sophomore Jenny Heringer, who sat out all of last year with an injury, returned to the MSU line-up and helped the Bobcats past MSU Billings with 15 points, including a 4-of-4 outing from three-point range…Heringer did, however, see her school-record 25 consecutive free throw makes come to an end…Erica Perry, MSU’s starting point-guard opened the season against Idaho with five points, five rebounds, five assists and six steals…So far this season, the Bobcats have proven to be a second half team. MSU has out-scored its opponents 85-49 in the second stanza, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range…The Bobcats are playing without the services of two-year starter Nubia Garcia, who is sidelined for 6-8 weeks with a broken collarbone.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats opened their 2007-08 campaign with a pair of victories, which gave MSU its best start since the 2003-04 season. Montana State opened with a 77-49 win at Idaho. Senior Rebecca Mercer led all scorers with 21 points, including a 5-of-7 effort from long distance. Also in double-figures for MSU were Krislyn Wallace 12 and Sarah Strand 10. The Bobcats were paced under the boards by Strand with seven rebounds. Point-guard Erica Perry had an outstanding opening game with five points, five rebounds, five assists and six steals. On Sunday, MSU defeated sister school MSU Billings 78-55 in Worthington Arena. Strand had 17 points, while Jenny Heringer added 15 points, including a 4-of-4 night from beyond the arc.
M*A*S*H 4077th:
Montana State has been hit with the injury bug in the early going this fall. Starting forward Nubia Garcia will be out of action for 6-8 weeks with a broken collarbone suffered in practice two weeks ago. Garcia averaged 9.9 points and 7.0 rebounds, last season. Callie Goff and Erin Goodman returned to the Bobcat line-up against Mary. The duo sat-out against MSU Northern with leg injuries. Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer are also bouncing back from injury.
Turnin’ It Around:
Montana State had the 11th best turnaround in the nation at the NCAA Division I level, last year. MSU improved 8.5 games from its 3-23 mark during the 2005-06 campaign. The Bobcats finished 13-16 last season.
Smart Cookies:
As a team, MSU ranked 4th in the country, academically speaking. The Bobcats had a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.56 and ranked among the WBCA’s top five for the second straight season. MSU had a Big Sky Conference record 11 players on the league’s all-academic list last spring.
Toe The Line:
As a team, Montana State shot 72 percent from the free throw line during the 2006-07 season. Three Bobcats ranked among the Big Sky’s top ten in free throw percentage. Rebecca Mercer led the Big Sky shooting 92 percent, while Nubia Garcia was 9th (.776) and Alyssa Nelson 10th (.763). During the season, Mercer had a stretch of 23 consecutive makes.
For this week's complete women's basketball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
The Montana State women’s basketball squad will begin a four-game road stand, beginning at the University of Texas at Arlington on Saturday at 1 p.m. (MST) in Texas Hall. The Bobcats will play at Denver (11/24), Iowa State (11/30) and Drake (12/2) before returning to the friendly confines of Worthington Arena, Dec. 5 to face Utah Valley. MSU opened its season with back-to-back wins; defeating Idaho and MSU Billings. The Bobcats are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season when the ‘Cats won their first five games. UTA is 1-1 overall, losing to Big Sky Conference foe Northern Arizona (64-50), before defeating Pittsburg State (69-56). Last season, the Mavericks went 24-9 overall and 16-0 in Southland Conference play. UTA advanced to the NCAA Tournament, losing in the first-round to Texas A&M (58-50). This season, the Mavericks are led by Candice Champion, a 6-foot-1 forward, who is averaging 16 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
‘Cat Tracks:
Last year’s Big Sky Newcomer of the Year Rebecca Mercer got off to a good start, scoring a game-high 21 points in Montana State’s win over Idaho. Mercer connected on 7-of-13 from the field, including a 5-of-7 night from beyond the arc…In its first two games, the Bobcats average margin of victory has been +25.5 points…MSU has also shot 44 percent from the field and 72 percent from the line…Sophomore Jenny Heringer, who sat out all of last year with an injury, returned to the MSU line-up and helped the Bobcats past MSU Billings with 15 points, including a 4-of-4 outing from three-point range…Heringer did, however, see her school-record 25 consecutive free throw makes come to an end…Erica Perry, MSU’s starting point-guard opened the season against Idaho with five points, five rebounds, five assists and six steals…So far this season, the Bobcats have proven to be a second half team. MSU has out-scored its opponents 85-49 in the second stanza, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range…The Bobcats are playing without the services of two-year starter Nubia Garcia, who is sidelined for 6-8 weeks with a broken collarbone.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats opened their 2007-08 campaign with a pair of victories, which gave MSU its best start since the 2003-04 season. Montana State opened with a 77-49 win at Idaho. Senior Rebecca Mercer led all scorers with 21 points, including a 5-of-7 effort from long distance. Also in double-figures for MSU were Krislyn Wallace 12 and Sarah Strand 10. The Bobcats were paced under the boards by Strand with seven rebounds. Point-guard Erica Perry had an outstanding opening game with five points, five rebounds, five assists and six steals. On Sunday, MSU defeated sister school MSU Billings 78-55 in Worthington Arena. Strand had 17 points, while Jenny Heringer added 15 points, including a 4-of-4 night from beyond the arc.
M*A*S*H 4077th:
Montana State has been hit with the injury bug in the early going this fall. Starting forward Nubia Garcia will be out of action for 6-8 weeks with a broken collarbone suffered in practice two weeks ago. Garcia averaged 9.9 points and 7.0 rebounds, last season. Callie Goff and Erin Goodman returned to the Bobcat line-up against Mary. The duo sat-out against MSU Northern with leg injuries. Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer are also bouncing back from injury.
Turnin’ It Around:
Montana State had the 11th best turnaround in the nation at the NCAA Division I level, last year. MSU improved 8.5 games from its 3-23 mark during the 2005-06 campaign. The Bobcats finished 13-16 last season.
Smart Cookies:
As a team, MSU ranked 4th in the country, academically speaking. The Bobcats had a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.56 and ranked among the WBCA’s top five for the second straight season. MSU had a Big Sky Conference record 11 players on the league’s all-academic list last spring.
Toe The Line:
As a team, Montana State shot 72 percent from the free throw line during the 2006-07 season. Three Bobcats ranked among the Big Sky’s top ten in free throw percentage. Rebecca Mercer led the Big Sky shooting 92 percent, while Nubia Garcia was 9th (.776) and Alyssa Nelson 10th (.763). During the season, Mercer had a stretch of 23 consecutive makes.
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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