'Cat-Lady Griz, Part II
2/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Next Up:
The Montana State women’s basketball squad begins the second half of the Big Sky Conference season hosting intrastate rival Montana. Montana State is 10-10 overall and 5-3 in Big Sky play, after sweeping a pair of league games last weekend in Worthington Arena. The Bobcats moved from fifth to third in the conference standings by virtue of victories over Eastern Washington (83-70) and Portland State (84-75). Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer paced MSU over the weekend. Heringer, who averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, was named the Big Sky Player of the Week for her efforts. Mercer averaged 24 points, while converting 6-of-12 from long distance. The Lady Griz are 17-4 overall and lead the Big Sky with a 7-1 mark. UM swept Portland State (77-73 ot) and E. Washington (77-59), as well. Montana has been led in conference action by Mandy Morales, who averages 14.3 points per game. Friday is ‘Think Pink’ night, designated to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer.
‘Cat Tracks:
While Jenny Heringer got the nod as MSU’s Player of the Week nominee, Rebecca Mercer was also worthy of the accolade. The senior from Perth, Australia averaged 24 points, two assists and 1.5 steals, while shooting 47 percent from the field, including 50 percent (6-12) from three-point range...Nubia Garcia has helped the Bobcats shore up their prowess under the boards. Garcia posted a career-high 14 rebounds against Portland State. The native of Chihuahua, Mexico averaged 10 points and 9.5 rebounds for the weekend...Freshman standout Sarah Strand posted back-to-back double-figure games. The Seattle native posted 13 points against Eastern Washington and 11 points, including nine second-half markers, against Portland State. Strand is shooting a team-best 48 percent from the field...Erica Perry’s steals statistics might have dropped this past weekend; however, the sophomore point guard stepped up her scoring averaging 10.5 points, while dishing out 5.5 assists per game. Perry shot 77 percent (13-17) from the charity stripe on the weekend, as well.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats swept a pair of home games last weekend in Worthington Arena. MSU opened with an 83-70 win over Eastern Washington on Thursday. Montana State held a 33-32 advantage at halftime, before breaking away from the Eagles midway through the second stanza. Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer led MSU in the victory. Mercer ended with 26 points, while Heringer recorded a career-high 20 points and ten rebounds. Also in double-digits were Sarah Strand 13 and Erica Perry 12. On Saturday, the Bobcats won a hard-fought 84-75 decision over Portland State. MSU built as much as a nine point lead in the opening period, before the Vikings rallied to tie the score at 38-all at intermission. A 12-2 run by the Bobcats at the 5:24 mark helped secure the win. Mercer again paced the ‘Cats with 22 points, while Heringer chipped in 18, Nubia Garcia 12, Krislyn Wallace 12, and Strand 11.
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 72 percent from the charity line, with Jenny Heringer leading the way at 82 percent. Heringer is 18-of-19 in Big Sky action.
To Catch a Thief:
As a team, the Bobcats are second in the Big Sky Conference in steals, averaging 8.60 thefts per game. Sophomore Erica Perry paces the team and the Big Sky Conference, averaging 2.80 steals per outing. Perry, a native of Lynwood, Calif., is ranked 36th in the nation in steals per game.
Big Sky Player of the Week:
Jenny Heringer played a major role as the Bobcats swept a pair of Big Sky games to move into 3rd in the league standings. For the weekend, the Billings Central grad averaged 19 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while shooting 63 percent from the field, 60 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the line. Heringer recorded a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Bobcats defeated E. Washington. She followed that effort with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists as MSU downed Portland State. In Big Sky action, she is averaging 10.4 points, and is first on the team shooting 50 percent from the field.
Da Wonder From Down Under:
Senior Rebecca Mercer is having an outstanding senior campaign. She currently leads the team in scoring (17.6) and is second in assists (2.0). In 19 games to date, she has been in double-digit scoring on 17 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 14.4 points per game ranks 6th among the top 10 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 (12.2 ppg). She second on the team under the glass, averaging 6.4 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 16 games and is averaging 11.1 points and 4.4 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 13.5 minutes per game. She is averaging 4.4 points and 2.1 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:
MSU head coach Tricia Binford was a three-time All-Big Sky pick at Boise State. During her four years at BSU, she was 2-9 all-time against UM’s Robin Selivg. Binford is looking for her first win vs. Montana as a coach.
