Bobcat Women Open Big Sky Season at Weber State

Thursday, December 29

Ogden, UT

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Weber State

Senior Peyton Ferris

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

12/28/2016 5:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

MSU WBB GAME NOTES

It’s a whole new season as the Montana State women’s basketball team opens Big Sky Conference play at Weber State in Ogden, Utah, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Dee Events Center. MSU concludes weekend play in Pocatello on Dec. 31 against Idaho State. Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m. in Reed Gym.

By: Tom Schulz

MONTANA STATE (7-3, 0-0 BSC) at WEBER STATE (6-5, 0-0 BSC)
          Date:                       Dec. 29, 2016
          Tipoff: 7 p.m. (MST)
          Site:                        Dee Events Center (12,000) * Ogden, UT
          Radio: My 103.5 FM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
          Live Video: WatchBigSky.com
          Live Stats: weberstatesports.com

MONTANA STATE (7-3, 0-0 Big Sky) at IDAHO STATE (6-5, 0-0 BSC)
          Date:                       Dec. 31, 2016
          Tipoff: 2 p.m. (MST)
          Site:                        Reed Gym (3,040) * Pocatello, ID
          Radio: My 103.5 FM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
          Live Video: WatchBigSky.com
          Live Stats: isubengals.com

NEXT UP: It's a whole new season as the Montana State women's basketball team opens Big Sky Conference play at Weber State in Ogden, Utah, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Dee Events Center. MSU concludes weekend play in Pocatello on Dec. 31 against Idaho State. Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m. in Reed Gym.

ON A SERIES NOTE: The Bobcats lead the all-time series with Weber State 47-31 dating back to the 1977-78 season. MSU is on a current 18-game win streak over the Wildcats. WSU's last win over Montana State came on Jan. 18, 2007 (67-66) in Bozeman. MSU holds a 41-34 advantage in its all-time series with Idaho State dating back to the 1977-78 campaign. In their last 10 meetings, Idaho State holds an 8-2 edge, including last year's buzzer-beater (52-50) at the Big Sky tourney in Reno.

ON A ROLL: The Bobcats are the hottest team in the Big Sky rattling off six straight victories, including three wins over the West Coast Conference. During its win streak, the Bobcats are averaging 73.3 points per game, while giving up 55.7 points per contest. In addition, Montana State is shooting 45.4 percent from the field, while holding its opponents to 32.8 percent. The Bobcats also hold a sizeable 43.3 to 33.3 rebounding advantage under the glass.

STATE OF THE LEAGUE: The Big Sky is currently ranked 17th in the most recent RPI. The West Coast Conference, who MSU has three wins over, is ranked 10th this week. Within the Big Sky, Idaho is ranked 92nd, followed by Montana State 112, Northern Colorado 124, Southern Utah 133, Eastern Washington 137, North Dakota 148, Idaho State 187, Weber State 203, Portland State 235, Sacramento State 256, Northern Arizona 300 and Montana 343.

MONTANA STATE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Riley Nordgaard, a 5-10 senior forward from Canby, Minn., recorded 17 points and hauled down nine rebounds - both team highs - as Montana State posted its sixth consecutive victory in its win over Cal Poly, last Tuesday. Nordgaard also added two steals and an assist and connected on three 3-pointers.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: Weber State finished the non-conference 6-5. After opening the season with five straight wins, the Wildcats have dropped its last four outings. WSU has had a hellacious schedule since Dec. 7 losing to BYU, Cal State Northridge, Utah and Fresno State. On the season, Weber State has been paced by Emily Drake and Deeshyra Thomas, who average 16 and 13.0 points per game, respectively. Drake, a 5-9 sophomore guard from Pullman, Wash., is second in the Big Sky with 38 3-pointers.

