Bobcats Tip-Off Season at Seattle U

Friday, November 13

Seattle, WA

4:30 p.m.

Montana State University

Seattle University

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

11/12/2015 3:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

The 2015-16 edition of Montana State women’s basketball will open its season at Seattle U, Friday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. (MST) in historic Key Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

SEASON OPENER:
The 2015-16 edition of Montana State women's basketball will open its season at Seattle U, Friday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. (MST) in historic Key Arena. The Bobcats will conclude its first road-trip of the non-conference at the University of Nevada, Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. (MST) in the Lawlor Events Center in Reno. Reno is also the site for the 2016 Big Sky Conference Tournament, March 7-12. Head coach Tricia Binford is in her 11th season at the helm of the MSU women's basketball program, and welcomes back nine letterwinners, including three starters - Jasmine Hommes, Alexa Dawkins and Lindsay Stockton.

THIS WEEKEND'S VITALS:
Seattle U, led by legendary women's basketball coach Joan Bonvicini, opens with MSU on Friday, before traveling to Montana on Sunday to face the Lady Griz in Dahlberg Arena in Missoula. Bonvicini is closing in on 700 career victories. She is currently tenth on the all-time NCAA Division I active win list with 692 victories. Bonvicini led Long Beach State to back-to-back NCAA Division I Final Four appearances in 1987 and 88, and was the 1981 NCAA Division I Coach of the Year. Montana State and Seattle U have met eight times, with the Redhawks owning a 5-3 advantage. The Bobcats won the last meeting between the two squads 74-61 in Bozeman on Nov. 23, 2014. Nevada is also coached by a notable mentor. Jane Albright is in her 32nd year of coaching and her eighth at Nevada. She is honing in on 500 career wins and sits at 496 heading into the Wolf Pack's opener against San Diego on Friday. Albright has coached at UN, Wichita State, Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. She led the Badgers to the 2000 WNIT title. Montana State and Nevada have met 11 times with the Bobcats holding a 10-1 lead in the series. The two teams faced each other often when the Wolf Pack were members of the Big Sky Conference. The last meeting between MSU and UN was March 7, 1992 as the Bobcats defeated the Wolf Pack 80-63 in Reno.

OPENING DAY HISTORY:
Montana State is 25-14 all-time in season-openers dating back to the 1976-77 season. Under the direction of Tricia Binford, the Bobcats are 6-4 in its first game of the year. Last season, the Bobcats dropped the opener 75-60 at Boise State, but bounced back two days later with a 63-47 win at Cal State Fullerton.