The Montana State women’s basketball squad begins the second half of the Big Sky Conference season hosting intrastate rival Montana. Montana State is 10-10 overall and 5-3 in Big Sky play, after sweeping a pair of league games last weekend in Worthington Arena. The Bobcats moved from fifth to third in the conference standings by virtue of victories over Eastern Washington (83-70) and Portland State (84-75). Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer paced MSU over the weekend. Heringer, who averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, was named the Big Sky Player of the Week for her efforts. Mercer averaged 24 points, while converting 6-of-12 from long distance. The Lady Griz are 17-4 overall and lead the Big Sky with a 7-1 mark. UM swept Portland State (77-73 ot) and E. Washington (77-59), as well. Montana has been led in conference action by Mandy Morales, who averages 14.3 points per game. Friday is ‘Think Pink’ night, designated to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer.
‘Cat Tracks:
While Jenny Heringer got the nod as MSU’s Player of the Week nominee, Rebecca Mercer was also worthy of the accolade. The senior from Perth, Australia averaged 24 points, two assists and 1.5 steals, while shooting 47 percent from the field, including 50 percent (6-12) from three-point range...Nubia Garcia has helped the Bobcats shore up their prowess under the boards. Garcia posted a career-high 14 rebounds against Portland State. The native of Chihuahua, Mexico averaged 10 points and 9.5 rebounds for the weekend...Freshman standout Sarah Strand posted back-to-back double-figure games. The Seattle native posted 13 points against Eastern Washington and 11 points, including nine second-half markers, against Portland State. Strand is shooting a team-best 48 percent from the field...Erica Perry’s steals statistics might have dropped this past weekend; however, the sophomore point guard stepped up her scoring averaging 10.5 points, while dishing out 5.5 assists per game. Perry shot 77 percent (13-17) from the charity stripe on the weekend, as well.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats swept a pair of home games last weekend in Worthington Arena. MSU opened with an 83-70 win over Eastern Washington on Thursday. Montana State held a 33-32 advantage at halftime, before breaking away from the Eagles midway through the second stanza. Rebecca Mercer and Jenny Heringer led MSU in the victory. Mercer ended with 26 points, while Heringer recorded a career-high 20 points and ten rebounds. Also in double-digits were Sarah Strand 13 and Erica Perry 12. On Saturday, the Bobcats won a hard-fought 84-75 decision over Portland State. MSU built as much as a nine point lead in the opening period, before the Vikings rallied to tie the score at 38-all at intermission. A 12-2 run by the Bobcats at the 5:24 mark helped secure the win. Mercer again paced the ‘Cats with 22 points, while Heringer chipped in 18, Nubia Garcia 12, Krislyn Wallace 12, and Strand 11.
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 72 percent from the charity line, with Jenny Heringer leading the way at 82 percent. Heringer is 18-of-19 in Big Sky action.
To Catch a Thief:
As a team, the Bobcats are second in the Big Sky Conference in steals, averaging 8.60 thefts per game. Sophomore Erica Perry paces the team and the Big Sky Conference, averaging 2.80 steals per outing. Perry, a native of Lynwood, Calif., is ranked 36th in the nation in steals per game.
Big Sky Player of the Week:
Jenny Heringer played a major role as the Bobcats swept a pair of Big Sky games to move into 3rd in the league standings. For the weekend, the Billings Central grad averaged 19 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while shooting 63 percent from the field, 60 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the line. Heringer recorded a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Bobcats defeated E. Washington. She followed that effort with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists as MSU downed Portland State. In Big Sky action, she is averaging 10.4 points, and is first on the team shooting 50 percent from the field.
Da Wonder From Down Under:
Senior Rebecca Mercer is having an outstanding senior campaign. She currently leads the team in scoring (17.6) and is second in assists (2.0). In 19 games to date, she has been in double-digit scoring on 17 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 14.4 points per game ranks 6th among the top 10 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 (12.2 ppg). She second on the team under the glass, averaging 6.4 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 16 games and is averaging 11.1 points and 4.4 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 13.5 minutes per game. She is averaging 4.4 points and 2.1 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:
MSU head coach Tricia Binford was a three-time All-Big Sky pick at Boise State. During her four years at BSU, she was 2-9 all-time against UM’s Robin Selivg. Binford is looking for her first win vs. Montana as a coach.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
