Montana State Women Usher in New Year with Victory

Friday, January 1

7:05 p.m.

Montana State University

Weber State

Freshman Rachel Semansky came off the bench to notch a career-high 12 points and nine rebounds to lift the Bobcats to an 82-62 win over Weber State in the Big Sky opener for both squads.

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

1/1/2010 10:08:33 PM | Women's Basketball

The Montana State women’s basketball team opened the New Year with an 82-62 win over Weber State, Friday night in the Big Sky Conference opener for both squads.

By: Tom Schulz

*MONTANA STATE-WEBER STATE BOX*

The Montana State women's basketball team opened the New Year with an 82-62 win over Weber State, Friday night in the Big Sky Conference opener for both squads.

Montana State's (8-6, 1-0) was paced by sophomore Katie Bussey with a game-high 25 points, including a four-of-seven effort from three-point range. Also in double-figures for the Bobcats were Erica Perry 16, Rachel Semansky 12, and Sarah Strand 10.

“We were able to maintain our aggressiveness and did a nice job with our shot selection,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “Weber State is a very hard team to score against, and I thought we were very patient with what they gave us.”

MSU opened an early 22-11 advantage; however, Weber State (6-8, 0-1) countered with ten unanswered points to pull within one point on a Tonya Schnibbe free throw.

The Bobcats ended the first period on a 19-7 run capped by a Bussey three-pointer at the buzzer to give Montana State a 41-28 advantage at intermission.

MSU built its largest margin at 71-47 with 7:52 remaining on a Perry layup and cruised to the win.

For the game, the Bobcats shot 48 percent from the field, including a 53 percent effort in the second stanza. MSU held WSU to 35 percent from the floor; however, the Wildcats converted 21-of-26 free throws.

Montana State also won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding Weber State 38-33. MSU's Sarah Strand recorded a double-double pulling down a game-high ten rebounds. Also pacing the Bobcats under the glass were Semansky 9 and Ashley Albert 6.

“Rachel (Semansky) was an animal, and I thought all of our freshmen gave us a big boost,” Binford said. “When you have your upperclassmen playing well, and couple it with great contribution from the rest of the team, positive things will happen.”

Weber State was paced in the loss by Schnibbe with 16 points, including a 12-of-14 performance from the free throw line.

Montana State will host Idaho State, Saturday night a 7 p.m., in Worthington Arena.