Ferris Hits Career Highs as Bobcats Fall in Missoula

Saturday, January 17

Missoula, MT

2 p.m.

Montana State University

7-9, 1-4BSC

University of Montana

11-5, 4-1BSC

Team	1	2	F
Montana State	23	25	48
Montana	29	33	62

Peyton Ferris

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

1/17/2015 10:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

“We were fired up to play,” Ferris said. “It was awesome to silence the crowd for a while. We were ready to go and getting out to a start like that was great. It was a battle and a close game; we just need to do a better job keeping the advantage.”

By: Tom Schulz

The Bobcats had their chances. And, despite a career performance by sophomore Peyton Ferris, the Montana State women's basketball team fell to Montana 62-48 in the 98^th Brawl of the Wild, Saturday afternoon in Dahlberg Arena.

It was Montana State (7-9, 1-4) that jumped out early taking an 8-0 advantage following a Kalli Durham jumper at the 15:59 mark.

"We were fired up to play," Ferris said. "It was awesome to silence the crowd for a while. We were ready to go and getting out to a start like that was great. It was a battle and a close game; we just need to do a better job keeping the advantage."

Montana (11-5, 4-1) was able to establish its first lead at the nine-minutes, 38-seconds mark on a Hannah Doran triple. The Lady Griz closed out the half with six unanswered points to take a 29-23 lead at intermission.

In the second stanza, MSU found itself down four points before rattling off a 12-0 to claim a 41-33 lead with 12:25 remaining following a Hannah Caudill three-pointer. The run saw the Bobcats connect on seven-of-11 from the field, and was sparked by Caudill's first triple of the game.

The Bobcats led by eight points with 10:47 left, before Montana went on a 10-0 run to take a 45-43 advantage on a Maggie Rickman layup. Following a Ferris free throw that cut the margin to one point with 6:40 remaining, the Lady Griz reeled off nine points in two minutes and never looked back. UM converted eight-of-ten free throw tosses in the final 1:33 to put the game away.

"It was a combination of them making some runs and us having cold spells," MSU Head Coach Tricia Binford said. "Our defense was pretty solid. We're defeating ourselves right now and it's not so much about our opponent. We need to control our shot selection and decision making and get the turnovers down."

Ferris, a product of Twin Bridges, posted a game and career best 20 points and 12 rebounds for her first career double-double. The 5-9 forward recorded 15 points and seven rebounds in the opening period, and also finished the game with two blocks, an assist and a steal.

"Our offense is designed for post touches and Peyton got it done today," Binford said. "She's been removed from the Cat-Griz rivalry for two years, so she had a lot to play for."

Caudill finished the game with eight points, while MSU's leading scorer Jasmine Hommes, who was hampered in foul trouble, notched six points on three-of-14 from the field.

For the game, Montana State shot 29 percent from the field. UM held a slight 45-42 advantage under the boards and both squads committed 15 turnovers. MSU finished shooting 10-12 from the line, while Montana connected on 23-33 charity tosses.

The Lady Griz was paced by Kayleigh Valley and Kellie Rubel with 12 points, apiece.

Montana State will travel to Southern Utah next Thursday.