Balanced Bobcat Attack Cages Bears
3/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Montana State head coach Tricia Binford described MSU’s loss to Northern Colorado on Jan. 24 as a defining moment in the season.
Saturday afternoon, the Bobcats used that loss as motivation to post an 81-76 decision over Northern Colorado in the Butler-Hancock Sports Center.
“Following our first loss to Northern Colorado we reevaluated where we were with our program,” Binford said. “We got everyone on the same page and have started playing our best basketball.”
Since that moment in Bozeman over a month ago, Montana State has posted a 6-2 record, including wins over Montana and Portland State- two of the league’s frontrunners.
Senior Rebecca Mercer paced Montana State (14-12, 9-5) with a team-high 19 points, including a three-of-six effort from long distance. The native of Perth, Australia also chipped in three rebounds and a steal.
Three other Bobcats reached double digits.
Junior Nubia Garcia posted a season-high 16 points, while hauling down seven rebounds and dishing out three assists. Junior Heringer posted her second double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 12 boards.
Senior Krislyn Wallace ended the game with ten points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
MSU also received a strong first-half contribution from freshman Lyndi Seidensticker, who came off the bench to post eight points on four-of-six from the field.
“It was a pretty physical game and our post players were highly motivated to have a good performance,” Binford said. “Lyndi (Seidensticker) came in and gave us a big lift in the first half, and I thought Jenny Heringer had an outstanding game, especially under the boards.”
Trailing 25-19 in the first half, Montana State rattled off a 13-1 run to take a 32-26 advantage with 4:07 remaining in the period. MSU entered intermission with a 37-35 margin.
In the second half, the lead switched hands eight times, before the Bobcats broke away from a 63-62 advantage with a 9-3 run to stake a 72-65 lead with 2:30 remaining following a Mercer layup.
For the game, MSU shot 48 percent from the field and held a 38-31 edge in rebounding.
Northern Colorado (12-14, 6-8) was led by Kate Kevorken with 26 points, including 6 3-pointers. Danielle Hagen, who notched a career-high 29 points against the Bobcats in the first meeting, was held to 12 points on five-of-18 from the floor.
“One of the keys to the game was shutting down (Danielle) Hagen,” Binford said. “She had a good game under the boards, but I thought we did a nice job with our post defense.”
With the win, Montana State can finish no lower than fourth place. The victory also gave Binford her first winning season in Big Sky play and was one more then the 13 overall wins recorded last winter.
Montana State will close out the regular-season schedule next week at Portland State and Eastern Washington.
Saturday afternoon, the Bobcats used that loss as motivation to post an 81-76 decision over Northern Colorado in the Butler-Hancock Sports Center.
“Following our first loss to Northern Colorado we reevaluated where we were with our program,” Binford said. “We got everyone on the same page and have started playing our best basketball.”
Since that moment in Bozeman over a month ago, Montana State has posted a 6-2 record, including wins over Montana and Portland State- two of the league’s frontrunners.
Senior Rebecca Mercer paced Montana State (14-12, 9-5) with a team-high 19 points, including a three-of-six effort from long distance. The native of Perth, Australia also chipped in three rebounds and a steal.
Three other Bobcats reached double digits.
Junior Nubia Garcia posted a season-high 16 points, while hauling down seven rebounds and dishing out three assists. Junior Heringer posted her second double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 12 boards.
Senior Krislyn Wallace ended the game with ten points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
MSU also received a strong first-half contribution from freshman Lyndi Seidensticker, who came off the bench to post eight points on four-of-six from the field.
“It was a pretty physical game and our post players were highly motivated to have a good performance,” Binford said. “Lyndi (Seidensticker) came in and gave us a big lift in the first half, and I thought Jenny Heringer had an outstanding game, especially under the boards.”
Trailing 25-19 in the first half, Montana State rattled off a 13-1 run to take a 32-26 advantage with 4:07 remaining in the period. MSU entered intermission with a 37-35 margin.
In the second half, the lead switched hands eight times, before the Bobcats broke away from a 63-62 advantage with a 9-3 run to stake a 72-65 lead with 2:30 remaining following a Mercer layup.
For the game, MSU shot 48 percent from the field and held a 38-31 edge in rebounding.
Northern Colorado (12-14, 6-8) was led by Kate Kevorken with 26 points, including 6 3-pointers. Danielle Hagen, who notched a career-high 29 points against the Bobcats in the first meeting, was held to 12 points on five-of-18 from the floor.
“One of the keys to the game was shutting down (Danielle) Hagen,” Binford said. “She had a good game under the boards, but I thought we did a nice job with our post defense.”
With the win, Montana State can finish no lower than fourth place. The victory also gave Binford her first winning season in Big Sky play and was one more then the 13 overall wins recorded last winter.
Montana State will close out the regular-season schedule next week at Portland State and Eastern Washington.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
