Gonzaga Uses Second Half Run to Get by Bobcat Women
12/4/2009 11:07:12 PM | Women's Basketball
Gonzaga used a 19-4 run midway through the second half; en route to an 87-72 win over Montana State, Friday night in Worthington Arena.
MSU-GONZAGA BOX
Gonzaga used a 19-4 run midway through the second half; en route to an 87-72 win over
“We're getting better,” said MSU fifth-year head coach Tricia Binford. “Against a good team like Gonzaga you learn things about yourself. At the top of the list is understanding that each possession is more important than the next.”
Gonzaga (6-2) opened the game on a 6-0 run, before the Bobcats claimed its first lead at 16-14 at the 12:46 mark on an Erica Perry jumper. MSU took its largest lead of the opening period at 22-18, but Gonzaga rattled off a 19-5 run to stake a 10-point advantage and entered intermission with a 39-34 margin.
In the second stanza, the Bulldogs built their lead to 63-40 with 10:41 remaining on a Kayla Standish three-pointer. The Bobcats cut the deficit to 73-59 with 4:45 left on a pair of Bak free throws, but would get no closer.
“We ran into a double whammy in the second half,” Binford said. “We couldn't convert on the offensive end, and we couldn't get a stop on the defensive end.”
For the game, MSU shot 40 percent from the field, but only hit 33 percent in the second half. Gonzaga shot 53 percent from the floor. GU also converted 22-24 from the free throw line, while the Bobcats connected on 10-11 from the stripe.
In addition, the Bulldogs held a 40-27 advantage in rebounding.
“This game will give us a good look at where we are,” Binford said. “I thought Beata (Bak) did a nice job coming off the bench to give us a lift. “
Bak, a native of
Gonzaga was led in the win by Heather Bowman with 24 points.
MSU will host MSU-Northern Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
