Bobcats Host Hornets, Thursday Night

Thursday, January 19

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Sacramento State

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Freshman Madeline Smith

Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

1/18/2017 4:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball

MSU WBB NOTES

After playing four of its first six Big Sky games on the road, Montana State returns to Worthington Arena for a pair of home contests this week. MSU will open play against Sacramento State, Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., and will conclude weekend play against Portland State, Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m.

By: Tom Schulz

SACRAMENTO STATE (6-10, 2-3) at MONTANA STATE (11-5, 4-2)
    Date:                      Jan. 19, 2017
    Tipoff: 7 p.m. (MST)
    Site:                     Worthington Arena (4,500) * Bozeman, MT
    Radio:                     KMMS 1450 AM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
    Live Video: WatchBigSky.com
    Live Stats: bobcatstats.com

PORTLAND STATE (9-8, 3-2) at MONTANA STATE (11-5, 4-2)
    Date:                       Jan. 21, 2017
    Tipoff: 2 p.m. (MST)
    Site:                        Worthington Arena (4,500) * Bozeman, MT
    Radio:    My 103.5 FM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
    Live Video: WatchBigSky.com
    Live Stats: bobcatstats.com

NEXT UP: After playing four of its first six Big Sky games on the road, Montana State returns to Worthington Arena for a pair of home contests this week. MSU will open play against Sacramento State, Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., and will conclude weekend play against Portland State, Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m.

ON A SERIES NOTE: Montana State leads its all-time series with Sacramento State 29-11 dating back to Jan. 24, 1997. Last winter, the Bobcats swept the series winning 80-79 in Sacramento on a last second 3-pointer by Hannah Caudill and in Bozeman, 116-99, which was a Bobcat school-record for most points scored. MSU has gone 4-1 against the Hornets in the last five meetings. The last time the Cats dropped a game to Sacramento State in Worthington Arena was Dec. 20, 2012 - 69-65. Tricia Binford is 16-7 all-time against the Hornets.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Bobcats are riding an 18-game home winning streak, which is the seventh longest at the NCAA Division I level. Ahead of MSU is UConn 57, Baylor 51, Albany 24, South Dakota 22, UCLA 22 and Bucknell 20.

STATE OF THE LEAGUE: The Big Sky is currently ranked 17th out of 32 conferences in the RPI. This week's NCAA Nitty-Gritty team RPI has MSU ranked 79, followed by Northern Colorado 111, Eastern Washington 117, Idaho 132, North Dakota 157, Idaho State 187, Portland State 213, Southern Utah 242, Weber State 254, Sacramento State 280, Northern Arizona 286, and Montana 331.

BOBCAT PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Peyton Ferris averaged 23 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists per games at North Dakota and Northern Colorado, last week. Ferris had her best game at UND with a season-high 32 points, going over the 1,000-point mark and becoming the 22nd Bobcat to accomplish the feat. At Northern Colorado, she notched 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS: Sacramento State is 6-10 overall and 2-3 in Big Sky Conference play heading into Thursday's tilt with the Bobcats. After dropping its first three league games, the Hornets won two on their home-court last weekend defeating Southern Utah (81-69) and Northern Arizona (82-76). Sacramento State continues to be the top scoring unit in the Big Sky at 85.6 points per game; however, the Hornets give up 90.9 points per game, as well. Junior guard Maranne Johnson, who leads the team in scoring at 16.6 ppg., is 2nd in the nation averaging 3.75 3-pointer per contest. Sacramento State also possesses the top rebounder in the Big Sky as Margaret Huntington pulls down 10 boards per game.