Bobcat Women Face Iowa State, Drake
11/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Next Up:
The Montana State women’s basketball team is in the middle of a four-game road stand, which will culminate in Iowa this weekend. The Bobcats (2-2) will face Iowa State on Friday night, and Drake University, Sunday afternoon. MSU is coming of an 80-68 loss to Denver. The Bobcats won or tied every statistical category, with the exception of beyond the arc. The Pioneers shot a blistering 12-of-19 from 3-point range, while MSU converted just 3-of-9 from long distance. ISU is 3-1 on the season, posting victories over Pepperdine, Sacramento State and Michigan. The Cyclones lone loss came against Vanderbilt (62-53). On the season, Iowa State has been paced by Nicky Wieben, who is averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Drake is currently 3-3 overall with wins over Sacramento State, Weber State and Western Michigan. Their losses were to UW-Green Bay, Iowa and Kansas.
‘Cat Tracks:
Montana State is shooting 40 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and 73 percent from the free throw line...MSU has a +3.0 scoring margin on its four opponents to...The Bobcats hold a slight +1.3 advantage in rebounding...MSU has just nine more assists than steals...Montana State and its opponents are almost equal 83-82 in turnovers...Last season, forward Krislyn Wallace shot 59 percent from the charity stripe. This season, she is one of the Big Sky Conference leaders in free throw percentage, hitting at 83 percent, including a 7-7 effort against Denver...Erica Perry is averaging a whooping 4.00 steals per game...Perry and Rebecca Mercer pace the team averaging 3.00 assists per game...Freshman Sarah Strand is averaging double-figures at 10.8 ppg...the Bobcat frosh to accomplish the feat over the course of a season was Kati Burrows (13.1 ppg) during the 2001-02 season.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats fell in their only contest of the week on to Denver...The Pioneers beat Montana State 80-68...Montana State got out to an early 15-5 lead in the first period on a Sarah Strand 3-pointer, before Denver rattled off a 16-2 run... The Pioneers held a 42-33 advantage at the half... For the game, Montana State shot 42 percent from the field, while Denver shot 49 percent from the field, including 63 percent from beyond the arc...Both squads posted 33 rebounds and 19 turnovers...Montana State had three players in double-digits, led by Krislyn Wallace and Rebecca Mercer with a game-high 19 points, apiece...Wallace also grabbed ten rebounds.
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 5-7 weeks with a broken collarbone suffered in practice two weeks ago. Garcia averaged 9.9 points and 7.0 rebounds, last season. Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer are also bouncing back from injury and not at a full 100 percent.
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. Currently, the Bobcats are shooting 73 percent from the charity line, with Krislyn Wallace leading the way at 83 percent.
To Catch a Thief:
As a team, the Bobcats lead the Big Sky Conference in steals, averaging 11.80 thefts per game. Sophomore Erica Perry paces the team and the Big Sky Conference, averaging 4.00 steals per game.
Player of the Week:
Krislyn Wallace has been named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her efforts at the University of Denver, last Saturday. Wallace posted a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds against the Pioneers. For the game, the 6-1 forward converted six-of-13 from the field and went a perfect 7-of-7 from the line. In addition, Wallace added three assists and two steals in 32 minutes of action. On the season, she is second on the squad averaging 12.3 points, while leading the Bobcats under the glass, averaging 7.0 boards per game. Wallace is currently sixth in the Big Sky shooting at 83 percent from the line. She is 6th in rebounding and 12th in scoring.
Da Wonder From Down Under:
Senior Rebecca Mercer is off to another strong start for the Bobcats. She currently leads the team in scoring (15.8) and assists (3.0). In four games to date, she has been in double-digit scoring, including a season-high 21 points against Idaho in the season-opener. Mercer was the 2006-07 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year. Her current career scoring average of 12.8 points per game ranks among the top 15 all-time at Montana State.
The Hooper Hoopster:
Senior Krislyn Wallace, a 6-1 forward from Hooper, Utah is one of two MSU captains this winter. Wallace is second on the squad in scoring (12.3 ppg). She paces the Bobcats under the glass, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game. Wallace’s current 7.0 career rebounds per game average is 5th all-time at MSU. She posted a season-high 19 points at Denver, last Saturday. Wallace transferred to MSU from Eastern Utah as a junior.
Montana Ink:
Montana State signed a pair of high school standouts during the early signing period. Rachel Pauli, 6-1 guard, of Big Timber and Katie Bussey, 5-9 guard, of Alamosa, Colorado have inked to play for the Bobcats next season. As a juniors, Pauli averaged 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while Bussey poured in 13.7 points per contest.
