Montana State University
Sacramento State
Bobcat Hoopsters Head to SacTown
2/17/2010 2:06:06 PM | Women's Basketball
The Montana State women's basketball team will play a single game this week, Thursday night at Sacramento State
WEEKLY NOTES (pdf)
ON THE DOCKET: The Montana State women's basketball team will begin a four-game road swing to close out the 2010 Big Sky Conference season, beginning at Sacramento State on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 8:05 p.m. (MST) in Hornet Gym. The Bobcats will play at Montana on Feb. 27, and then close out the regular-season at Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona, March 4 & 6, respectively.
ON THE AIR: Tyler Wiltgen, voice of the MSU women's basketball team, will broadcast both games this weekend on My 103.5 FM. Wiltgen will begin his broadcast at 6:45 p.m., and will conclude with head coach Tricia Binford following the contest.
The B2 NETWORK: All Montana State home games, as well as, Big Sky Conference contests will be video-streamed - free of charge - at www.B2tv.com or msubobcats.com.
'CAT CHAT: Montana State has won four of its last five Big Sky Conference games...MSU is currently 13-12 overall and 6-6 in Big Sky Conference action, after dropping a 71-64 decision to league-leading Eastern Washington on Thursday and rebounding with an 83-73 win over Portland State on Saturday night...The Bobcats (6-6) are sitting in a tie for fifth place with Idaho State in the Big Sky Conference standings, behind Eastern Washington (8-3), Montana (8-4), Portland State (7-4) and Sacramento State (6-4).
RAIN DROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD: Montana State has rattled off a nice winning streak, posting four victories in its last five contests since the infamous 'Rain Delay' game against Northern Colorado on Jan. 30. The winning streak includes decisions over UNC, Idaho State, Weber State and Portland State, respectively.
THE DISH ON TRISH: (62-79 Overall in 5th Year; 35-39 Big Sky in 5th Year) Tricia Binford is in her fifth season at Montana State. She became the 11th women's basketball coach at MSU on April 13, 2005. Prior to MSU, Binford, served two seasons as an assis¬tant at Utah State. At USU, Binford earned her coaching wings as the Aggies re-established its program following a 16-year hiatus. Binford also served as an assistant coach at her alma mater- Boise State University from 1999-2001. Binford was the 31st overall pick in the 1998 WNBA draft, and played professionally with the Cleveland Rockers from 1999-02, where she participated on the 2001 Eastern Conference Championship team. She played with the Utah Starzz from 1998-99. Binford played professionally in Australia for two years, including stints in the NWBL's Brisbane Blazers, Latrobe Demons and Launceston Tornadoes. As Tricia Bader, she was a three-time All-Big Sky selection at BSU and led the Broncos to a national ranking and the NCAA tournament. Binford was a member of the 1993 West Team at the US Olympic Festival. For her efforts, she was the 1996 Idaho NCAA Woman of the Year and was inducted in the Boise State Hall of Fame in 2001. Binford left BSU with the career assists record and was second in steals. She had 1,171 career points. Binford prepped at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, Colo., where she was the Colorado Player of the Year and a Street and Smith's All-American in 1991. She received her degree in crimi¬nal justice from Boise State in 1995. Binford and her husband Todd, have a son (Justin), and a daughter (Brooklyn). Binford is joined on the bench by Associate Head Coach Amy Saneholtz, who is in her fifth year, and assistants Justin Scanson (4th Year) and Mandy Close (2nd Year).
THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS: Montana State split a pair of Big Sky Conference games in their final appearance in Worthington Arena for the 2010 campaign. On Thursday night, the Bobcats overcame an 11-point first half deficit to stake a 48-40 advantage with 10:30 remaining against league-leading Eastern Washington. With the score tied at 62-all with 1:48 left, the Eagles out-scored the Bobcats 9-2 down the stretch for the win. Senior Erica Perry paced MSU with a game-high 22 points, while Katie Bussey also hit double-figures with 10 points. Montana State rebounded from its loss to Eastern Washington with a solid 83-73 victory over Portland State on Saturday night. Six MSU players reached double-digits, led by Perry 17, Ashley Albert 16, Sarah Strand 14, Rachel Semansky 13, and Bussey and Lyndi Seidensticker with 10 points, apiece. Perry, playing on 'Senior Night,' also added a season-high seven assists, along with three steals and three rebounds. For the game, MSU shot 57 percent from the field and hit a red-hot 60 percent (18-30) in the second stanza. The Bobcats also shot 50 percent (8-16) from beyond the arc.
