Saturday, November 12
Salt Lake City
2 p.m.
Montana State University
0-1, 0-0Big Sky
64
at
74
Utah
1-0, 0-0Pac-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana State | 18 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 64 |
| Utah | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 74 |
Sophomore Annika Lai
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Women Come Up Short in Opener
11/12/2016 6:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Montana State women’s basketball team picked up where it left off last season, this time with much better results. Utah defeated the Bobcats 95-61 last March in the first-round of the WNIT. In the season-opener for both squads on Saturday afternoon, the Utes escaped with a 74-64 victory in Huntsman Center.
The Montana State women's basketball team picked up where it left off last season, this time with much better results. Utah defeated the Bobcats 95-61 last March in the first-round of the WNIT. In the season-opener for both squads on Saturday afternoon, the Utes escaped with a 74-64 victory in Huntsman Center.
Led by senior Peyton Ferris' 18 points and nine rebounds and freshman Oliana Squire' 15 points the Bobcats matched Utah at 18-all after the opening quarter. Montana State (0-1) held a 29-26 lead at the 3:25 mark of the second stanza following a pair of Ferris free throws, but the Utes closed out the half on a 9-2 run to take a 35-31 advantage into intermission.
"This may be the biggest and most athletic team we will face," said MSU 12th year head coach Tricia Binford. "I felt we really battled on the glass and matched their physicality."
Tied at 37-all in the third quarter, Utah (1-0) scored ten straight points and held a 54-47 cushion heading into the final stanza.
Utah built its largest lead of the game at 69-52 with 3:31 remaining, before the Cats whittled the lead down to 69-62 on a Ferris jumper. MSU would get no closer down the stretch.
"Utah had an opportunity to break away and I was very proud of our resilience and never give up mentality to tighten it back up," Binford commented.
Montana State finished the game shooting 27 percent from the field and an icy 14 percent from beyond the arc. However, the Bobcats connected on 21-23 attempts from the free throw line. Utah finished shooting 34.4 percent from the floor and converted 26-33 tosses from the charity stripe.
"Neither team shot the ball particularly well," Binford said. "Both defenses really controlled the game. Utah's pressure in the back court dictated some of our quick offensive shots. We need to grow in the area of taking the shots we want."
Also in double-digits for MSU was Annika Lai with 12 points and five rebounds. Freshman Blaire Braxton paced the Bobcats under the glass with a team-high 11 rebounds, while chipping in eight points and four blocks. Junior point-guard Hannah Caudill dished out five assists.
"Blaire played really well with a tremendously tough assignment," Binford said. "Oliana came in and sparked us in the first half. I thought Annika had a great game and showed a lot of aggressiveness.
"As a team, we will grow in our composure in making the extra pass," Binford added. "That is when we are at our best."
Utah was led by 6-foot-7 post player Emily Potter who finished with 21 points and ten rebounds.
MSU will play at Utah State on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. in Logan.
Led by senior Peyton Ferris' 18 points and nine rebounds and freshman Oliana Squire' 15 points the Bobcats matched Utah at 18-all after the opening quarter. Montana State (0-1) held a 29-26 lead at the 3:25 mark of the second stanza following a pair of Ferris free throws, but the Utes closed out the half on a 9-2 run to take a 35-31 advantage into intermission.
"This may be the biggest and most athletic team we will face," said MSU 12th year head coach Tricia Binford. "I felt we really battled on the glass and matched their physicality."
Tied at 37-all in the third quarter, Utah (1-0) scored ten straight points and held a 54-47 cushion heading into the final stanza.
Utah built its largest lead of the game at 69-52 with 3:31 remaining, before the Cats whittled the lead down to 69-62 on a Ferris jumper. MSU would get no closer down the stretch.
"Utah had an opportunity to break away and I was very proud of our resilience and never give up mentality to tighten it back up," Binford commented.
Montana State finished the game shooting 27 percent from the field and an icy 14 percent from beyond the arc. However, the Bobcats connected on 21-23 attempts from the free throw line. Utah finished shooting 34.4 percent from the floor and converted 26-33 tosses from the charity stripe.
"Neither team shot the ball particularly well," Binford said. "Both defenses really controlled the game. Utah's pressure in the back court dictated some of our quick offensive shots. We need to grow in the area of taking the shots we want."
Also in double-digits for MSU was Annika Lai with 12 points and five rebounds. Freshman Blaire Braxton paced the Bobcats under the glass with a team-high 11 rebounds, while chipping in eight points and four blocks. Junior point-guard Hannah Caudill dished out five assists.
"Blaire played really well with a tremendously tough assignment," Binford said. "Oliana came in and sparked us in the first half. I thought Annika had a great game and showed a lot of aggressiveness.
"As a team, we will grow in our composure in making the extra pass," Binford added. "That is when we are at our best."
Utah was led by 6-foot-7 post player Emily Potter who finished with 21 points and ten rebounds.
MSU will play at Utah State on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. in Logan.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballTeam Stats
MSU
UTAH
FG%
.274
.344
3FG%
.143
.235
FT%
.913
.788
RB
47
54
TO
14
18
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
9
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
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