Balanced Attack Propels Cats into Big Sky Title Game

Friday, March 10

Reno, NV

1:05 p.m.

Montana State University

24-6

Eastern Washington

18-13

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Eastern Washington	11	18	16	14	59
Montana State	13	12	15	21	61

Annika Lai's shot with 3-seconds left gave MSU a 61-59 win over Eastern Washington.

Photo by: MSU Sports Information

3/10/2017 4:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

“We drew it up for either Peyton or Riley,” Lai said. “We all did our best to get open and Riley couldn’t come off Peyton’s screen very well, so I just flashed towards her to give her an outlet, and the clock was winding down, so I just made the most and went to the basket.”

By: Tom Schulz

All season Montana State head coach Tricia Binford has lauded the selflessness of her squad.

And as the clock ticked down, Riley Nordgaard looked for Big Sky MVP Peyton Ferris, who was smothered by Eastern Washington's Ashli Payne. Out of the corner of her eye, Nordgaard saw EWU sagging off Annika Lai. She gave Lai the ball.

The lanky sophomore drove the paint and scored with the left-hand with 3-seconds left. EWU got off a desperation shot that clanked off the front of the rim and Montana State escaped with a 61-59 decision over the Eagles, Friday afternoon to advance to the Big Sky title game.

"We drew it up for either Peyton or Riley," Lai said. "We all did our best to get open and Riley couldn't come off Peyton's screen very well, so I just flashed towards her to give her an outlet, and the clock was winding down, so I just made the most and went to the basket."

Trailing by four heading into the final frame, Montana State (24-6) opened the quarter on a 7-0 run highlighted by Nordgaard falling into the Bobcat bench on a rebound, regaining her feet and knocking down a three-pointer.

The hustle play set the tone for MSU down the stretch. And moments later, Ferris' jumper with 7:40 left gave the Bobcats its first lead since midway through the third period.

"She (Riley) brought tons of energy and got so many key offensive boards," Lai said. "Peyton played a huge role in the second half. They're our captains and they stepped-up today. They came to play."

The two league rivals traded blows down the stretch, which featured six lead changes and five ties. Montana State took its largest lead of the second stanza with 46-seconds remaining on a Lai jumper. Eastern Washington's (18-13) Delany Hodgins hit a three-pointer with 31-seconds left to even the score to set up MSU's late heroics.

Ferris, who was held scoreless in the opening twenty-minutes, unleashed for 16 second-half points to pace the Bobcats. Lai finished with a career-matching 15 points, while Nordgaard 11 and Delany Junkermier 10 also hit double-digits.

"I want to say how proud I am of this team," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "The resilience and character of this team all season and the variety of kids stepping-up and making the big plays and just making the right read and decisions, and that's what they did today to finish it."

MSU's senior duo each posted double-doubles as Nordgaard hauled down 13 rebounds and Ferris 11. It was Nordgaard's ninth double-double of the season and the fifth for Ferris.

For the game, MSU shot 35.6 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Eagles 48-35.

Eastern Washington held a 29-25 advantage in the opening half, mainly due to 12 Bobcat turnovers. MSU cleaned up its ball-handling in the second half committing just two miscues.

EWU was led in the loss by Hodgins with 18 points and seven rebounds.

With the victory, the Bobcats matched the school-record of 24 wins in a season with the 1987-88 squad. MSU will play the winner of #6 Idaho State/#7 Portland State at 1:05 p.m. (MST) on Saturday. It will mark Montana State's first Big Sky Tournament championship game appearance since losing to Portland State in 2010.