Former Bobcat Standouts Take Game Overseas
7/21/2017 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Former Montana State women’s basketball standouts Peyton Ferris and Riley Nordgaard have signed professional contracts to play in Spain beginning in October.
Former Montana State women's basketball standouts Peyton Ferris and Riley Nordgaard have signed professional contracts to play in Spain beginning in October.
Ferris, who was the 2016-17 Big Sky Conference MVP, will play in Galdakao for GDKO Bizkaia Ibaizabal of the Liga Femenina 2 (LF2), which is a second division conference in Spain. Last season, the Twin Bridges graduate led the Big Sky Conference in scoring averaging 18.8 points per game, while pulling down 7.6 rebounds per contest and shooting 50 percent from the field. Ferris was also a unanimous All-Big Sky First-Team selection.
"I think this will be a great experience," Ferris said. "It's a chance to go see part of the world that I probably wouldn't have seen if it weren't for this opportunity. The league is supposed to be a good and tough league, which is why I chose it over some of the level 1 opportunities in other countries."
For Ferris, signing to play professionally was the culmination of a dream.
"I always used to dress up on career day at school as a basketball player when I was a kid, so it's great to be able to take this next step to have basketball as a profession," Ferris stated. "Coming from a small Montana town, I'm glad to be able to capitalize on the brand that I've just kind of unconsciously built throughout my entire career for other people to embrace and look up to as well."
Nordgaard, who was a 2016-17 All-Big Sky Conference Second-Team selection and the 2015-16 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year, will play in Gijon for Basket Mar. The native of Canby, Minn., averaged 14.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last winter as MSU won its second straight Big Sky title. Nordgaard also finished the season second on the squad with 64 3-pointers.
"I'm really excited," Nordgaard said. "It's been a lifelong dream to play professionally. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to make that dream a reality. I also feel grateful to have had such a strong support system that has helped me through the hard times."
???????Nordgaard played two seasons for the Bobcats after transferring from NCAA Division II Augustana College in 2014.
"I especially want to thank Coach Bin, and all of my coaches and my parents in helping to develop both my game and me as an individual," Nordgaard commented. "I think it's primed me for this opportunity and will hopefully allow me to take my game to the next level."
Ferris and Nordgaard are the fourth and fifth Bobcats to turn professional under Binford's guidance. The duo joins Rebecca Mercer, Katie Bussey and Lindsay Stockton to play overseas. Stockton is playing for Elemental BlueWhite in Santander, Spain.
"We're excited that both Peyton and Riley are continuing their playing careers," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "They both have a lot of basketball left in them and they'll make an impact on the teams they're joining. In addition, this is a great opportunity for them to experience a different culture, while playing the sport they love."
Ferris, who was the 2016-17 Big Sky Conference MVP, will play in Galdakao for GDKO Bizkaia Ibaizabal of the Liga Femenina 2 (LF2), which is a second division conference in Spain. Last season, the Twin Bridges graduate led the Big Sky Conference in scoring averaging 18.8 points per game, while pulling down 7.6 rebounds per contest and shooting 50 percent from the field. Ferris was also a unanimous All-Big Sky First-Team selection.
"I think this will be a great experience," Ferris said. "It's a chance to go see part of the world that I probably wouldn't have seen if it weren't for this opportunity. The league is supposed to be a good and tough league, which is why I chose it over some of the level 1 opportunities in other countries."
For Ferris, signing to play professionally was the culmination of a dream.
"I always used to dress up on career day at school as a basketball player when I was a kid, so it's great to be able to take this next step to have basketball as a profession," Ferris stated. "Coming from a small Montana town, I'm glad to be able to capitalize on the brand that I've just kind of unconsciously built throughout my entire career for other people to embrace and look up to as well."
Nordgaard, who was a 2016-17 All-Big Sky Conference Second-Team selection and the 2015-16 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year, will play in Gijon for Basket Mar. The native of Canby, Minn., averaged 14.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last winter as MSU won its second straight Big Sky title. Nordgaard also finished the season second on the squad with 64 3-pointers.
"I'm really excited," Nordgaard said. "It's been a lifelong dream to play professionally. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to make that dream a reality. I also feel grateful to have had such a strong support system that has helped me through the hard times."
???????Nordgaard played two seasons for the Bobcats after transferring from NCAA Division II Augustana College in 2014.
"I especially want to thank Coach Bin, and all of my coaches and my parents in helping to develop both my game and me as an individual," Nordgaard commented. "I think it's primed me for this opportunity and will hopefully allow me to take my game to the next level."
Ferris and Nordgaard are the fourth and fifth Bobcats to turn professional under Binford's guidance. The duo joins Rebecca Mercer, Katie Bussey and Lindsay Stockton to play overseas. Stockton is playing for Elemental BlueWhite in Santander, Spain.
"We're excited that both Peyton and Riley are continuing their playing careers," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "They both have a lot of basketball left in them and they'll make an impact on the teams they're joining. In addition, this is a great opportunity for them to experience a different culture, while playing the sport they love."
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