TO CATCH A THIEF: Last winter, MSU point guard Erica Perry finished first in Big Sky action in steals per game, averaging 2.75 per contest. The mark also ranked her 63rd in the nation at the NCAA Division I level. For her career, the Lynwood, Calif., native has posted 272 steals, which ranks 2nd all-time at MSU. Perry is 69 thefts shy of the Bobcats' all-time mark of 340, held by Liz Holz (1986-89).
A LENDING HAND: Montana State point guard Erica Perry was sixth in the Big Sky in assists per game, averaging 3.69 per outing. Perry's career total of 395 assists ranks her fifth on the all-time Bobcat chart. Perry needs 49 assists this season to break the all-time career mark of 443 held by Vicki Heebner (1980-84).
GET TO THE POINT: Erica Perry became the 15th player in MSU history to reach the 1000-point plateau. Perry reached the milestone in the first meeting with Idaho State (Jan. 2) and presently sits 11th on the all-time scoring list 1,137 career points. A four-year starter, she is averaging 13 points and 3.4 rebounds, while dishing out 3.2 assists in 25 games. Perry recorded a career high 28 points at Pacific, connecting on 8-13 from the field and 10-13 from the line. The first-team All-Big Sky pick is shooting 42 percent from the field and 77 percent from the stripe. Last weekend, Perry averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 49 percent (18-37) from the field. She had her best scoring game of the weekend against league-leading Eastern Washington with 22 points, and on 'Senior Night' led the Bobcats to a ten-point win over Portland State with 17 points, seven assists, three steals and three rebounds. Her three steals moved her into third on the all-time Big Sky career chart, surpassing by one steal, her current head coach Tricia (Bader) Binford.
HOP ON THE BUS: Sophomore Katie Bussey leads the Bobcats in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per outing. In addition, she is first on the team with 59 three-pointers, while shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc- which is also 29th in the nation. Last weekend, Bussey averaged 10 points and connected on three 3-pointers. On the season, the 2008-09 Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year is the top scoring sophomore in the Big Sky, and is also chipping in 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per contest. Bussey posted a career-high 30 points and six 3-pointers at Pacific. She has been in double-digit scoring in 21 of MSU's 25 games. Her current streak of 10 consecutive double-figures games is tops in the Big Sky. Bussey's 59 three-pointers on the season, ranks fifth on MSU's all-time single-season list.
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE: Sarah Strand is third on the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game, while leading the squad in rebounding, averaging 7.2 boards per outing. In all, the native of Shoreline, Wash., has posted 21 double-figure scoring games. Strand averaged a double-double last weekend at 11.5 points and 11 rebounds. She is also the top blocker on the team and in Big Sky action at 2.0 per contest. With two blocks at Weber State, Strand became MSU's all-time single-season record-holder (50), surpassing Alaina Bauer, who had 44 swats during the 1987-88 campaign. Strand's 2.0 blocks per game output is also 35th in the nation. Strand also has 99 career blocks, which is second best all-time in Bobcat history.
THE PRIDE OF HIGHWOOD: Rachel Semansky of defending Montana Class C champion Highwood High has found herself playing a major role this winter. With the early season in-jury to senior Jamie Thornton, the 6-0 forward has played in all 25 games, including 16 starts. In league play, Semansky is currently averaging 8.9 points and 6.9 rebounds, while shooting 58 percent from the field, which ranks 2nd in the BSC. Semansky posted a career-high 16 points, while pulling down 11 rebounds in MSU's win over Weber State, two weeks ago. For the weekend, Semansky averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
NASTY IF YOU WILL: Janette Jackson has played a major role in MSU's recent winning ways since being inserted into the starting line-up against Northern Colorado. The sophomore transfer from Missouri State is averaging 2.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22 games. Jackson's numbers jump to 3.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 10 Big Sky contests to date. In the Bobcats' win at Idaho State, Jackson recorded a career-high 12 points, hitting three field-goals and converting six-of-six from the charity stripe. Last weekend, Jackson pulled down five rebounds against E. Washington and had three steals in MSU's win over Portland State.
