Bobcats Pluck Blue Hens

Friday, November 16

San Marcos, TX

3 p.m.

Montana State University

2-1

Delaware (WNIT)

0-2

Montana State

Delaware

Oliana Squires scores two of her 13 points on Friday afternoon.

Photo by: Kirby Crumpler

11/16/2018 7:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

“Delaware is a really tough team and they’re very athletic,” said MSU 14th-year head coach Tricia Binford. “We came out of the gate ready to go, but their press definitely threw us off in the second quarter and they took some momentum going into halftime.”

By: Tom Schulz

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Montana State senior Claire Lundberg recorded a game-high 28 points, including an 11-of-11 effort from the free throw line to lift the Bobcats to a 69-60 win over Delaware in the first-round of consolation play in the preseason WNIT hosted by Texas State University on Friday afternoon.

Lundberg, MSU's lone senior who sat out last season after transferring from Seton Hall, gave Montana State (2-1) its largest lead of the game at 35-12 at the 6:25 mark of the second quarter after going end-to-end for a layin.

Delaware (0-2) took control following Lundberg's bucket holding the Bobcats scoreless for the remainder of the frame and rattling of a 13-0 run. Montana State entered intermission with a 35-25 advantage.

"Delaware is a really tough team and they're very athletic," said MSU 14^th-year head coach Tricia Binford. "We came out of the gate ready to go, but their press definitely threw us off in the second quarter and they took some momentum going into halftime."

The Blue Hens opened the third quarter with four consecutive baskets over a two-minutes, 15-seconds span to close to within 35-33. Delaware's run of 21 unanswered points ended as Oliana Squires drained back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Bobcats a little breathing room. The combination of Lundberg and Martha Kuderer helped give MSU a 51-40 lead heading into the final stanza.

"I like how we responded in the third," Binford said. "Oliana set the tempo on the defensive end and we started switching aggressively. I thought we were aggressive in attacking the press. Claire and Martha really gave us a boost offensively as well. It was a complete team performance and we did a nice job of sticking together."

Lundberg netted seven of MSU's nine points to open the final frame giving the Bobcats a 60-42 cushion. Delaware was able to cut the margin to 67-60 on a three-pointer with 28-seconds left. MSU secured the victory at the free throw line going seven-of-eight from the stripe in the final two minutes.

Lundberg's 11-of-11 effort was second only to former Montana State standouts Cass Bauer and Rachel Semansky, who went 12-of-12 from the line in 1993 and 2013, respectively.

Kuderer and Squires also hit double-figure scoring. Kuderer, who also sat out last season after transferring from Seton Hall, ended with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Squires added 13 points, including three triples. Sophomore Tori Martell chipped in a team-high four assists and four steals to go along with eight points.

MSU post players Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton also helped the Bobcats under the boards with six and five rebounds, respectively. MSU held a 42-39 advantage under the glass.

Delaware was paced by Samone DeFreese with 20 points and six rebounds.

Montana State will play either Texas State or Nicholls State on Saturday at either 3 or 5:30 p.m. (MT) on Saturday afternoon.

NOTE: Check www.msubobcats.com later this evening or tomorrow morning for opponent, game time and radio information.