Montana State Digs Back, But Badgers Late Surge too much for Bobcats

Friday, November 25

Boulder, CO

5 p.m.

Montana State University

WISCONSIN

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Montana State Digs Back, But Badgers Late Surge too much for Bobcats

11/25/2011 10:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

The Montana State women’s basketball team rallied from a 13-point first half deficit to tie the game midway through the second half, but a late Wisconsin run gave the Badgers a 71-61 victory, Friday night at the University of Colorado Omni Hotels Classic.

By: Tom Schulz

Boxscore: Wisconsin 71, Montana State 61 (pdf)

The Montana State women's basketball team rallied from a 13-point first half deficit to tie the game midway through the second half, but a late Wisconsin run gave the Badgers a 71-61 victory, Friday night at the University of Colorado Omni Hotels Classic.

Montana State (3-2) trailed early 25-12 but cut the margin to seven points at intermission. MSU knotted the score at 42-all in the second stanza on a Katie Bussey three-pointer with 10:39 left. However, Wisconsin (2-4) responded with a 15-5 run over the next five minutes and held the margin down the stretch.

“We didn't come out strong and were unable to get anything going,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “We never had a good flow with our offense and had a hard time finishing things off. We did a good job getting back in the game, but I think we just ran out of energy down the stretch.”

The Bobcats were led by sophomore Ashley Albert, who scored a team-high 20 points, while pulling down eight rebounds. Also in double-figure for MSU were Bussey 19 and Rachel Semansky 13.

For the second straight game, Bobcat back-up point guard Ausha Cole led MSU dishing out a game-high seven assists. MSU center Chelsea Banis, who missed the previous two games with a concussion, finished with four points and four steals.

MSU had a tough time finding the bottom of the basket shooting 38 percent from the field, while going a paltry three-of-20 from beyond the three-point arc. Wisconsin hit at a 46 percent clip and was paced by Taylor Wurtz, who connected for 26 points and nine rebounds.

MSU will face Valparaiso on Saturday in the consolation game at 5 p.m. The Crusaders dropped a 60-32 decision to Colorado in the opening round.