STICK IT TO 'EM: Lyndi Seidensticker has played in all 25 games to date, including eleven starts. The junior from Spokane is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 6.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Stick notched a career-high 21 points against Montana on Jan. 23, which included five three-pointers. One of MSU's top outside threats, Seidensticker is second on the squad with 29 triples on the season. Last weekend, she averaged 8.0 points and connected for three 3-pointers.
THE HAMILTON HOOPSTER: Ashley Albert has settled into her freshman season and is becoming one of Montana State's top bench players. The graduate of Hamilton High School is averaging 6.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. In addition, Albert is fourth on the squad with 12 3-pointers and first in free throw percentage, shooting 85 percent from the line. Last weekend, Albert averaged 9.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. She had her best outing of the weekend in MSU's win over Portland State with seasonbest 16 points on six-of-eight from the field, including a pair of three-pointers. Albert also added three rebounds, two blocks and an assist against the Vikings.
ALLY OOP: Ally Schmitt has played in all 25 games, including starts in the nine contests. Last weekend, Schmitt averaged seven minutes per game. A graduate of Snohomish High School in Washington, Schmitt is averaging 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
MILES FROM POLAND: Junior college transfer Beata Bak has played in all 25 games, including four starts. The native of Stalowa Wola, Poland, and transfer from Miles Community College, is sixth on the team in scoring, averaging 6.5 points, and is third in rebounding at 4.6 boards per contest. In addition, Bak is second on the team and 91st in the nation in blocks, averaging 1.5 swats per game. Last weekend, she posted eight points and pulled down three rebounds in MSU's loss to Eastern Washington.
SWISHA: Latisha Adams came in during the waning moments in MSU's win over Portland State on Saturday night. The graduate of West Mesa High in Albuquerque, NM, is averaging 1.0 point and 0.9 rebound per game in 17 outings to date. Adams had her best outing against MSU Northern, notching a season-high 11 points on five-of-six shooting.
DO THE MATH: Senior Jamie Thornton, who started the first five games for Montana State and sat out 11 games with an MCL injury suffered in the first minute of action against Southern Utah, returned to the Bobcat line-up at Eastern Washington on Jan. 9 in Cheney. Thornton has steadily upped her minutes of action, posting eight in the rematch with EWU on Thursday night. Thornton registered three rebounds and two points against the Eagles.
NOTING THE 'CATS: Montana State is 16th in the country in blocked shots, averaging 5.5 per game...the Bobcats are 38th in the nation in scoring, pouring in 71.9 points per contest...The 'Cats are also ranked among the nation's best in field-goal percent, 61st, 42.5; free throw percentage, 72nd, 71.9; and three-point field-goal makes, 81st, 6.1...MSU ranks first in the Big Sky Conference in field-goal percentage, blocks, defensive rebound percentage, and in league only games, rebound margin...Katie Bussey is 1st in the Big Sky in 3-point makes and 3-point field goal percentage...Sarah Strand is first in blocks and third in rebounding at 8.8 boards per game in league contests...freshman Rachel Semansky is second in field goal percentage and offensive reboungs, while Erica Perry ranks first in steals at 2.7 in BSC games.
