Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Backcourt Sparks MSU’s Win over Lumberjacks
1/14/2012 5:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Montana State backcourt trio of Katie Bussey, Kalli Durham and Latisha Adams combined for 49 points and provided a needed spark to lift the Bobcats to a 77-65 win over Northern Arizona, Saturday afternoon in Worthington Arena.
The Montana State backcourt trio of Katie Bussey, Kalli Durham and Latisha Adams combined for 49 points and provided a needed spark to lift the Bobcats to a 77-65 win over Northern Arizona, Saturday afternoon in Worthington Arena.
Bussey, who had been mired in a shooting slump, scored seven points in the final minute of the opening period and the first five points of the second stanza to push an 8-point halftime cushion to a 40-27 Bobcat advantage a minute into the final half.
Montana State (11-6, 3-2) held a 15-point margin with 16:41 remaining before Northern Arizona (5-13, 0-6) rattled off a 17-2 run to even the score at 46-all with 10:39 left.
A Chelsea Banis layup, combined with two Adams free throws and a Durham three-pointer gave the Bobcats a 53-46 advantage and the spark they needed to expand the lead down the stretch. Durham's third triple of the game put MSU up by nine points at the 7:33 mark. Bussey then converted 8-of-8 free throws in the final minute to secure the win.
“It was concerning when Northern Arizona tied the game and we found ourselves in a similar position as the last two games,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “But this time, we found our energy down the stretch and got a big boost from Kalli Durham to put the game away.”
Bussey finished with a game and season-high 26 points, including matching the MSU school mark held by Cass Bauer (1993) going 12-of-12 from the line. Also in double-digits were Durham 13 and Adams 10.
For the game, the Bobcats shot 37 percent from the field and held a 46-35 advantage under the boards. MSU junior Rachel
Semansky recorded a game and career-high 18 rebounds, while Bussey and Adams added six apiece.
“We stressed getting back to Montana State basketball, and I think we made a good step in that direction,” Binford said.
“We did a better job taking shots in the flow of the game and did a nice job of knocking down the open look.”
NAU was paced in the loss by Tyler Stephens-Jenkins with 19 points.
MSU will play at Sacramento State next Thursday.
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