Noting the Foes:
Iowa State (3-1)...
Tentative Starters:
G- Denae Stuckey
5-8, So, Kansas City, Kansas
3.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
G- Heather Ezell
5-9, Jr., Springfield, Missouri
12.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg
G- Alison Lacey
6-0, So., Canberra Australia
13.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.0 apg
F- Amanda Nislet
6-0, Jr., Woodbury, Minnesota
5.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.3 apg
C- Nicky Wieben
6-4, Jr., Ankeny, Iowa
15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg
The Cyclones are coached by Bill Fennelly, who is in his 14th season with a 265-121 overall mark it ISU. Fennelly and current MSU Athletics Director Peter Fields are former colleagues, as the two where together at Toledo in the late 80s, early 90s. Also, current Iowa State senior associate AD, Callie Sanders, honed her skills and advanced degree at MSU, where she served in the same capacity for the Bobcats. The Cyclones are currently receiving 10 votes in the USA Today/ESPN poll. As a program, Iowa State has posted 499 victories, a win over the Bobcats would give the a school mark of 500-473. Iowa State is 2-1 all-time against the Bobcats. The last time the two teams met was Dec. 29, 1996 in Ames. The Cyclones won the game 62-49. ISU has won 10 straight at home against non-conference opponents.
Drake (3-3)...
Tentative Starters:
G- Kaniesha Agee
5-8, So, Kansas City, Missouri
0.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.8 apg
G- Lindsay Whorton
6-0, Sr., Independence, Missouri
16.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.3 apg
G- Lauren Dybing
6-3, Jr., Bloomington, Minnesota
8.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.5 apg
F- Jill Martin
6-1, Sr., Norwalk, Iowa
20.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.0 apg
F- Monique’ Jones
5-10, So., Lee’s Summit, Missouri
3.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.7 apg
The Bulldogs are coached by Amy Stephens, who is in her 4th season at Drake. Stephens led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tourney last winter. This weekend will mark the 15th year of the Knapp Center in which the first basketball game was played on Dec. 1, 1992 against — ironically — Montana State. Drake won the game 59-54. Current Bobcat football coach Rob Ash, spent 18 years at Drake before moving to Bozeman last spring.
For this week's complete women's basketball release, please click on the 'PDF Version Available' list at the top of this page.
The Montana State women’s basketball team is in the middle of a four-game road stand, which will culminate in Iowa this weekend. The Bobcats (2-2) will face Iowa State on Friday night, and Drake University, Sunday afternoon. MSU is coming of an 80-68 loss to Denver. The Bobcats won or tied every statistical category, with the exception of beyond the arc. The Pioneers shot a blistering 12-of-19 from 3-point range, while MSU converted just 3-of-9 from long distance. ISU is 3-1 on the season, posting victories over Pepperdine, Sacramento State and Michigan. The Cyclones lone loss came against Vanderbilt (62-53). On the season, Iowa State has been paced by Nicky Wieben, who is averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Drake is currently 3-3 overall with wins over Sacramento State, Weber State and Western Michigan. Their losses were to UW-Green Bay, Iowa and Kansas.
‘Cat Tracks:
Montana State is shooting 40 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and 73 percent from the free throw line...MSU has a +3.0 scoring margin on its four opponents to...The Bobcats hold a slight +1.3 advantage in rebounding...MSU has just nine more assists than steals...Montana State and its opponents are almost equal 83-82 in turnovers...Last season, forward Krislyn Wallace shot 59 percent from the charity stripe. This season, she is one of the Big Sky Conference leaders in free throw percentage, hitting at 83 percent, including a 7-7 effort against Denver...Erica Perry is averaging a whooping 4.00 steals per game...Perry and Rebecca Mercer pace the team averaging 3.00 assists per game...Freshman Sarah Strand is averaging double-figures at 10.8 ppg...the Bobcat frosh to accomplish the feat over the course of a season was Kati Burrows (13.1 ppg) during the 2001-02 season.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats fell in their only contest of the week on to Denver...The Pioneers beat Montana State 80-68...Montana State got out to an early 15-5 lead in the first period on a Sarah Strand 3-pointer, before Denver rattled off a 16-2 run... The Pioneers held a 42-33 advantage at the half... For the game, Montana State shot 42 percent from the field, while Denver shot 49 percent from the field, including 63 percent from beyond the arc...Both squads posted 33 rebounds and 19 turnovers...Montana State had three players in double-digits, led by Krislyn Wallace and Rebecca Mercer with a game-high 19 points, apiece...Wallace also grabbed ten rebounds.
