Five Bobcats Reach Double-Figures in Win over Portland

Sunday, December 11

Portland, OR

1 p.m.

Montana State University

6-3

Portland

2-8

Montana State

Portland

Freshman Blaire Braxton pulls down a rebound.

Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

12/11/2016 5:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

“When you look at this game start to finish it was not our most perfect game,” Binford said. “But I’m sure proud of the way we finished and the lift we received from our bench.”

By: Tom Schulz

Sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For 12^th year head coach Tricia Binford, she would be the first to say her squad's performance on Sunday wasn't pretty, but it was enough for Montana State to record a 70-66 win over the University of Portland, its third victory over a West Coast Conference team this season.

"When you look at this game start to finish it was not our most perfect game," Binford said. "But I'm sure proud of the way we finished and the lift we received from our bench."

In a game that featured seven ties and nine lead changes, Montana State (6-3) built a 34-30 advantage at intermission behind nine points from senior Peyton Ferris. MSU held as much as a 10-point lead on a three-pointer via Riley Nordgaard at the 7:26 mark of the second stanza.

The Bobcats held its four-point cushion as Margreet Barhoum converted a layup as the third quarter ended.

Portland opened the final frame on a 12-3 run to take a 58-53 lead with 5:56 remaining. MSU responded with six straight points to retake the lead on an Annika Lai jumper.

Darian Slaga, who entered the game as the Pilots' leading scorer, hit a three-pointer coming out of a time out with 2:37 left to give UP a two-point margin at 61-59. Barhoum quickly answered with a triple, followed by Lai steal and basket. Riley Nordgaard connected on a 3-pointer on MSU's next trip down the court to give the Bobcats a six-point lead. Nordgaard's two free throws with 15-seconds remaining secured the MSU victory.

"The fact that our bench came in and really got us settled was probably the W of the game," Binford said. "The credit goes to the bench as they really stepped-up. Margreet coming in was a huge life for us, Annika Lai was a huge lift and Madeline Smith hit a big shot coming down the stretch. Sometimes, when the starters get a little bit rattled, it's nice to have that depth to go with to finish it."

Ferris led five Bobcat players in double-figures with a game-high 17 points, while Nordgaard 13, Junkermier 12, Barhoum 10 and Lai 10 added to the MSU attack. Montana State also had its best performance of the season connecting on nine-of-15 attempts from beyond the three-point line.

"I definitely thought the threes we took were rhythm shots," Binford said. "They were definitely within the offense of what we did and weren't necessarily forced by any means. We had some kids knock down some big shots."

MSU finished the contest shooting 38 percent from the field and 81 percent from the line, converting 17-21 charity tosses. The Bobcats held a slim 37-36 advantage under the board as Ferris and Blaire Braxton paced MSU with nine and seven rebounds, respectively.

Portland was led by Slaga with 17 points, including a three-of-six effort from long distance.

MSU will conclude its non-conference schedule when it hosts Cal Poly on Dec. 20 in Worthington Arena.