MSU Women's Basketball Team Opens Season at Idaho
11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Next Up:
The Montana State women’s basketball squad will open their 2007-08 season at the University of Idaho, Friday night in Memorial Gym. The Bobcats and Vandals were familiar foes when Idaho was a member of the Big Sky Conference. MSU holds a 26-14 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to the 1974-75 season. The last time the two schools met was Dec. 14, 2001, with the Vandals escaping with a 62-61 victory. Last season, Idaho posted a 6-22 overall mark and a 3-13 conference record. UI is paced by Katie Madison, a 6-foot post player, who averaged 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, while shooting 50 percent. Mike Divilbiss is in his sixth year with the Vandals and owns a 78-94 record. The Bobcats will finish the weekend with its home opener against MSU Billings. The intra-state rivals are meeting for the 22 time. MSU holds the all-time series record 16-6. Last season, the Bobcats handed the Yellowjackets at 75-69 setback in Worthington Arena. Rebecca Mercer had 15 points for MSU in the victory, while Alira Carpenter had 24 points for MSU Billings.
The Dish on Tricia Binford:
Tricia Binford is in her third season at Montana State. She became the 11th Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Montana State on April 13, 2005. Prior to MSU, Binford, served two seasons at Utah State. At USU, Binford earned her coaching wings under head coach Raegan Scott-Pebley. The duo helped reestablish the Aggie program following a 16-year hiatus. With the Aggies, Binford was responsible for recruiting, defense, and guard play. Binford also served as an assistant coach at her alma mater- Boise State University from 1999-2001. Binford was the 31st overall pick in the 1998 WNBA draft, and played professionally with the Cleveland Rockers from 1999-02, where she participated on the 2001 Eastern Conference Championship team. She played with the Utah Starzz during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. She also played professionally in Australia for two years, including stints in the NWBL’s Brisbane Blazers, Latrobe Demons and Launceston Tornadoes. Playing in the NWBL in 1997, she set a single-game scoring record with 67 points- which was part of a quadruple-double of 67 points, 14 assists, ten steals and ten rebounds. As Tricia Bader, she was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference selection on some of the best teams in Boise State history. She led the Broncos to a national ranking and the NCAA tournament. Binford was also a member of the 1993 West Team at the U.S. Olympic Festival. For her efforts, she was named the 1996 Idaho NCAA Woman of the Year and was inducted in the Boise State Hall of Fame in 2001. Binford left Boise State with the school’s career assists record and was second in steals. She posted a career 1,171 points—all from the point guard position. Binford prepped at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, Colo., where she was the Colorado Player of the Year and a Street and Smith’s High School All-American in 1991. She received her degree in criminal justice from Boise State in 1995. Binford and her husband Todd, have one son: Justin, born April 3, 2004
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats played two exhibition games during fall drills, and defeated MSU Northern 83-69, and the University of Mary 76-64. Against the Skylights, the Bobcats were led by Krislyn Wallace with 19 points and nine rebounds. Also in double-figures for MSU were Sarah Strand 15, Rebecca Mercer 13, and Erica Perry 10. In its game with Mary, Strand, a true-freshman from Seattle, Wash., posted a team-best 20 points while adding nine boards, three steals and two blocks. Wallace, Mercer and Perry were in double-figures for the second straight outing against the Marauders.
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.
Toed 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. Bobcat sophomore Jenny Heringer, who sat out last season with an injury, returns with her school-record 25 consecutive free throws intact.
The History of Openers:
Montana State is 18-13 overall in season openers. The Bobcats have lost two straight openers under Binford’s direction (Oregon State 70-35 and Montana Tech 66-57). MSU is 7-8 all-time in road openers, and 11-5 at home within the friendly confines of Worthington Arena. MSU and Idaho have met only once before in a season-opener. That game was played Nov. 21, 1999 with the Vandals coming out with an 80-74 victory in Moscow.
For this week's complete basketball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
The Montana State women’s basketball squad will open their 2007-08 season at the University of Idaho, Friday night in Memorial Gym. The Bobcats and Vandals were familiar foes when Idaho was a member of the Big Sky Conference. MSU holds a 26-14 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to the 1974-75 season. The last time the two schools met was Dec. 14, 2001, with the Vandals escaping with a 62-61 victory. Last season, Idaho posted a 6-22 overall mark and a 3-13 conference record. UI is paced by Katie Madison, a 6-foot post player, who averaged 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, while shooting 50 percent. Mike Divilbiss is in his sixth year with the Vandals and owns a 78-94 record. The Bobcats will finish the weekend with its home opener against MSU Billings. The intra-state rivals are meeting for the 22 time. MSU holds the all-time series record 16-6. Last season, the Bobcats handed the Yellowjackets at 75-69 setback in Worthington Arena. Rebecca Mercer had 15 points for MSU in the victory, while Alira Carpenter had 24 points for MSU Billings.
The Dish on Tricia Binford:
Tricia Binford is in her third season at Montana State. She became the 11th Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Montana State on April 13, 2005. Prior to MSU, Binford, served two seasons at Utah State. At USU, Binford earned her coaching wings under head coach Raegan Scott-Pebley. The duo helped reestablish the Aggie program following a 16-year hiatus. With the Aggies, Binford was responsible for recruiting, defense, and guard play. Binford also served as an assistant coach at her alma mater- Boise State University from 1999-2001. Binford was the 31st overall pick in the 1998 WNBA draft, and played professionally with the Cleveland Rockers from 1999-02, where she participated on the 2001 Eastern Conference Championship team. She played with the Utah Starzz during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. She also played professionally in Australia for two years, including stints in the NWBL’s Brisbane Blazers, Latrobe Demons and Launceston Tornadoes. Playing in the NWBL in 1997, she set a single-game scoring record with 67 points- which was part of a quadruple-double of 67 points, 14 assists, ten steals and ten rebounds. As Tricia Bader, she was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference selection on some of the best teams in Boise State history. She led the Broncos to a national ranking and the NCAA tournament. Binford was also a member of the 1993 West Team at the U.S. Olympic Festival. For her efforts, she was named the 1996 Idaho NCAA Woman of the Year and was inducted in the Boise State Hall of Fame in 2001. Binford left Boise State with the school’s career assists record and was second in steals. She posted a career 1,171 points—all from the point guard position. Binford prepped at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, Colo., where she was the Colorado Player of the Year and a Street and Smith’s High School All-American in 1991. She received her degree in criminal justice from Boise State in 1995. Binford and her husband Todd, have one son: Justin, born April 3, 2004
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats played two exhibition games during fall drills, and defeated MSU Northern 83-69, and the University of Mary 76-64. Against the Skylights, the Bobcats were led by Krislyn Wallace with 19 points and nine rebounds. Also in double-figures for MSU were Sarah Strand 15, Rebecca Mercer 13, and Erica Perry 10. In its game with Mary, Strand, a true-freshman from Seattle, Wash., posted a team-best 20 points while adding nine boards, three steals and two blocks. Wallace, Mercer and Perry were in double-figures for the second straight outing against the Marauders.
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.
Toed 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. Bobcat sophomore Jenny Heringer, who sat out last season with an injury, returns with her school-record 25 consecutive free throws intact.
The History of Openers:
Montana State is 18-13 overall in season openers. The Bobcats have lost two straight openers under Binford’s direction (Oregon State 70-35 and Montana Tech 66-57). MSU is 7-8 all-time in road openers, and 11-5 at home within the friendly confines of Worthington Arena. MSU and Idaho have met only once before in a season-opener. That game was played Nov. 21, 1999 with the Vandals coming out with an 80-74 victory in Moscow.
For this week's complete basketball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
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