Bobcat Women Host Eastern Washington Thursday; Idaho on Saturday Afternoon

Thursday, January 5

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Eastern Washington

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Bobcat freshman Madeline Smith

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Bobcat Women Host Eastern Washington Thursday; Idaho on Saturday Afternoon

1/4/2017 5:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball

MSU WBB NOTES

The Bobcats will open their Big Sky home schedule this week as it hosts Eastern Washington University, Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., followed by the University of Idaho, Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. Both games are slated for Worthington Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

EASTERN WASHINGTON (6-6, 1-0) at MONTANA STATE (8-4, 1-1)
    Date:                     Jan. 5, 2017
    Tip-off:                   7 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

IDAHO (5-7, 0-1) at MONTANA STATE (8-4, 1-1)
    Date: Jan. 7, 2017
    Tip-off: 2 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

NEXT UP: The Bobcats will open their Big Sky home schedule this week as it hosts Eastern Washington University, Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., followed by the University of Idaho, Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. Both games are slated for Worthington Arena.

ON A SERIES NOTE: Eastern Washington holds a 42-40 edge in its all-time series with Montana State dating back to the 1976-77 season. EWU has captured three of the last four meetings, including an 81-69 decision in Cheney last winter. MSU's last victory over the Eagles came on Feb. 26, 2015 in a 63-53 win in Worthington Arena. The Bobcats hold a commanding 33-14 advantage in its all-time series with Idaho dating back to March 1, 1975. MSU has won the last six meetings between the two rivals. Last year, the Bobcats beat the Vandals 62-59 in Moscow.

SNAPPED: The Bobcats saw their seven-game win streak snapped at Idaho State on Saturday afternoon. The streak matched last year's run from Dec. 21 - Jan. 16.

STATE OF THE LEAGUE: The Big Sky Conference is currently ranked 18th in the most recent RPI. The West Coast Conference, who MSU has three wins over (Pacific, Santa Clara, Portland), is ranked 13th this week. According to this week's NCAA Nitty-Gritty RPI the Bobcats are the highest ranked Big Sky team; ranked at No. 96. MSU is followed by Northern Colorado 119, Idaho 126, Eastern Washington 136, North Dakota 150, Idaho State 170, Portland State 237, Weber State 246, Sacramento State 267, Northern Arizona 274, and Montana 343.

MONTANA STATE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Riley Nordgaard, a 5-10 senior forward from Canby, Minn., was named Montana State's Player of the Week for her efforts at Weber State and Idaho State. Nordgaard finished the two road games averaging 13 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals, while shooting 44 percent from the field. She had her best outing of the weekend in Montana State's win over Weber State with 16 points and six rebounds. Nordgaard followed that performance with 10 points, nine boards and two steals at Idaho State.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Eastern Washington is 6-6 overall and 1-0 in Big Sky Conference action after defeating Idaho 67-57, last Saturday in Cheney. Against the Vandals, EWU was paced by Ashli Payne with 21 points and 14 rebounds. For her efforts, she was named Big Sky Co-Player of the Week. Also in double figures were Tisha Phillips 14 and Delaney Hodgins 12. On the season, the trio are all averaging double-digit scoring - Hodgins 18.6 ppg, Phillips 13.8 ppg, and Payne 11.4 ppg.

SCOUTING THE VANDALS: Idaho is 5-7 overall and 0-1 in Big Sky Conference play after dropping a 67-57 decision to Eastern Washington, last Saturday. The Vandals will play at Montana on Thursday night before making the trek south on I-90. Against EWU, UI was led by Geraldine McCorkell and Mikayla Ferenz with 12 and 11 points, respectively. On the season, Ferenz is averaging 16.1 ppg, while McCorkell is tossing in 14.2 ppg.

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 12 starts. She leads the team in scoring averaging 15.3 points per game and is third in rebounding at 6.7 per contest. Her points per game average ranks seventh in the Big Sky Conference, while she is also listed tenth 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. Ferris had her best game of the week at Idaho State recording 16 points, while dishing out a career-high seven assists. 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 49 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. Last weekend, Nordgaard averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. She is currently second on the team with 18 3-pointers and is third shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Nordgaard has been in double-digit scoring in all nine games this season.

DISHING THE ROCK: Junior Hannah Caudill is averaging 4.3 assists per game, which ranks third in the Big Sky Conference. Her +1.4 assist-turnover ratio is seventh in the league. The graduate of Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Washington dished out four assists and had a career-high 20 points at Weber State on Thursday. 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 20 assists away from breaking onto MSU's all-time career assists chart. Her six 3-pointers last weekend gives her 102 career triples, which ranks 10th on Montana State's all-time three-points list.

THAT AINT NO LIE: Sophomore Annika Lai started the first three games of the season filling in during the absence of Riley Nordgaard. The 6-1 product of Boulder, Colorado posted a then 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 7.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. She is averaging 23.3 minutes per contest. Lai has four double-figure scoring games on the season, after matching a career-high with 13 points at Weber State. Lai's career-high 10 rebounds against Weber State gave her first collegiate double-double.

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 3.9 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 12 games and is averaging 4.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Braxton is seventh in the Big Sky in rebounding and third with 1.3 blocks per game. Squires has played in all 12 games this season and is averaging 7.4 points per game, which is fourth 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. She is averaging 15.0 minutes per game and is third on the team with 14 three-pointers. Madeline Smith, a 6-2 post from Snohomish, Washington is averaging 15.3 minutes per game and is chipping in 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest. She posted her fourth double-digit scoring game with 10 points in MSU's loss at Idaho State. Against Cal Poly on Dec. 20, Smith hauled down a season-high 10 boards.

BOZEMAN DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION: After the first 12 games, the Bobcats have connected on 80-of-243 from beyond the three-point arc. MSU is paced from long distance by Hannah Caudill with 21 triples. The Spokane product is followed by Riley Nordgaard 18, Oliana Squires 14, Delany Junkermier nine and margreet Barhoum eight. MSU is shooting 33 percent from beyond 20-feet, 9-inches, which is third 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 114 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 scoring defense (59.9), scoring margin (+10.0), field goal percentage defense (.350), 3-point field goal defense (.282), rebounding offense (43.1), defensive rebounds (30.3). Nationally, the Cats are #15 in defensive rebounds, #27 in FG% defense & #29 rebounds per game.

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 16 swats. Braxton opened the season turning away four shots at Utah on Nov. 12.

TO CATCH A THIEF: MSU had logged 97 steals on the season. Five Bobcat players have recorded ten or more steals, paced by Riley Nordgaard with 19. Nordgaard has made her presence felt on the defensive end having played in nine 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.