Bobcats-Lady Griz: Round I
1/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Next Up:
The Montana State women’s basketball team will travel to Missoula, Friday, Jan. 4 to face intra-state rival Montana for the 81st meeting in the rivalry. Montana State enters the game 5-7 overall, after dropping a pair of games in North Dakota prior to the new year. MSU’s 5-7 non-conference slate matches last year’s non-league record. The Bobcats are paced by senior Rebecca Mercer, who is averaging 15.7 points per game. Also averaging double-digits for MSU are Krislyn Wallace and freshman Sarah Strand at 12.6 and 10.8 points, respectively. Wallace, a senior from Hooper, Utah guides the Bobcats under the boards, averaging 6.3 rebounds per contest. Montana is 10-3 overall, suffering losses to Boise State, Gonzaga and Wyoming. Under the direction of Robin Selvig, the Lady Griz return all five starters from last year’s squad that posted 27-4 overall mark. Montana was picked to finish first this season in both the preseason coaches and media polls. Montana is paced by junior Mandy Morales, who is averaging 18.4 points. She recently returned to the starting line-up following a foot injury.
‘Cat Tracks:
Senior Rebecca Mercer averaged 15.5 points per game on the North Dakota trip, including four 3-pointers. She leads the Bobcats in both scoring and three-point makes...MSU was outrebounded by a +15.5 boards per game in its last two outings. Krislyn Wallace leads MSU with 6.3 rebounds per game...In her first career start for Montana State, sophomore Jamie Thornton notched ten points on five-of-nine shooting against NCAA Div. II powerhouse North Dakota...The MSU bench had an outstanding game against NDSU, posting 34 points. Jenny Heringer led the group with a season-high 10 points.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats dropped a pair of games in North Dakota, last weekend. No. 1 North Dakota, a Division II powerhouse, rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to post an 88-74 victory. Three Bobcat players reached double-figures, led by Rebecca Mercer with a team-high 19 points. Also in double-digits were Krislyn Wallace 15, and Jamie Thornton 10. Thornton, a 6-4 sophomore from Pullman, Wash., made her first collegiate start and connected on five-of-nine from the field, while hauling down two rebounds in 16 minutes of action. UND went 25-30 from the free throw line, while MSU hit just three-of-eight. MSU shot 44 percent from the field, whle the Fighting Sioux shot 67 percent, including a whopping 84 percent (21-25) in the second stanza. Montana State finished the weekend with an 82-59 setback at North Dakota State. Mercer again guided the Bobcats with 12 points, while sophomore reserve Jenny Heringer chipped in 10 points and three rebounds.
M*A*S*H 4077th:
With Nubia Garcia back in the line-up after sitting out the first seven games with a broken collarbone, only Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer are still nursing some nagging injuries.
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 69 percent from the charity line, with Rebecca Mercer leading the way at 76 percent.
To Catch a Thief:
As a team, the Bobcats lead the Big Sky Conference in steals, averaging 9.16 thefts per game. Sophomore Erica Perry paces the team and the Big Sky Conference, averaging three steals per outing. Perry, a native of Lynwood, Calif., is ranked 20th in the nation in steals per game.
'Cat Player of the Week:
Rebecca Mercer was named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her efforts at North Dakota and North Dakota State. The transfer from Lake Region College in Devils Lake, ND, averaged 15.5 points 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and an assist per game. Mercer had her best outing of the weekend against the University of North Dakota with 19 points on eight-of-17 from the field. She followed that performance with 12 points, three rebounds and three steals against North Dakota State. Mercer is currently fifth in the Big Sky in scoring (15.7), fifth in three-point makes (2.17), seventh in 3-point field-goal percentage (.413) and 10th in FT percentage (.762).
Da Wonder From Down Under:
Senior Rebecca Mercer is off to another strong start for the Bobcats. She currently leads the team in scoring (15.7) and is second in assists (2.0). In 12 games to date, she has been in double-digit scoring on ten occasions, including a career-high 30 points against Utah Valley. Mercer was the 2006-07 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year. Her current career scoring average of 13.0 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 (12.6 ppg). She paces the Bobcats under the glass, averaging 6.3 rebounds per game. Wallace’s current 6.8 career rebounds per game average is 6th all-time at MSU. She posted a season-high 24 points against Gonzaga. Wallace, a 6-foot-1 junior, transferred to MSU from Eastern Utah.
Diaper Dandies:
Montana State has a pair of true-freshmen making significant contributions to the Bobcat squad. Sarah Strand, a graduate of King’s High School in the Seattle area, has started ten games and is averaging 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. In addition, she is first on the team in blocked shots. Lyndi Seidensticker, a graduate of Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane is averaging 13.6 minutes per game. She is averaging 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds on the season.
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, Colo., 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.
Things That Make You Go Hmmm:
The Bobcats recently dropped an 82-68 decision to Gonzaga. Earlier this winter, the Bobcats defeated Utah Valley 79-69. And, on New Year’s Eve, Utah Valley defeated the ‘Zags 94-73.
