Montana State University
Portland State
Bobcat Women Shoot Lights-Out to Pillage Vikings
2/13/2010 9:55:02 PM | Women's Basketball
Six Montana State players hit double-figures as the Bobcats shot 57 percent from the field, en route to an 83-73 win over Portland State, Saturday night in Worthington Arena.
Montana State-Portland State Box (pdf)
Six Montana State players scored in double-figures as the Bobcats shot 57 percent from the field, including a red-hot 60 percent in the second stanza, en route to an 83-73 win over Portland State, Saturday night in Worthington Arena.
“We put two good halves together,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “Portland State hit a three-pointer with 20-seconds left in the first half to go up five, but Ashley Albert answered with a three of her own to keep us within reach at halftime.”
Montana State (13-12, 6-6) trailed 42-40 at intermission, but opened the second half with a 13-5 run sparked by freshman Rachel Semansky and senior Erica Perry with six and four points, respectively.
Portland State (13-11, 7-4) chipped away at the lead to knot the game at 56-all with 13:23 remaining. However, a Semansky layup, followed by a Perry field-goal and an Ashley Albert jumper gave the Bobcats a six-point cushion.
Montana State built its largest lead of the game at 76-63 with 5:11 left on an Albert jumper.
“We switched up our offense a little and did a nice job spreading the floor in the second half,” Binford said. “We remained the aggressors and hit the open shots and got some layups, as well.”
Perry, playing her final game in Worthington Arena, led all scorers with 17 points. She also added seven assists and three steals. Perry's three steals helped her surpass Binford for third place on the all-time Big Sky Conference with 272 career thefts.
Also in double-digits for the Bobcats were Albert 16, Sarah Strand 14, Semansky 13, and Katie Bussey and Lyndi Seidensticker with 10 points, a piece.
PSU held a narrow 35-34 edge under the boards. MSU was led on the glass by Strand with eight rebounds.
Montana State's defense held Portland State to just 37 percent from the field in the second half, and held four of PSU's five starters under double-digit scoring.
The Vikings were paced in the loss by Eryn Jones with 16 points.
MSU, who plays its final four games on the road, will travel to Sacramento State on Thursday.