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 5-7 weeks with a broken collarbone suffered in practice two weeks ago. Garcia averaged 9.9 points and 7.0 rebounds, last season. Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer are also bouncing back from injury and not at a full 100 percent.
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. Currently, the Bobcats are shooting 73 percent from the charity line, with Krislyn Wallace leading the way at 83 percent.
To Catch a Thief:
As a team, the Bobcats lead the Big Sky Conference in steals, averaging 11.80 thefts per game. Sophomore Erica Perry paces the team and the Big Sky Conference, averaging 4.00 steals per game.
Player of the Week:
Krislyn Wallace has been named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her efforts at the University of Denver, last Saturday. Wallace posted a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds against the Pioneers. For the game, the 6-1 forward converted six-of-13 from the field and went a perfect 7-of-7 from the line. In addition, Wallace added three assists and two steals in 32 minutes of action. On the season, she is second on the squad averaging 12.3 points, while leading the Bobcats under the glass, averaging 7.0 boards per game. Wallace is currently sixth in the Big Sky shooting at 83 percent from the line. She is 6th in rebounding and 12th in scoring.
Da Wonder From Down Under:
Senior Rebecca Mercer is off to another strong start for the Bobcats. She currently leads the team in scoring (15.8) and assists (3.0). In four games to date, she has been in double-digit scoring, including a season-high 21 points against Idaho in the season-opener. Mercer was the 2006-07 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year. Her current career scoring average of 12.8 points per game ranks among the top 15 all-time at Montana State.
The Hooper Hoopster:
Senior Krislyn Wallace, a 6-1 forward from Hooper, Utah is one of two MSU captains this winter. Wallace is second on the squad in scoring (12.3 ppg). She paces the Bobcats under the glass, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game. Wallace’s current 7.0 career rebounds per game average is 5th all-time at MSU. She posted a season-high 19 points at Denver, last Saturday. Wallace transferred to MSU from Eastern Utah as a junior.
Montana Ink:
Montana State signed a pair of high school standouts during the early signing period. Rachel Pauli, 6-1 guard, of Big Timber and Katie Bussey, 5-9 guard, of Alamosa, Colorado have inked to play for the Bobcats next season. As a juniors, Pauli averaged 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while Bussey poured in 13.7 points per contest.
Noting the Foes:
Iowa State (3-1)...
Tentative Starters:
G- Denae Stuckey
5-8, So, Kansas City, Kansas
3.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
G- Heather Ezell
5-9, Jr., Springfield, Missouri
12.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg
G- Alison Lacey
6-0, So., Canberra Australia
13.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.0 apg
F- Amanda Nislet
6-0, Jr., Woodbury, Minnesota
5.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.3 apg
C- Nicky Wieben
6-4, Jr., Ankeny, Iowa
15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg
The Cyclones are coached by Bill Fennelly, who is in his 14th season with a 265-121 overall mark it ISU. Fennelly and current MSU Athletics Director Peter Fields are former colleagues, as the two where together at Toledo in the late 80s, early 90s. Also, current Iowa State senior associate AD, Callie Sanders, honed her skills and advanced degree at MSU, where she served in the same capacity for the Bobcats. The Cyclones are currently receiving 10 votes in the USA Today/ESPN poll. As a program, Iowa State has posted 499 victories, a win over the Bobcats would give the a school mark of 500-473. Iowa State is 2-1 all-time against the Bobcats. The last time the two teams met was Dec. 29, 1996 in Ames. The Cyclones won the game 62-49. ISU has won 10 straight at home against non-conference opponents.
Drake (3-3)...
Tentative Starters:
G- Kaniesha Agee
5-8, So, Kansas City, Missouri
0.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.8 apg
G- Lindsay Whorton
6-0, Sr., Independence, Missouri
16.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.3 apg
G- Lauren Dybing
6-3, Jr., Bloomington, Minnesota
8.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.5 apg
F- Jill Martin
6-1, Sr., Norwalk, Iowa
20.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.0 apg
F- Monique’ Jones
5-10, So., Lee’s Summit, Missouri
3.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.7 apg
The Bulldogs are coached by Amy Stephens, who is in her 4th season at Drake. Stephens led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tourney last winter. This weekend will mark the 15th year of the Knapp Center in which the first basketball game was played on Dec. 1, 1992 against — ironically — Montana State. Drake won the game 59-54. Current Bobcat football coach Rob Ash, spent 18 years at Drake before moving to Bozeman last spring.
For this week's complete women's basketball release, please click on the 'PDF Version Available' list at the top of this page.
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