Saturday, December 29
BOZEMAN
2 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Southern Utah
Oliana Squires drives past an Omaha defender.
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Cats Open Big Sky Play Hosting Southern Utah on Saturday Afternoon
12/27/2018 5:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State will meet Southern Utah on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m., and will ring the New Year with Northern Arizona, Monday, Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. - a special New Year’s Eve tipoff.
WHO: Southern Utah at Montana State
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018 @ 2 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Bozeman, MT - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: MSU- 5-5, 0-0; Southern Utah- 3-6, 0-0
SERIES: Montana State 17-5
LAST MTG: Montana State 63, @ So. Utah 57 - 1/27/18
RADIO: 103.5 KZMY with Jason Alvine on play-by-play
VIDEO: WatchBigSky.com; Pluto TV Channel 238
NEXT UP: The Bobcat women's basketball team will open its 2019 Big Sky Conference season when it hosts Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Montana State will meet Southern Utah on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m., and will ring the New Year with Northern Arizona, Monday, Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. - a special New Year's Eve tipoff.
ON A SERIES NOTE: Montana State leads its all-time series with Southern Utah 17-5. The Bobcats have won the last five straight from the Thunderbirds. SUU has never defeated MSU within the friendly confines of Worthington Arena. Southern Utah's last victory over Montana State (74-69) came on Jan. 22, 2015 in Cedar City.
STAT OF THE WEEK: The Bobcats are 17-13 all-time in league openers. The Big Sky Conference is entering its 31st season of women's basketball. In her 13 years at the helm of the Montana State women's basketball program head coach Tricia Binford is 6-7 in conference openers, including a 91-71 victory over Southern Utah to open Big Sky play, last winter.
MORE ON THE THUNDERBIRDS: Southern Utah enters Saturday's game with a 3-6 overall mark. During the non-conference season, the Thunderbirds raised some eyebrows with victories over San Diego and BYU. Under the direction of first-year head Tracy Sanders, Southern Utah is averaging 59 points per game, while giving up 67.1 to its opponents. On the season, the T-Birds have been led in scoring by Harley Hansen, Breanu Reid and Rebecca Cardenas who average 11.1, 10.7 and 10.6 points, respectively. Cardenas and Hansen, a transfer from Snow College, guide Southern Utah from long distance hitting 14 and 13 three-pointers, respectively. Under the boards, SUU gives up a slight 0.8 advantage to its opponents. Cardenas, a 5-5 point guard, leads the Thunderbirds hauling down 6.4 rebounds per game. Southern Utah is a quick start squad out-scoring its opponents 17.7 to 11.1 in the first quarter of play.
LOOKING AT LUNDBERG: Transfer Claire Lundberg has already made an impact on the court for the Bobcat women's basketball program. The Anoka High School product is third in the Big Sky averaging 18.4 points per contest. In addition, she is second in free throw percentage (88.2), field-goals made (67), field-goal percentage (50.4), points (184) and 3-point field-goal percentage (39.2). Lundberg opened the season hitting her first 22 attempts from the charity stripe, just three shy to the record held by Rebecca Mercer. On the season, Lundberg has been in double-digit scoring in all ten games, including four games with 20 points or more. She posted a season-high 28 points in MSU's win over Delaware on Nov. 16. Lundberg was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 20 after averaging 27 points and six rebounds per game as MSU knocked-off Delaware and Texas State in WNIT action. For the two games, the native of Andover, Minn., shot 76.2 percent from the field, 83.3 percent from beyond the arc; and was 17-17 at the charity stripe. In addition, she registered three steals. Lundberg threw a perfect game against Texas State hitting eight-of-eight from the field, four-of-four from long distance and six-of-six from the free throw line. Last week against South Dakota State, she posted 24 points on nine-of-14 shooting.
KUDERER'S KUDOS: Junior Martha Kuderer, who also sat out last season after transferring from Seton Hall, is averaging 9.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, after recording six points and two rebounds in MSU's loss to South Dakota State. Kuderer posted a season-best five steals against Omaha on Dec. 16. She had her best weekend of the season as Montana State faced Delaware and Texas State in the WNIT. The 5-11 forward from Eden Prairie, Minn., averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 62.5 percent from the field against the Blue Hens and Bobcats. Kuderer had her best outing against Texas State with a season-high 21 points, connecting on 8-12 from the floor. In MSU's win over Delaware, she posted 17 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double as a Bobcat. On the season, she has been in double-digit scoring on three occasions.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires is averaging 10.6 points per game through the first ten games of the season. The Colorado Springs, Colo., product notched a season-high 19 points in MSU's win over Omaha on Dec. 16. Squires also notched a career-high eight assists and hauled down a career-high seven rebounds against the Mavs. In the season-opener against No. 19-ranked Marquette, Squires nailed four 3-pointers. She has been in double-digit scoring in six of MSU's ten games. Squires is currently ranked 11th in the Big Sky Conference dishing out 1.7 assists per game.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Montana State sharp-shooter Tori Martell is still looking for a consistent stroke this season. The Somerset, Wis., native is 14-of-65 from long distance. Last season, Martell connected on 36 three-pointers, including 19 in the last eight games of the season. She is currently averaging 6.5 points per game. Martell recorded eight points, including a pair of three-pointers, along with two rebounds against South Dakota State on Dec. 18.
BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Juniors Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past two seasons. The duo has swapped starting time at the five and each average 17.8 minutes or more per contest. Braxton, a product of Highlands Ranch, Colo., is first on the team hauling down 5.7 rebounds per game, while Smith, from Snohomish, Wash., is second averaging 5.2 per contest. Braxton's best outing of the season came against Long Beach State with a career-high 15 points going 5-5 from the field and 5-5 from the line. Smith registered ten points and 11 boards against Long Beach State for her first double-double of the season. On the season, the duo is shooting an impressive 64 percent (49-77) from the floor.
THE WRIGHT STUFF: Freshman Halle Wright received her first start of the season against TCU on Dec. 8. The Aumsville, Ore., product posted four assists, three rebounds and two assists in her debut against the Horned Frogs. Wright missed the first three games of the season with a leg injury. She had her best outing of the season in MSU's win over Long Beach State with eight points, three boards and two assists. Wright hauled down five rebounds vs. South Dakota State.
FEET TO THE FIRE: Freshman Gabby Mocchi has played in all ten games and is averaging 2.1 points per game. She posted a season-best eight points at Wyoming on Nov. 27. The Champlin-Park grad recorded one triple against South Dakota State. Freshman Kamden Hilborn has played in nine games and has dished out nine assists, while adding eight steals on the season.
THROWING SHAIDE: Junior Madisyn Shaide had a career night against one of the best squads in the nation this season. Against then No. 19 Marquette, the Missoula native went two-of-four from beyond the arc for a career-high six points.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Cats saw the nation's second longest home court win streak snapped against Portland State on Jan. 11, 2018. The loss broke MSU's 31-game home streak, which was second to national power UConn (78). Before the loss to PSU, Montana State's last defeat in Worthington Arena was a 62-49 decision to San Diego on Nov. 24, 2015. MSU has won 38 of its last 41 games in The Brick. The Bobcats are averaging 2,772 fans per game, which includes its sold out crowd of 6,772 against Carroll College on Nov. 6. MSU is ranked 29th in the nation in attendance.
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018 @ 2 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Bozeman, MT - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: MSU- 5-5, 0-0; Southern Utah- 3-6, 0-0
SERIES: Montana State 17-5
LAST MTG: Montana State 63, @ So. Utah 57 - 1/27/18
RADIO: 103.5 KZMY with Jason Alvine on play-by-play
VIDEO: WatchBigSky.com; Pluto TV Channel 238
NEXT UP: The Bobcat women's basketball team will open its 2019 Big Sky Conference season when it hosts Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Montana State will meet Southern Utah on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m., and will ring the New Year with Northern Arizona, Monday, Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. - a special New Year's Eve tipoff.
ON A SERIES NOTE: Montana State leads its all-time series with Southern Utah 17-5. The Bobcats have won the last five straight from the Thunderbirds. SUU has never defeated MSU within the friendly confines of Worthington Arena. Southern Utah's last victory over Montana State (74-69) came on Jan. 22, 2015 in Cedar City.
STAT OF THE WEEK: The Bobcats are 17-13 all-time in league openers. The Big Sky Conference is entering its 31st season of women's basketball. In her 13 years at the helm of the Montana State women's basketball program head coach Tricia Binford is 6-7 in conference openers, including a 91-71 victory over Southern Utah to open Big Sky play, last winter.
MORE ON THE THUNDERBIRDS: Southern Utah enters Saturday's game with a 3-6 overall mark. During the non-conference season, the Thunderbirds raised some eyebrows with victories over San Diego and BYU. Under the direction of first-year head Tracy Sanders, Southern Utah is averaging 59 points per game, while giving up 67.1 to its opponents. On the season, the T-Birds have been led in scoring by Harley Hansen, Breanu Reid and Rebecca Cardenas who average 11.1, 10.7 and 10.6 points, respectively. Cardenas and Hansen, a transfer from Snow College, guide Southern Utah from long distance hitting 14 and 13 three-pointers, respectively. Under the boards, SUU gives up a slight 0.8 advantage to its opponents. Cardenas, a 5-5 point guard, leads the Thunderbirds hauling down 6.4 rebounds per game. Southern Utah is a quick start squad out-scoring its opponents 17.7 to 11.1 in the first quarter of play.
