Bobcats Host Cal Poly Tuesday

Tuesday, December 20

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Cal Poly

Tickets

Junior Hannah Caudill goes up for two.

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

12/19/2016 1:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball

WBB GAME NOTES

With finals week under its belt, the Montana State women’s basketball team will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 20 when it hosts Cal Poly at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The game marks the end of MSU’s non-conference schedule.

By: Tom Schulz

CAL POLY (4-6, 0-0 Big West) at MONTANA STATE (6-3, 0-0 Big Sky)
                        Date:                            Dec. 20, 2016
                        Tipoff:                           7 p.m. (MST)
                        Site:                             Worthington Arena (4,500) * Bozeman, MT
                        Radio:                          1450 KMMS-AM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
                        Live Video: WatchBigSky.com
                        Live Stats:                    bobcatstats.com

NEXT UP: With finals week under its belt, the Montana State women's basketball team will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 20 when it hosts Cal Poly at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The game marks the end of MSU's non-conference schedule.

ON A SERIES NOTE: The Bobcats and the Mustangs have met just twice. MSU won the first meeting on Jan. 1, 1996 70-57 in San Luis Obispo. The two squads met last season - also in San Luis Obispo - on Nov. 28 with the Mustangs earning a 66-57 decision. In that game, the Bobcats were led by Riley Nordgaard and Peyton Ferris with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

ON A ROLL: The Bobcats are the hottest team in the Big Sky Conference rattling off five straight victories, including three wins over West Coast Conference members - Pacific (72-66), Santa Clara (77-50), Portland (70-66) - in its last five outings. During its current win streak, the Bobcats are averaging 73.8 points per game, while giving up 56.4 points per contest. In addition, Montana State is shooting 47.3 percent from the field, while holding its opponents to just 33.2 percent from the floor. The Bobcats also hold a sizeable 41.6 to 31.6 rebounding advantage under the glass.

STATE OF THE LEAGUE: The Big Sky Conference is currently ranked 18th in the most recent league RPI. The West Coast Conference, who the Bobcats have three victories over this season, is ranked 11th this week. Big West is 22nd. Within the Big Sky Montana State is listed the highest at 82nd, followed by Northern Colorado 87, Eastern Washington 119, Idaho 123, Southern Utah 136, Idaho State 171, Weber State 192, North Dakota 220, Sacramento State 228, Portland State 257, Northern Arizona 322, and Montana 341.

MONTANA STATE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Margreet Barhoum was named the Montana State Player of the Week for her efforts in MSU's win at Portland on Dec. 11. The senior from Edmonds, Washington was the Bobcats most efficient player, scoring 10 points in just 12 minutes of action. In addition, Barhoum's timely three-pointers helped give MSU the spark it needed to secure the victory. On the day, she connected on three-of-five from the field, two-of-two from 3-point range, and was two-of-two at the line.

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: Cal Poly enters Tuesday's contest 4-6 overall after dropping a 73-67 decision to San Francisco on Saturday. The Mustangs have posted victories over Northern Arizona, North Dakota State, Utah Valley and Pepperdine. Two of Cal Poly's six losses have come against No. 9 UCLA and No. 10 Stanford. The Mustangs have been led by a trio of players this season. Hannah Gilbert, a 6-3 senior forward, leads the team in scoring averaging 14.6 points per game, while shooting 52 percent from the field. Twin sisters Lynn and Dynn Leaupepe (5-9, Jr., Guards) also average double-figures at 14.2 and 13.5 points per game, respectively. Lynn Leaupepe also guides the squad under the glass averaging 8.5 rebounds per contest. Cal Poly was picked to finish 7th in the Big West poll.

TALE OF THE TAPE: MSU vs. Cal Poly

MSU.................. Stat.................... CP
69.6................... PPG................. 68.2
41.0................... FG%................. 38.5
33.0.................. 3FG%................ 23.8
69.7................... FT%................. 76.0
42.3.................. REB/G................ 42.7
15.2.................. AST/G................ 14.7
8.3.................... STL/G.................. 9.5
3.4................... BLK/G.................. 2.0
16.2.................. TO/G................ 16.0

BUELLER: Senior Peyton, a two-time Big Sky Conference Top Reserve of the Year, came off the bench in all 31 games last season. This year, Ferris has made nine starts. She leads the team in scoring averaging 16.3 points per game and is also second in rebounding at 7.2 per contest. Her points per game average ranks seventh in the Big Sky Conference, while she is also listed seventh in rebounds. She was voted 2016-17 Preseason Big Sky Conference MVP. Ferris recorded her only double-double of the year with 11 points and ten boards vs. Great Falls. Last Sunday at Portland, she posted a team-best 17 points, while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. The Twin Bridges product posted a season-high 24 points in MSU's win over Seattle U, connecting on nine-of-14 from the field. Last year, Ferris finished eighth in the nation in field-goal percentage shooting at a 58 percent clip. She is currently shooting 50 percent from the floor.

THE LIFE OF RILEY: Senior Riley Nordgaard, the 2015-16 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, returned to the floor on Nov. 23 at UC Davis. Nordgaard made an immediate impact on the Bobcat squad earning Big Sky Conference Player of the Week kudos, after averaging 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in her first three games. The Canby, Minnesota product has recorded two doubles-doubles (UC Davis & Pacific) on the season. Last Sunday, Nordgaard, who was also selected to the Preseason All-Big Sky First-Team, recorded 13 points which included a three-of-five effort from three-point range. She is currently second on the team with 12 3-pointers and is second shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc. Nordgaard has been in double-digit scoring in all six games to date.