OUTSTANDING IN HER FIELD: Montana State basketball standout Sarah Strand was named to the 2010 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Women's Basketball District VII All-Academic First-Team. By virtue of being named to the first-team, Strand's name will appear on the national ballot for Academic All-America honors. Strand, a 6-1 forward from Shoreline, Wash., is currently averaging 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. In addition, she is tied for the all-time Montana State single-season blocks record. Strand has also posted 19 double-figure scoring games this winter. Off the court, the junior has a 3.93 grade-point average in nursing and is a three-time All-Big Sky Conference Academic honoree. "Sarah has really set the bar for the type of student-athlete we want in our program," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "She is a tremendous player, a fantastic student and an outstanding person." Strand was one of five players named to the first-team. District VII encompasses NCAA Division I schools from Montana, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alberta and Saskatchewan. "When you look at the size of district VII, this honor is quite an accomplishment," Binford said. "She was competing against student-athletes from conferences such as the Atlantic 10, Big Sky, Big 12, Big 10, Mountain West, Missouri Valley and the Summit League. To make the top five is something we're very proud of." Also named to the District VII All-Academic team were Kari Kincaid, Kansas State, Kellie Nelson, Creighton, Sam Schuett, Creighton and Ashley Sweat, Kansas State. Strand was the only Big Sky Conference player named to a district first-team squad. Kyla Evans of Eastern Washington garnered District VIII second-team accolades. The national Academic All-America team will be announced Feb. 23.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS: Sacramento State is the hottest team in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets, who are 11-12 overall and 6-4 in Big Sky play, opened the league slate losing its first four games. Since its last loss against Montana State (95-86) on Jan.16, Sacramento State has rattled off a seven game win streak, going 6-0 in Big Sky action. The Hornets played non-conference foe Pacific last weekend and came away with a 95-81 victory. Charday Hunt paced Sac State with 20 points, while Erika Edwards added a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds. On the season, Hunt has led the Hornets averaging 18.1 points and 5.7 rebounds, per contest. Also in double-digits is Emily Christensen at 13.1 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Four Hornet players average bewteen 8.4 - 9.4 points, as well. Sacramento State possesses the most potent offense in the league, averaging 78.1 points per game, but gives up 82 points to its opponents. Head coach Jamie Craighead is in her first season with the Hornets, after serving as an assistant coach under Dan Muscatell. In the first meeting between the Bobcats and Hornets, MSU received double-digit scoring from five players, including Katie Bussey 21, and Lyndi Seidensticker 19. Sacramento State was paced by Christensen and Tika Koshiyama-Diaz with 19 points, apiece.
2008-09 BOBCAT HIGHLIGHTS: For the fourth consecutive year the Montana State women's basketball team ranked among the nation's finest in terms of academics at the NCAA Division I level. Last season, MSU was listed 4th overall for team grade-point average. Seven Bobcat players earned Big Sky Conference All-Academic honors. Included on the list were Katie Bussey, Nubia Garcia, Mara Hoeffer, Lyndi Seidensticker, Anne Phippard, Sarah Strand, and Jamie Thornton.....The MSU women's basketball team has posted six winning seasons in the last nine years and have notched 14 winning campaigns in the last 19 years. The Bobcats have also made 16 Big Sky Conference tournament appearances in the 21-year history of the league.....Montana State has made three postseason appearances. The 1992-93 squad lost to the University of Washington in the first-round of the 1993 NCAA Championships...MSU has made two WNIT appearances. The 1987-88 squad faced New Orleans, Ole Miss and UNLV, while the 2002-03 Bobcats were defeated by Colorado State.....Current sophomore Katie Bussey was named the 2008-09 Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year. The native of Alamosa, Colo., finished her first season with the Bobcats averaging 10.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 38 percent from the floor and 78 percent from the free throw line. In addition, she led the Bobcats with 38 three-pointers. Bussey is only the second Bobcat to garner the league's honor for rookies. The other MSU standout was Jennifer Curl in 1999.....During the Tricia Binford era at Montana State, the Bobcats have enjoyed an increase in attendance. Last winter, MSU averaged 1,660 fans per game, which ranked second in the Big Sky Conference. Montana State has a season-high 3,767 in attendance for the annual 'Cat-Griz clash in Worthington Arena.....The Bobcats ranked 13th in the nation in scoring offense at 74.1 points per game. MSU also finished 48th in the nation in free throw percentage at 73.2 percent.....The Bobcats had two all-league performers last winter. Erica Perry garnered first-team accolades, while Nubia Garcia was named to the second-team.
