Semansky Helps Bobcat Women Snap Six-Game Streak

Saturday, February 16

Bozeman, MT

2 p.m.

Montana State University

9-7, 15-10BSC

WEBER STATE

0-15, 0-24BSC

Team	1	2	F
Weber State	28	37	65
Montana State	35	34	69

Senior Rachel Semansky posted 28 points and 11 rebounds in MSU's 69-65 win over Weber State, Saturday afternoon.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

2/16/2013 5:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mired in a six-game losing streak and desperately searching for a ladder to climb out of its rut the Montana State women’s basketball team put its weight on the back of senior Rachel Semansky to notch a 69-65 win over Weber State, Saturday afternoon in Shroyer Gym.

By: Tom Schulz

Mired in a six-game losing streak and desperately searching for a ladder to climb out of its rut the Montana State women's basketball team put its weight on the back of senior Rachel Semansky to notch a 69-65 win over Weber State, Saturday afternoon in Shroyer Gym.

Semansky, who took just four shots in MSU's loss to Idaho State on Thursday night, recorded 28 points and 11 rebounds for her 22nd career double-double. The Highwood native connected on 10-of-12 from the floor and went 8-of-12 from the free throw line, while adding three assists and three steals.

“We knew if we wanted to snap the streak and get out of our funk, that it would be the upperclassmen that would have to lead the way,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “We relied heavily on Rachel and we did a nice job getting her the ball. Ashley (Brumwell) and Tish (Adams) also had great performances.”

Brumwell finished with 11 points and six rebounds, while Adams chipped in seven points, five steals and four assists.

The win, however, did not come easy for the Bobcats.

Montana State (15-10, 9-7) started to click at the five-minute mark of the opening stanza, rattling off a 13-2 run to take a 35-24 lead following an Adams layup with 1:33 remaining in the half. MSU held a 36-28 advantage at intermission.

“I thought we established a nice tempo during the run and we were active on defense and forced them to turn the ball over,” Binford said.

The Bobcats parlayed 15 Weber State (0-24, 0-15) miscues into 17 points in the opening period.

MSU built its largest lead at 62-44 with 7:41 left in the contest, following a pair of Lexi Dawkins free throws.

Seconds later, the monkey, clad in purple, black and white, entered the gym.

WSU went on an 18-2 run over the next four minutes to close to within 64-62 with 3:01 remaining, following a Kia Rhodes layup.

MSU responded getting Semansky the ball on the post and her bucket pushed the lead back to four points. A Rhodes free throw cut the margin to three, but an Adams charity toss, coupled by a wide-open fast break layup via Semansky with 12-seconds left secured the win.

“I went into the locker room and took my jacket off,” Binford said. “The monkey is no longer on our back. We had a lot of errors down the stretch and Weber State was playing well, but when things got tight, our upperclassmen stepped-up. We are at our best when we are unselfish and aggressive. We had longer stretches where we were playing Bobcat basketball, and that's something we need to expand on.”

For the game, MSU shot 46 percent from the field and held a 40-29 advantage in rebounding. The Bobcats committed 25 turnovers, with seven coming in the final seven minutes. MSU recorded 17 assists and had 16 steals.

Weber State was led by Regina Okoye with 16 points and four rebounds.

Montana State will be idle until it hosts Montana, March 2 in Worthington Arena.