Palouse Bound: Bobcat Women at Idaho on Thursday Night

Thursday, January 26

Moscow, ID

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Idaho

Bobcat freshman Blaire Braxton pulls down a rebound against Portland State, last Saturday.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

1/25/2017 4:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

MSU WBB NOTES

The Montana State women’s basketball team will travel to Idaho, Thursday, Jan. 26 to face the Vandals at 7 p.m. (MST) in Cowan Spectrum. MSU concludes the weekend at Eastern Washington, Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. (MST) on Reese Court. The Bobcats swept both teams in Worthington Arena three weeks ago.

By: Tom Schulz

MONTANA STATE (13-5, 6-2) at IDAHO (9-9, 4-3)
    Date:                       Jan. 26, 2017
    Tipoff: 7 p.m. (MST)
    Site: Cowan Spectrum (5,000) * Moscow, ID
    Radio:                      My 103.5 FM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
    Live Video: WatchBigSky.com
    Live Stats: govandals.com

MONTANA STATE (13-5, 6-2) at EASTERN WASHINGTON (10-8, 5-2)
    Date: Jan. 28, 2017
    Tipoff: 3 p.m. (MST)
    Site:                         Reese Court (6,000) * Cheney, WA
    Radio: My 103.5 FM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
    Live Video: WatchBigSky.com
    Live Stats: goeags.com

NEXT UP: The Montana State women's basketball team will travel to Idaho, Thursday, Jan. 26 to face the Vandals at 7 p.m. (MST) in Cowan Spectrum. MSU concludes the weekend at Eastern Washington, Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. (MST) on Reese Court. The Bobcats swept both teams in Worthington Arena three weeks ago.

ON A SERIES NOTE: Montana State holds a 34-14 advantage in its all-time series with the Vandals dating back to March 1, 1975. The Bobcats have won the last seven meeting with Idaho. UI's last win over MSU was Dec. 14, 2001 (62-61) in Moscow. The Bobcats trail Eastern Washington 42-41 going back to 1976-77.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Bobcats are riding a 20-game home winning streak after its 83-76 victory over Portland State on Saturday. The streak is the fifth longest at the NCAA Division I level. Ahead of MSU is UConn 58, Baylor 53, South Dakota 23, and UCLA 23. MSU is tied with Bucknell 20 consecutive home victories.

STATE OF THE LEAGUE: The Big Sky is currently ranked 18th out of 32 conferences in the RPI. This week's NCAA Nitty-Gritty team RPI has MSU ranked 87, followed by Northern Colorado 100, Idaho 127, North Dakota 135, Eastern Washington 140, Portland State 208, Idaho State 219, Southern Utah 260, Weber State 262, Sacramento State 267, Northern Arizona 284, and Montana 332.

BOBCAT PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Riley Nordgaard, a senior from Canby, Minn., averaged 25.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in wins over Sacramento State and Portland State. For the two games, Nordgaard shot 55 percent from the field, 48 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the line. Nordgaard posted a career-high 26 points in MSU's win over Sacramento State. Against the Hornets, she recorded her fourth double-double of the season, hauling down ten rebounds. In MSU's win over Portland State, she tallied 25 points, including a career-high six-of-11 effort from long distance.

SCOUTING THE VANDALS: Idaho is coming off a road sweep at Southern Utah (85-68) and Northern Arizona (91-80). Sophomore Mikayla Ferenz paced the Vandals in the two games averaging 28.5 points, six rebounds and six assists per game. Against NAU, she tallied 41 points to tie the Big Sky mark for a game held by four others, including MSU's Katie Bussey, who reached the 41-point plateau Feb. 2, 2012 at Idaho State. On the season, Ferenz is averaging 18.4 points per game, while Geraldine McCorkell and Taylor Pierce chip in 14.8 and 12.1 points per contest, respectively. Under the boards, Idaho has been led by Brooke Reilly with a team-best 6.2 rebounds per game. In their meeting on Jan. 7, the Bobcats downed the Vandals 80-64. Idaho connected on just two-of-18 three-point attempts in the first half as the Bobcats held a 36-18 lead at intermission. The Vandals were led in the game by Ferenz with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Peyton Ferris guided the Bobcats with 22 points. Sophomore Annika Lai and freshman Madeline Smith came off the bench to add 15 and 13 points, respectively.

BOZEMAN DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION: After the first 18 games, the Bobcats have connected on 129-of-380 from beyond the three-point arc. MSU is paced from long distance by Hannah Caudill with 35 triples. The Spokane product is followed by Riley Nordgaard 34, Oliana Squires 21, Delany Junkermier 15, Peyton Ferris 10 and Margreet Barhoum 9. MSU is shooting 34 percent from beyond 20-feet, 9-inches, which is the 2nd best in the Big Sky Conference. 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 120 consecutive games. The last time Montana State was held without a three-pointer was Jan. 24, 2013 (0-9) at Weber State in Ogden, UT.

STINGY D: The Bobcat defense has evolved into one of the best units in the Big Sky. MSU is first in field goal percentage defense (.364), 3-point field goal defense (.276), rebounding offense (44.7), rebounding margin (+7.1), and defensive rebounds (30.8). Nationally, the Bobcats are ranked No. 6 in defensive rebounds per game; No. 9 in rebounds per game; No. 27 in 3-point field-goal percentage; No. 30 in field-goal percentage defense; No. 35 in rebound margin; No. 43 in rebounds and No. 45 in field-goal percentage defense.

FANDEMONIUM: The Bobcats are averaging 1,471 fans per game. The mark is third best in the Big Sky and ranks 95th in the nation, just behind So. Miss. (1,473). South Carolina leads the country at 12,020 fans per game at the NCAA Division I level.