Saturday, March 11
Reno, NV
1:05 p.m.
Montana State University
25-6
62
vs
56
Idaho State
19-14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho State | 16 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 56 |
| Montana State | 12 | 20 | 6 | 24 | 62 |
2016-2017 Big Sky Conference Champions
Photo by: MSU Sports Information
We Are The Champions
3/11/2017 6:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
In the biggest game of the season, the Montana State women’s basketball team went to its senior co-captains.
In the biggest game of the season, the Montana State women's basketball team went to its senior co-captains.
Big Sky Conference MVP Peyton Ferris posted 23 points and seven rebounds, while Riley Nordgaard added 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Bobcats punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 62-56 win over Idaho State, Saturday afternoon in the Reno Events Center.
The Big Sky Tournament title was MSU's first since the 1993 campaign.
"When you talk about tournament time, it's when your experience and seniors need to carry your team," said MSU 12th year head coach Tricia Binford. "And, I felt like they did that today."
Sophomore Anika Lai, who hit the winning bucket against Eastern Washington in the semifinals, scored six straight points for Montana State (25-6) to give the Bobcats a 46-42 advantage with 6:26 remaining on a pair of free throws.
A pair of Ferris baskets sandwiched a layup by junior Rebekah Hatchard and MSU built its largest lead at 52-44 with 3:52 left. ISU's Grace Kenyon answered with a three-pointer, thirty-seconds later, but once again, Nordgaard responded calmly hitting a triple from the left wing to push the margin back to eight points. MSU was able to convert five-of-eight from the line to secure the win in the final minute.
"The shot was feeling good today and I let 'er fly," said Nordgaard, an all-tournament selection on her three-point dagger. "And it went in, so it was good."
Idaho State (19-14) opened the contest with a 12-2 run over the first seven minutes, but the Bobcats were able to whittle the lead to 16-12 following a pair of Hannah Caudill charity tosses as the opening period game to an end.
The second frame featured two ties and three lead changes. A Ferris three-pointer at the 1:04 mark gave the Bobcats a 32-28 cushion heading into intermission.
A low-scoring third quarter saw both teams go cold from the field in the final two minutes, but the Bengals were able to take a 39-38 lead into the final stanza.
Ferris, a product of Montana Class C Twin Bridges High School, connected on nine-of-21 from the field, including a four-of-five effort from the free throw line. She also added two assists and a steal.
"It feels good," said Ferris, who was named the tournament MVP. "This is my first career tournament win in my life. I couldn't be more excited to just complete this final goal.
"Everything growing up, it's a dream I had, and people were saying 'well you're from where you're from and it's going to be really hard to do,' Ferris commented. "Now, I can sit there with a smile on my face and say that I accomplished all of my goals I had in third-grade."
Nordgaard finished the game converting six-of-13 from the floor and four-of-six from long distance. She also posted her fourth straight double-figure rebounding game, corralling 13 caroms. For the game, MSU shot just 34 percent from the field, but connected on 54 percent in the fourth frame when it needed it the most.
The Bobcat defense, sparked by Hatchard, limited ISU to 36 percent from the floor, including 33 percent in the fourth quarter. The Bengals out-rebounded MSU by a slight 40-39 margin, but again, when the Bobcats needed it the most MSU out-rebounded ISU 12-6 in the final 10-minutes.
ISU was paced in the loss by Kenyon with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bobcats set a new school-record with 25 victories, surpassing the old mark of 24-6 set by the 1987-88 team.
MSU will await its NCAA Tournament First-Round opponent, which will be selected on Monday night.
Big Sky Conference MVP Peyton Ferris posted 23 points and seven rebounds, while Riley Nordgaard added 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Bobcats punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 62-56 win over Idaho State, Saturday afternoon in the Reno Events Center.
The Big Sky Tournament title was MSU's first since the 1993 campaign.
"When you talk about tournament time, it's when your experience and seniors need to carry your team," said MSU 12th year head coach Tricia Binford. "And, I felt like they did that today."
Sophomore Anika Lai, who hit the winning bucket against Eastern Washington in the semifinals, scored six straight points for Montana State (25-6) to give the Bobcats a 46-42 advantage with 6:26 remaining on a pair of free throws.
A pair of Ferris baskets sandwiched a layup by junior Rebekah Hatchard and MSU built its largest lead at 52-44 with 3:52 left. ISU's Grace Kenyon answered with a three-pointer, thirty-seconds later, but once again, Nordgaard responded calmly hitting a triple from the left wing to push the margin back to eight points. MSU was able to convert five-of-eight from the line to secure the win in the final minute.
"The shot was feeling good today and I let 'er fly," said Nordgaard, an all-tournament selection on her three-point dagger. "And it went in, so it was good."
Idaho State (19-14) opened the contest with a 12-2 run over the first seven minutes, but the Bobcats were able to whittle the lead to 16-12 following a pair of Hannah Caudill charity tosses as the opening period game to an end.
The second frame featured two ties and three lead changes. A Ferris three-pointer at the 1:04 mark gave the Bobcats a 32-28 cushion heading into intermission.
A low-scoring third quarter saw both teams go cold from the field in the final two minutes, but the Bengals were able to take a 39-38 lead into the final stanza.
Ferris, a product of Montana Class C Twin Bridges High School, connected on nine-of-21 from the field, including a four-of-five effort from the free throw line. She also added two assists and a steal.
"It feels good," said Ferris, who was named the tournament MVP. "This is my first career tournament win in my life. I couldn't be more excited to just complete this final goal.
"Everything growing up, it's a dream I had, and people were saying 'well you're from where you're from and it's going to be really hard to do,' Ferris commented. "Now, I can sit there with a smile on my face and say that I accomplished all of my goals I had in third-grade."
Nordgaard finished the game converting six-of-13 from the floor and four-of-six from long distance. She also posted her fourth straight double-figure rebounding game, corralling 13 caroms. For the game, MSU shot just 34 percent from the field, but connected on 54 percent in the fourth frame when it needed it the most.
The Bobcat defense, sparked by Hatchard, limited ISU to 36 percent from the floor, including 33 percent in the fourth quarter. The Bengals out-rebounded MSU by a slight 40-39 margin, but again, when the Bobcats needed it the most MSU out-rebounded ISU 12-6 in the final 10-minutes.
ISU was paced in the loss by Kenyon with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bobcats set a new school-record with 25 victories, surpassing the old mark of 24-6 set by the 1987-88 team.
MSU will await its NCAA Tournament First-Round opponent, which will be selected on Monday night.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballTeam Stats
ISU
MSU
FG%
.355
.339
3FG%
.269
.217
FT%
.833
.810
RB
40
39
TO
11
7
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
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