TALE OF THE TAPE: MSU vs. WSU

MSU.................. Stat................ WSU
69.7................... PPG................. 68.6
40.6................... FG%................. 38.8
32.4.................. 3FG%................ 31.5
69.5................... FT%................. 64.4
43.3.................. REB/G................ 38.9
15.1.................. AST/G................ 14.7
8.0.................... STL/G.................. 9.0
3.3................... BLK/G.................. 2.1
15.7.................. TO/G................ 15.5

SCOUTING THE BENGALS: Idaho State is 6-5 overall and will host Montana on Thursday night before meeting the Bobcats. ISU has won its last four games, including a two overtime thriller with Denver. The Bengals started the streak with a 42-35 victory at Wisconsin on Dec. 6. Idaho State has been led this season by Grace Kenyon, who is averaging 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

TALE OF THE TAPE: MSU vs. ISU

MSU.................. Stat................... ISU
69.7................... PPG................. 60.1
40.6................... FG%................. 35.7
32.4.................. 3FG%................ 31.4
69.5................... FT%................. 69.8
43.3.................. REB/G................ 40.5
15.1.................. AST/G................ 12.7
8.0.................... STL/G.................. 6.0
3.3................... BLK/G.................. 3.3
15.7.................. TO/G................ 18.1

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 ten starts. She leads the team in scoring averaging 16.1 points per game and is third in rebounding at 7.1 per contest. Her points per game average ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference, while she is also listed sixth 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. On Dec. 20, Ferris recorded 14 points and grabbed six rebounds against Cal Poly. She also added three assists and a steal in the win over the Mustangs. 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 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. On Dec. 20, Nordgaard, who was also selected to the Preseason All-Big Sky First-Team, matched her season high with 17 points in MSU's win over Cal Poly. In addition, she also hauled down nine rebounds and had two steals and an assist. She is currently first on the team with 15 3-pointers and is third shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc. Nordgaard has been in double-digit scoring in all seven games.

DISHING THE ROCK: Junior Hannah Caudill is averaging 4.6 assists per game, which ranks third in the Big Sky Conference. Her +1.7 assist-turnover ratio is fourth in the league. The graduate of Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Washington dished out four assists and had nine points in Montana State's win over Cal Poly on Dec. 20. 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 25 assists away from breaking onto MSU's all-time career assists chart. She is just two 3-pointers away from joining Jennifer Curl and Scotta Morton in the tenth spot on the all-time MSU 3-point makes list.

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, 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 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. She is averaging 23.1 minutes per contest. Lai has three double figure scoring games on the season, the last being a 10 point effort at Portland. On Dec. 20, she registered six points and four rebounds and connected on her only three-point attempt against Cal Poly.

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 left to give the Bobcats the lead for good in its win over the Pilots. Against Cal Poly on Dec. 20, her 3-pointer ignited a MSU fourth quarter run. 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 at Portland on Dec. 11. She also added two assists and a rebound against the Pilots. Barhoum is currently shooting 42 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 ten games and is averaging 5.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Braxton is fourth in the Big Sky in rebounding and third with 1.5 blocks per game. Squires has played in all ten games this season and is averaging 8.0 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 84 percent (21-25) from the line. The mark is also the seventh highest in the Big Sky Conference. She is averaging 15.6 minutes per game. Madeline Smith, a 6-2 post from Snohomish, Washington is averaging 14.4 minutes per game and is chipping in 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest. She posted her second double-digit scoring game with 10 points against Seattle and had a season-high 10 rebounds vs. Cal Poly.

BOZEMAN DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION: After the first ten games, the Bobcats have connected on 68-of-210 from beyond the three-point arc. MSU is paced from long distance by Hannah Caudill and Riley Nordgaard with 15 triples, apiece. Also contributing from beyond are Oliana Squires 13 and Delany Junkermier and Margreet Barhoum with eight, each. MSU is shooting 32.4 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 112 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 (58.4), scoring margin (+11.3), field goal percentage defense (.345), 3-point field goal defense (.285), defensive rebounds (29.9), rebounding margin (+6.1), and rebounds per game (43.3).

HARD BLOCK CAFE`: Montana State is currently third in the Big Sky in blocked shots, averaging 3.3 per game. Freshman Blaire Braxton is tops on the team with 15 swats. Braxton opened the season turning away four shots at Utah on Nov. 12.

TO CATCH A THIEF: MSU had logged 80 steals on the season. Nine Bobcat players have recorded five or more steals, paced by Riley Nordgaard with 15. Nordgaard has made her presence felt on the defensive end having played in seven 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.