For this week's complete Bobcat women's basektball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link on the top of this page.
The Montana State women’s basketball team will travel to Missoula, Friday, Jan. 4 to face intra-state rival Montana for the 81st meeting in the rivalry. Montana State enters the game 5-7 overall, after dropping a pair of games in North Dakota prior to the new year. MSU’s 5-7 non-conference slate matches last year’s non-league record. The Bobcats are paced by senior Rebecca Mercer, who is averaging 15.7 points per game. Also averaging double-digits for MSU are Krislyn Wallace and freshman Sarah Strand at 12.6 and 10.8 points, respectively. Wallace, a senior from Hooper, Utah guides the Bobcats under the boards, averaging 6.3 rebounds per contest. Montana is 10-3 overall, suffering losses to Boise State, Gonzaga and Wyoming. Under the direction of Robin Selvig, the Lady Griz return all five starters from last year’s squad that posted 27-4 overall mark. Montana was picked to finish first this season in both the preseason coaches and media polls. Montana is paced by junior Mandy Morales, who is averaging 18.4 points. She recently returned to the starting line-up following a foot injury.
‘Cat Tracks:
Senior Rebecca Mercer averaged 15.5 points per game on the North Dakota trip, including four 3-pointers. She leads the Bobcats in both scoring and three-point makes...MSU was outrebounded by a +15.5 boards per game in its last two outings. Krislyn Wallace leads MSU with 6.3 rebounds per game...In her first career start for Montana State, sophomore Jamie Thornton notched ten points on five-of-nine shooting against NCAA Div. II powerhouse North Dakota...The MSU bench had an outstanding game against NDSU, posting 34 points. Jenny Heringer led the group with a season-high 10 points.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats dropped a pair of games in North Dakota, last weekend. No. 1 North Dakota, a Division II powerhouse, rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to post an 88-74 victory. Three Bobcat players reached double-figures, led by Rebecca Mercer with a team-high 19 points. Also in double-digits were Krislyn Wallace 15, and Jamie Thornton 10. Thornton, a 6-4 sophomore from Pullman, Wash., made her first collegiate start and connected on five-of-nine from the field, while hauling down two rebounds in 16 minutes of action. UND went 25-30 from the free throw line, while MSU hit just three-of-eight. MSU shot 44 percent from the field, whle the Fighting Sioux shot 67 percent, including a whopping 84 percent (21-25) in the second stanza. Montana State finished the weekend with an 82-59 setback at North Dakota State. Mercer again guided the Bobcats with 12 points, while sophomore reserve Jenny Heringer chipped in 10 points and three rebounds.
M*A*S*H 4077th:
With Nubia Garcia back in the line-up after sitting out the first seven games with a broken collarbone, only Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer are still nursing some nagging injuries.
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 69 percent from the charity line, with Rebecca Mercer leading the way at 76 percent.
To Catch a Thief:
As a team, the Bobcats lead the Big Sky Conference in steals, averaging 9.16 thefts per game. Sophomore Erica Perry paces the team and the Big Sky Conference, averaging three steals per outing. Perry, a native of Lynwood, Calif., is ranked 20th in the nation in steals per game.
'Cat Player of the Week:
Rebecca Mercer was named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her efforts at North Dakota and North Dakota State. The transfer from Lake Region College in Devils Lake, ND, averaged 15.5 points 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and an assist per game. Mercer had her best outing of the weekend against the University of North Dakota with 19 points on eight-of-17 from the field. She followed that performance with 12 points, three rebounds and three steals against North Dakota State. Mercer is currently fifth in the Big Sky in scoring (15.7), fifth in three-point makes (2.17), seventh in 3-point field-goal percentage (.413) and 10th in FT percentage (.762).
Da Wonder From Down Under:
Senior Rebecca Mercer is off to another strong start for the Bobcats. She currently leads the team in scoring (15.7) and is second in assists (2.0). In 12 games to date, she has been in double-digit scoring on ten occasions, including a career-high 30 points against Utah Valley. Mercer was the 2006-07 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year. Her current career scoring average of 13.0 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 (12.6 ppg). She paces the Bobcats under the glass, averaging 6.3 rebounds per game. Wallace’s current 6.8 career rebounds per game average is 6th all-time at MSU. She posted a season-high 24 points against Gonzaga. Wallace, a 6-foot-1 junior, transferred to MSU from Eastern Utah.
Diaper Dandies:
Montana State has a pair of true-freshmen making significant contributions to the Bobcat squad. Sarah Strand, a graduate of King’s High School in the Seattle area, has started ten games and is averaging 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. In addition, she is first on the team in blocked shots. Lyndi Seidensticker, a graduate of Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane is averaging 13.6 minutes per game. She is averaging 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds on the season.
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, Colo., 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.
Things That Make You Go Hmmm:
The Bobcats recently dropped an 82-68 decision to Gonzaga. Earlier this winter, the Bobcats defeated Utah Valley 79-69. And, on New Year’s Eve, Utah Valley defeated the ‘Zags 94-73.
For this week's complete Bobcat women's basektball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link on the top of this page.
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