LOOKING AT LUNDBERG: Transfer Claire Lundberg has already made an impact on the court for the Bobcat women's basketball program. The Anoka High School product is third in the Big Sky averaging 18.4 points per contest. In addition, she is second in free throw percentage (88.2), field-goals made (67), field-goal percentage (50.4), points (184) and 3-point field-goal percentage (39.2). Lundberg opened the season hitting her first 22 attempts from the charity stripe, just three shy to the record held by Rebecca Mercer. On the season, Lundberg has been in double-digit scoring in all ten games, including four games with 20 points or more. She posted a season-high 28 points in MSU's win over Delaware on Nov. 16. Lundberg was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 20 after averaging 27 points and six rebounds per game as MSU knocked-off Delaware and Texas State in WNIT action. For the two games, the native of Andover, Minn., shot 76.2 percent from the field, 83.3 percent from beyond the arc; and was 17-17 at the charity stripe. In addition, she registered three steals. Lundberg threw a perfect game against Texas State hitting eight-of-eight from the field, four-of-four from long distance and six-of-six from the free throw line. Last week against South Dakota State, she posted 24 points on nine-of-14 shooting.
KUDERER'S KUDOS: Junior Martha Kuderer, who also sat out last season after transferring from Seton Hall, is averaging 9.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, after recording six points and two rebounds in MSU's loss to South Dakota State. Kuderer posted a season-best five steals against Omaha on Dec. 16. She had her best weekend of the season as Montana State faced Delaware and Texas State in the WNIT. The 5-11 forward from Eden Prairie, Minn., averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 62.5 percent from the field against the Blue Hens and Bobcats. Kuderer had her best outing against Texas State with a season-high 21 points, connecting on 8-12 from the floor. In MSU's win over Delaware, she posted 17 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double as a Bobcat. On the season, she has been in double-digit scoring on three occasions.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires is averaging 10.6 points per game through the first ten games of the season. The Colorado Springs, Colo., product notched a season-high 19 points in MSU's win over Omaha on Dec. 16. Squires also notched a career-high eight assists and hauled down a career-high seven rebounds against the Mavs. In the season-opener against No. 19-ranked Marquette, Squires nailed four 3-pointers. She has been in double-digit scoring in six of MSU's ten games. Squires is currently ranked 11th in the Big Sky Conference dishing out 1.7 assists per game.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Montana State sharp-shooter Tori Martell is still looking for a consistent stroke this season. The Somerset, Wis., native is 14-of-65 from long distance. Last season, Martell connected on 36 three-pointers, including 19 in the last eight games of the season. She is currently averaging 6.5 points per game. Martell recorded eight points, including a pair of three-pointers, along with two rebounds against South Dakota State on Dec. 18.
BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Juniors Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past two seasons. The duo has swapped starting time at the five and each average 17.8 minutes or more per contest. Braxton, a product of Highlands Ranch, Colo., is first on the team hauling down 5.7 rebounds per game, while Smith, from Snohomish, Wash., is second averaging 5.2 per contest. Braxton's best outing of the season came against Long Beach State with a career-high 15 points going 5-5 from the field and 5-5 from the line. Smith registered ten points and 11 boards against Long Beach State for her first double-double of the season. On the season, the duo is shooting an impressive 64 percent (49-77) from the floor.
THE WRIGHT STUFF: Freshman Halle Wright received her first start of the season against TCU on Dec. 8. The Aumsville, Ore., product posted four assists, three rebounds and two assists in her debut against the Horned Frogs. Wright missed the first three games of the season with a leg injury. She had her best outing of the season in MSU's win over Long Beach State with eight points, three boards and two assists. Wright hauled down five rebounds vs. South Dakota State.
FEET TO THE FIRE: Freshman Gabby Mocchi has played in all ten games and is averaging 2.1 points per game. She posted a season-best eight points at Wyoming on Nov. 27. The Champlin-Park grad recorded one triple against South Dakota State. Freshman Kamden Hilborn has played in nine games and has dished out nine assists, while adding eight steals on the season.
THROWING SHAIDE: Junior Madisyn Shaide had a career night against one of the best squads in the nation this season. Against then No. 19 Marquette, the Missoula native went two-of-four from beyond the arc for a career-high six points.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Cats saw the nation's second longest home court win streak snapped against Portland State on Jan. 11, 2018. The loss broke MSU's 31-game home streak, which was second to national power UConn (78). Before the loss to PSU, Montana State's last defeat in Worthington Arena was a 62-49 decision to San Diego on Nov. 24, 2015. MSU has won 38 of its last 41 games in The Brick. The Bobcats are averaging 2,772 fans per game, which includes its sold out crowd of 6,772 against Carroll College on Nov. 6. MSU is ranked 29th in the nation in attendance.
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