DISHING THE ROCK: Junior Hannah Caudill is averaging 4.7 assists per game, which ranks third in the Big Sky Conference. Her +1.8 assist-turnover ratio is fourth in the league. The graduate of Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Washington dished out five assists and had two steals in Montana State's win at Portland on Dec. 11. Caudill went scoreless for the first time this season against the Pilots. Last winter, Caudill led the Big Sky averaging 5.4 assists per contest. She dished out 166 assists, which was second most ever recorded in a single season at Montana State. Caudill is currently 29 assists away from breaking onto MSU's all-time career assists chart. She is just three 3-point makes from the from the all-time Bobcat top 10.

THAT AINT NO LIE: Sophomore Annika Lai started the first three game of the season filling in during the absence of Riley Nordgaard. The 6-1 product of Boulder, Colorado posted a career-high 13 points to pace MSU against Utah State on Nov. 14, connecting on six-of-11 from the field. In addition, she pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, while adding two assists and two blocks. In the season-opener at Utah, Lai recorded 12 points and grabbed five rebounds. Lai continued her outstanding start to the season coming off the bench to produce nine points and four steals in MSU's win over Santa Clara. She chipped in eight points and pulled down six boards in the Bobcats' victory over Pacific. On the season, Lai is averaging 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She is averaging 23.1 minutes per contest. Lai posted her third double-figure scoring game of the season with 10 points, including her first triple of the season, in MSU's win at Portland on Dec. 11. She also chipped in three rebounds, an assist and a steal against the Pilots.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS: Senior Margreet Barhoum has had a knack for answering the bell when MSU has needed a three-pointer this season. Barhoum answered the call and dialed up a key three-pointer in Montana State's win over Pacific on Nov. 25 with 41-seconds remaining in the game. She hit another big triple at Portland on Dec. 11 with 2:21 remaining to give the Bobcats the lead for good in its win over the Pilots. The Edmonds, Washington product, who is averaging 4.6 points per contest, finished with a season-high ten points - connecting on three-of-five from the field and two-of-two from beyond the 3-point line. She also added two assists and a rebound at Portland. Barhoum is currently shooting a team-best 46.7 percent from long distance.

FAB FRESH: All three Bobcat true-freshmen - Blaire Braxton. Oliana Squires and Madeline Smith - have made an impact in the early going. Braxton, a native of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, has started all nine games and is averaging 5.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Braxton is third in the Big Sky in rebounding and third with 1.6 blocks per game. Squires has played in all nine games this season and is averaging 7.9 points per game, which is third best on the team and the best output of any Bobcat bench player. Squires is third on the squad shooting 86 percent (19-22) from the line. The mark is also the sixth highest in the Big Sky Conference. She is averaging 15.9 minutes per game. Madeline Smith, a 6-2 post from Snohomish, Washington is averaging 13.7 minutes per game and is chipping in 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest. She posted her second double-digit scoring game of the season with 10 points in MSU's win over Seattle U on Dec. 4.

BOZEMAN DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION: After the first eight games, the Bobcats have connected on 59-of-179 from beyond the three-point arc. MSU is paced from long distance by Hannah Caudill with 14 makes, while Riley Nordgaard and Oliana Squires each have 12 triples. Delany Junkermier and Margreet Barhoum are next up with seven, apiece. MSU is shooting 33 percent from beyond 20-feet, 9-inches. Last year, the Bobcats went 179-of-498 (35.9%) from three-point territory. As a team, Montana State has recorded at least one 3-pointer in the last 111 consecutive games. The last time MSU was held without a trey was Jan. 24, 2013 (0-9) at Weber State in Ogden, UT.

STINGY D: The Bobcat defense is quickly evolving into one of the better units in the Big Sky Conference. Montana State is first in scoring defense (59.1), field goal percentage defense (.350), defensive rebounds (29.2) and rebounds per game (42.3).

HARD BLOCK CAFE`: Montana State is currently third in the Big Sky in blocked shots, averaging 3.4 per game. Freshman Blaire Braxton is tops on the team with 14 swats. Braxton opened the season turning away four shots at Utah on Nov. 12.

TO CATCH A THIEF: MSU had logged 75 steals on the season. Eight Bobcat players have recorded five or more steals, paced by Riley Nordgaard with 13. Nordgaard has made her presence felt on the defensive end having played in six games to date. Last year, the 5-10 forward who transferred to Bozeman from Augustana College, recorded 76 thefts, the eighth highest single-season total in Montana State history.

QUICK CAT-CH UP: MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who is in her 12th year leading the Bobcat program, welcomes back six letterwinners, including two starters (Riley Nordgaard, Delany Junkermier), a two-time Big Sky Top Reserve of the Year (Peyton Ferris) and Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year (Nordgaard). MSU also welcomes five newcomers. Last winter, the Bobcats captured the program's first-ever outright Big Sky regular-season title last season going 14-4 in league play. MSU notched a 21-10 overall mark - its first 20-win season since the 2002-03 campaign.

SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE: The Bobcats signed four players to National Letters-of-Intent during the early signing period. Signing with Montana State were Coral Gillette, a 6-foot guard from Bismarck, N.D., Tori Martell, a 5-8 guard from Somerset, Wis., Laura Pranger, a 6-2 forward from Centennial, Colo., and Ashley Van Sickle, a 5-7 guard from Arvada, Colo.

FANDEMONIUM: Montana State is averaging 1,331 fans per game. The mark is third best in the Big Sky Conference and ranks 114th in the nation, right behind UNC Wilmington (1,334) and UTEP (1,369). So. Carolina leads at 12,009 fans per game.