Bobcat Women Hang with Big Dawgs

Tuesday, December 20

Las Vegas, NV

3:30 p.m.

Montana State University

#13 GEORGIA

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

12/20/2011 7:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

With five-minutes and 54-seconds left in the game, the Montana State women’s basketball team trailed No. 13 Georgia by just six points.

By: Tom Schulz

#13 Georgia v. Montana State Box (pdf)

With five-minutes and 54-seconds left in the game, the Montana State women's basketball team trailed No. 13 Georgia by just six points.

Following a MSU timeout, the Bulldogs flexed its muscle with a 10-2 run to put the game out of reach as Georgia (9-2) posted a 63-49 win over the Bobcats, Tuesday afternoon in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic in South Point Arena.

“Considering our cold shooting and turnovers, I'm very proud of this team and the way they competed against one of the top programs in the nation,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “A game like this showed the kids what they're capable of; they were not intimidated and gave a good fight.”

Montana State (7-4) was paced for the second straight game by Rachel Semansky, who posted a game-high 15 points, while pulling down five rebounds and chipping in five steals.

“Rachel is a worker,” Binford said. “She was all over the court and was beating them down the floor.”

Ashley Albert finished with nine points, while Ausha Cole and Katie Bussey recorded seven points, apiece.

Montana State's zone was stingy in the opening period as the Bulldogs were held scoreless for a five-minute stretch in the waning moments of the stanza. Georgia scored five-points in the final 50-seconds to take a 33-22 advantage at intermission.

For the game, MSU shot 39 percent from the field, but connected on just three-of-18 attempts from long distance. Georgia won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding the Bobcats 40-32. Montana State was led under the glass by Semansky, Cole and Chelsea Banis with five each.

The Bobcats committed 23 turnovers, but also forced 21 Georgia miscues.

“I thought we did a nice job with the zone, especially in the rebounding department, Binford said. “We know our strengths and weaknesses, but we are getting close to the level where we want the program to be.”

Georgia was paced by Jasmine Hassell with 13 points and seven rebounds.

MSU will host North Dakota on Thursday night, Dec. 22 at 6:05 p.m. in Worthington Arena.