Smith Records Career-High in Win over Yellowjackets

Saturday, November 25

BOZEMAN

2 p.m.

Montana State University

3-2

MSU Billings

5-0

MSU Billings

Montana State

WBB_1718_SMITH_BASKET_MSUB WBB_1718_SMITH_BASKET_MSUB

Sophomore Madeline Smith

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

11/25/2017 5:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

There was no post-Thanksgiving food coma for Montana State forward Madeline Smith.

By: Tom Schulz

There was no post-Thanksgiving food coma for Montana State forward Madeline Smith. Smith, a 6-2 product of Snohomish, Wash., recorded a career-high 23 points and hauled down 12 rebounds to pace the Bobcats to a 67-47 win over Montana State Billings, Saturday afternoon in Worthington Arena.

Smith converted 11-of-16 from the field. She had 13 points at halftime as Montana State (3-2) connected on 54 percent (14-26) from the floor. Fellow post player Blair Braxton dished out four assists prior to intermission as MSU took advantage of its height on the inside.

"I thought we had good action on the hi-low," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "We did a nice job distributing the ball and we put ourselves in position to knock down shots. Defensively, we out-rebounded them, but we need to focus on taking care of the ball. We had too many turnovers in transition."

The Bobcats jumped out to a 15-2 advantage in the opening period as MSU connected on 60 percent from the field. MSU Billings (5-0) whittled the margin to 17-9 heading into the second quarter.

The Yellowjackets closed to within three points following a three-pointer via Grace Weeks at the 7:18 mark, but the Bobcats responded with a 12-1 run and entered halftime with a 36-23 advantage.

"Oliana (Squires) gave us a nice spark in the first half," Binford said. "I'm proud of the way she stepped-up today."

Squires tallied five points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal in the opening 20-minutes.

MSU built a 19-point cushion midway through the third frame on a Smith layup and cruised down the stretch.

Squires finished with 11 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals.

MSU Billings was led by Alisha Breen with 11 points and nine rebounds.

The Bobcats will host Wyoming on Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. in Worthington Arena.