Bobcat Women Defeat North Dakota in Home Opener
11/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The native of Seattle connected on six-of-10 from the field, including three three-pointers. In addition, Strand hauled down five rebounds and added three assists.
“Our strength is our balance,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “I thought Sarah and Anne Phippard had some key, clutch baskets.”
Also in double-figures for Montana State (2-0) were Nubia Garcia and Mara Hoefer, with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Hoefer notched a career-high on five-of-seven from the floor and a two-of-three effort from the free throw line.
The Bobcats found themselves down 8-2 in the early going, before rattling off a 22-6 run to stake a 24-14 advantage at the 9:29 mark following a pair of Rachel Pauli free throws.
MSU held a 47-35 advantage at intermission.
In the second half, Montana State pushed the margin to 66-45 with 14:18 remaining on a free throw by Hoefer.
Hot shooting by North Dakota (1-1), coupled with Montana State turnovers let the Fighting Sioux back into the game, as UND closed the gap to 79-78 with 1:55 left.
However, the Bobcats maintained their composure and outscored UND 6-0 down the stretch for the victory.
“We need to clean-up our turnovers and learn how to play with a lead,” Binford said. “We did not handle the physical play well, and that’s something we’ll work on.
“On the positive side, this was the first-tight game in which we couldn’t call upon Rebecca Mercer or Krislyn Wallace to help us out,” Binford said. “It was nice to see how our kids responded.”
Five Bobcat players ended the game with five or more rebounds, led by Garcia with nine.
As a team, MSU shot 41 percent from the floor and converted 21-of-27 free throws.
Sunday’s win avenged MSU’s loss at North Dakota (88-74) last December, which saw the Fighting Sioux shoot 67 percent from the field and connect on 25-of-30 from the line.
UND was paced in the loss by Kierah Kimbrough with 24 points and seven rebounds.
MSU will travel to Gonzaga and Washington State, next weekend.
“Our strength is our balance,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “I thought Sarah and Anne Phippard had some key, clutch baskets.”
Also in double-figures for Montana State (2-0) were Nubia Garcia and Mara Hoefer, with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Hoefer notched a career-high on five-of-seven from the floor and a two-of-three effort from the free throw line.
The Bobcats found themselves down 8-2 in the early going, before rattling off a 22-6 run to stake a 24-14 advantage at the 9:29 mark following a pair of Rachel Pauli free throws.
MSU held a 47-35 advantage at intermission.
In the second half, Montana State pushed the margin to 66-45 with 14:18 remaining on a free throw by Hoefer.
Hot shooting by North Dakota (1-1), coupled with Montana State turnovers let the Fighting Sioux back into the game, as UND closed the gap to 79-78 with 1:55 left.
However, the Bobcats maintained their composure and outscored UND 6-0 down the stretch for the victory.
“We need to clean-up our turnovers and learn how to play with a lead,” Binford said. “We did not handle the physical play well, and that’s something we’ll work on.
“On the positive side, this was the first-tight game in which we couldn’t call upon Rebecca Mercer or Krislyn Wallace to help us out,” Binford said. “It was nice to see how our kids responded.”
Five Bobcat players ended the game with five or more rebounds, led by Garcia with nine.
As a team, MSU shot 41 percent from the floor and converted 21-of-27 free throws.
Sunday’s win avenged MSU’s loss at North Dakota (88-74) last December, which saw the Fighting Sioux shoot 67 percent from the field and connect on 25-of-30 from the line.
UND was paced in the loss by Kierah Kimbrough with 24 points and seven rebounds.
MSU will travel to Gonzaga and Washington State, next weekend.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
