Bobcats Rally From 17-Point Second-Half Deficit; Fall in Overtime

Monday, February 3

Missoula, MT

7 p.m.

Montana State University

11-8, 6-4BSC

University of Montana

13-6, 7-3BSC

OT 1

Montana State

Montana

Sophomore Jasmine Hommes led MSU with 17 points against Montana, including scoring 13 consecutive points to get the Bobcats in to overtime against the Lady Griz on Monday night in Dahlberg Arena.

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

Bobcats Rally From 17-Point Second-Half Deficit; Fall in Overtime

2/3/2014 11:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Montana State staged one of the program’s greatest come backs in its second-half against Montana to force overtime, before eventually falling to the Lady Griz 84-79, Monday night in Dahlberg Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State staged one of the program's greatest come backs in its second-half against Montana to force overtime, before eventually falling to the Lady Griz 84-79, Monday night in Dahlberg Arena.

Down 50-33 with 11:58 remaining, Montana State (11-8, 6-4) chipped away at the lead closing to within 58-54 on an old-fashion three-point play by Jackie Elliott with 2:45 left.

Montana (13-6, 7-3) held a five-point advantage following a Torry Hill free throw with 42-seconds left, before MSU sophomore Jasmine Hommes answered converting a pair of free throws with thirty-seconds remaining to get the Bobcats to within three points.

UM junior Kellie Cole was fouled by Elliott and went to the line with 26-seconds remaining, but converted one of two free throws to give the Lady Griz a four-point cushion. The Bobcats quickly got the ball down court and Ausha Cole found Jasmine Hommes who nailed a triple to pull the Bobcats to within 66-65 with 11-seconds left.

Again, Cole was fouled and went one-of-two from the line. Following a timeout, MSU got the ball in Hommes' hand and the Lynden, Wash., product scored the basket on a dump pass from Cole.

"Offensively, we were cold in the first half, but we kept ourselves in the game," MSU head coach Tricia Binford said. "When we got down 17-points we challenged the kids and told them they had to decide on whether or not the game was over. And, they responded.

"Ausha attacked and we got some things out of our press to give ourselves a chance," Binford added. "I'm proud of our effort. The improvement on the boards and taking care of the ball are a big step forward. We came out great in overtime, but defensively, we just didn't get the stops we needed and came up short."

In the overtime period, a Kalli Durham three-pointer followed by an Ashley Brumwell jumper gave MSU a five-point lead at the 4:10 mark. The Bobcats maintained a five-point advantage following an Elliott three-pointer with 3:22 remaining, but Montana fought back with an 8-2 run to re-establish the lead with 1:27 left. With 27-seconds remaining, Brumwell converted a pair of charity tosses to get MSU to within 80-79, but UM closed out the game on two Hill free throws and a jumper by Cole.

Hommes led four Bobcats in double-figures with 17 points, while Durham added 15, and Brumwell and Cole with 12 each. For the game, MSU shot 34 percent from the field and connected on 20-23 free throws.

MSU, who was out-rebounded by an average of 15 boards in its last two outings, saw an improvement on the glass despite UM holding a 53-49 edge under the boards. The Bobcats were led by Elliott with 11 rebounds.

Hill paced Montana with a game-high 23 points.

MSU will play at Eastern Washington on Thursday.