Bobcat Women Fall in Big Sky Semifinals
3/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Portland State (22-8) built a 63-50 margin with 8:23 remaining in the game following an Eryn Jones three-pointer.
Montana State (15-15) countered with eight straight points capped by a Nubia Garcia free throw to cut the lead to 63-58 with 4:36 left. PSU pushed its advantage to 67-60 with 2:41 remaining on a Kelli Valentine bucket.
The Bobcats made one last run and climbed to within 67-64 at the 1:39 mark on a Garcia layup. MSU had a chance to cut the margin to one-point, but an Erica Perry layin kicked-out with 24-seconds left.
The Vikings converted four-of-four from the line in the final 20-seconds to secure the victory and move onto the championship game.
“We fell short in a few categories that we felt were keys to the game,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “The first was to control the glass and the second was taking care of the ball and valuing each possession. Those two things just didn’t happen for us.
“We struggled to get ourselves going,” Binford added. “Portland State was very aggressive on the glass and we didn’t have an answer.”
The Vikings outrebounded the Bobcats 43-33.
MSU was paced in the loss by Perry, who tallied a team-high 20 points, while adding three assists and three steals. Also in double-digits were Sarah Strand 14 and Katie Bussey 10.
Garcia established a new two-game Big Sky Conference record with six steals against PSU to give her 12 for the tournament, passing former MSU standout Blythe Hommes’ 11 thefts in 1997.
MSU ended the contest shooting 44 percent from the field, while holding PSU to just 40 percent from the floor. However, the Bobcats committed 21 turnovers, after giving up only eight in its quarterfinal win over Northern Arizona.
The Vikings were led by Valentine with a game-high 23 points.
MSU will lose the services of three seniors: Garcia, Mara Hoefer and Anne Phippard.
For tonight's boxscore and play-by-play, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
Montana State (15-15) countered with eight straight points capped by a Nubia Garcia free throw to cut the lead to 63-58 with 4:36 left. PSU pushed its advantage to 67-60 with 2:41 remaining on a Kelli Valentine bucket.
The Bobcats made one last run and climbed to within 67-64 at the 1:39 mark on a Garcia layup. MSU had a chance to cut the margin to one-point, but an Erica Perry layin kicked-out with 24-seconds left.
The Vikings converted four-of-four from the line in the final 20-seconds to secure the victory and move onto the championship game.
“We fell short in a few categories that we felt were keys to the game,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “The first was to control the glass and the second was taking care of the ball and valuing each possession. Those two things just didn’t happen for us.
“We struggled to get ourselves going,” Binford added. “Portland State was very aggressive on the glass and we didn’t have an answer.”
The Vikings outrebounded the Bobcats 43-33.
MSU was paced in the loss by Perry, who tallied a team-high 20 points, while adding three assists and three steals. Also in double-digits were Sarah Strand 14 and Katie Bussey 10.
Garcia established a new two-game Big Sky Conference record with six steals against PSU to give her 12 for the tournament, passing former MSU standout Blythe Hommes’ 11 thefts in 1997.
MSU ended the contest shooting 44 percent from the field, while holding PSU to just 40 percent from the floor. However, the Bobcats committed 21 turnovers, after giving up only eight in its quarterfinal win over Northern Arizona.
The Vikings were led by Valentine with a game-high 23 points.
MSU will lose the services of three seniors: Garcia, Mara Hoefer and Anne Phippard.
For tonight's boxscore and play-by-play, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
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