Montana State University
Florida International
Seidensticker leads Montana State women to first win of season
11/14/2010 5:42:49 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State senior Lyndi Seidensticker continued her hot hand at the World Vision Invitational in Waco, Texas, notching a game-high 23 points and lifting the Bobcats to a 58-57 win over Florida International, Sunday afternoon.
Montana State senior Lyndi Seidensticker continued her hot hand at the World Vision Invitational in Waco, Texas, notching a game-high 23 points and lifting the Bobcats to a 58-57 win over Florida International, Sunday afternoon.
Seidensticker, a 6-foot guard from Spokane, Wash., connected on nine-of-15 from the field, including a five-of-eight performance from three-point range. Seidensticker's field-goal with 18-seconds remaining in the game sealed the win for the Bobcats.
Seidensticker finished the three-game tournament averaging 19.3 points and connecting on 12 3-pointers.
“Lyndi played like the senior she is,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “We expect that from both her and Sarah (Balian). She really stepped up and had an outstanding weekend.”
Despite shooting just 26 percent from the field in the first half, Montana State (1-2) held a 28-23 advantage at intermission.
In the second stanza, the Bobcats built a 56-46 lead with 3:43 left on a Chelsea Banis bucket.
Florida International (1-2) scored nine unanswered points to pull within 56-55 on a Rakia Rodgers jumper with 42-seconds remaining.
Seidensticker then scored her final basket to push MSU's margin to three-points, before a Liene Jekabsone field-goal at the buzzer gave the Bobcats the one-point victory.
MSU played without the services of sophomore forward and starter Rachel Semansky who was out with the flu.
“Losing Ashley (Albert, ACL tear) earlier in the week and then not having Rachel for the FIU game really challenged us,” Binford said. “I'm proud of the way we came together and battled this weekend.
“We need to get some rest,” Binford said. “We have a list of things we need to work on, especially finishing out a game, but overall, I'm happy with our opening weekend.”
Also finishing in double-figures for the Bobcats was Chelsea Banis with 15 points on seven-of-12 from the floor. The redshirt freshman from Fairfield also added six rebounds.
For the game, FIU out-rebounded the Bobcats 45-40. MSU was paced under the glass by Balian with a game-high 13 boards.
The Bobcats will travel to Southern Utah on Friday.
