Saturday, February 2
BOZEMAN
2 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Montana
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
It's Cat-Griz Time
1/30/2019 2:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Bobcat women’s basketball team will conclude its first half of the Big Sky Conference schedule when it hosts Montana in the annual Brawl of the Wild series on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
WHO: Montana at Montana State
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 @ 2 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: MSU- 10-9, 5-4, Montana- 10-8, 5-4
SERIES: Montana 78-27
LAST MTG: February 24, 2018 - @UM 87, MSU 63
RADIO: 1450 KMMS AM with Jason Alvine on play-by-play
TV: SWX Montana, Chris Byers, play-by-play, Krista Redpath, color commentary
VIDEO: Pluto TV 238; WatchBigSky.com
NEXT UP: The Bobcat women's basketball team will conclude the first half of the Big Sky Conference schedule when it hosts Montana in the annual Brawl of the Wild series on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena. On Monday, MSU will begin the second half of the conference slate when it hosts league-leading Northern Colorado at 6 p.m., in Shroyer Gym. Please note time and venue for the Northern Colorado game on Monday night.
ON A SERIES NOTE: Despite Montana owning a sizeable 78-27 lead in its all-time series with the Bobcats dating back to the 1974-75 season, the Bobcats have claimed five of the last seven games from the Lady Griz. Last season, each team won on its home floor as MSU posted an 81-64 victory in Worthington Arena on Jan. 20, before Montana returned the favor 87-63 in Missoula. Head Coach Tricia Binford is 10-19 all-time against UM in her 14 years at the helm of the Bobcat program.
STAT OF THE WEEK: Despite its shooting woes last week, the Cats shot 82 percent from the line. MSU leads the Big Sky in free throws, shooting 78.8%.
THAT WAS THE GAME THAT WAS:
Like a good Dickens' novel, it was the tale of two halves.
Idaho State out-scored Montana State 34-14 in the second half, en route to a 61-43 victory over the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon in Reed Gym.
Idaho State (12-6, 7-2) held Montana State (10-9, 5-4) to nine points in the third quarter and just five in the final frame. MSU was one-of-11 from the field in the fourth quarter and finished the game shooting 21.7 percent overall.
Meanwhile, the Bengals shot 48 percent from the field in the second half to cruise to the win.
The first half saw the Bobcats right where they wanted to be as Martha Kuderer torched the Reed Gym net with 18 points, connecting on five-of-seven from the field, including a four-of-four effort from long distance and a four-of-four performance from the line.
The Bobcats held a 13-9 lead after the opening period and built the margin to 25-19 at the 5:13 mark of the second quarter following an Ashley Van Sickle three-pointer. MSU entered intermission sporting a slim 29-27 advantage.
Idaho State opened the second half with a 14-4 run and kept an eight-point cushion heading into the final 10-minutes. The Bobcats were unable to get any closer in the fourth quarter shooting a dismal 9.1 percent from the floor.
"We're learning how to put together a complete 40-minute effort," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "I was proud of our first half defense, and Martha really kept us in the game. In the second half we had some defensive breakdowns and missed box-outs along with unforced turnovers that are uncharacteristic of our team. ISU dominated the possession game off our miscues and we couldn't recover.
Despite pouring in 18 points in the first half, Kuderer was held scoreless in the second half. She was the only Bobcat to reach double-figures. MSU's top scorer Claire Lundberg finished with eight points, while Tori Martell added seven.
ISU also dominated the boards, out-rebounding MSU 40-25. Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton led the Bobcats with six and five rebounds, respectively.
Idaho State was paced by Grace Kenyon with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
MORE ON THE LADY GRIZ: Montana is tied with the Bobcats for fifth place in the Big Sky standings after splitting a pair of road games last weekend. The Lady Griz dropped a 50-34 decision at Idaho State on Thursday as the Bengals limited UM to an ISU record low offensive output. For the game, Montana reached double-digits in just one of the four quarters, and finished the contest shooting 25.9 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from beyond the arc. Sammy Fatkin paced the Lady Griz with 10 points. On Saturday, UM got back in the win column with a 72-60 victory at Weber State. All five Lady Griz starters reached double-figures, including a team-high 18 points from Gabi Harrington. On the season, UM is led by Jace Henderson, who averages 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
LAUDING LUNDBERG: Seton Hall transfer Claire Lundberg has made an immediate impact on the court. The Anoka High School product is sixth in the Big Sky averaging 17.6 points per contest. In addition, she is second in field-goals made (116), third in free throw percentage (87.1), three-point field-goal percentage (40.7) and points (334), fourth in three-point field-goals made (48), three-pointers per game (2.53), field-goals attempted (263), field-goal percentage (44.1) and three-point field-goals attempted (118). 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 17 of 19 games, including seven games with 20 points or more. She posted a season-high 28 points in MSU's win over Delaware on Nov. 16. Lundberg was Big Sky Player of the Week for Nov. 20 after averaging 27 points and six rebounds as MSU knocked-off Delaware and Texas State in WNIT action. The native of Andover, Minn., threw a perfect game against Texas State on Nov. 17 hitting eight-of-eight from the field, four-of-four from long distance and six-of-six from the free throw line. Last weekend at Weber State and Idaho State, Lundberg averaged 15.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting just 29.6 from the field.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires is averaging 10.6points per game. The Colorado Springs, Colo., product notched a season and career-high 21 points in MSU's win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 31. In the season-opener against No. 19-ranked Marquette, Squires nailed four 3-pointers. She has been in double-digit scoring in 12 of MSU's 19 games. Squires nearly pulled off a triple double at Sacramento State on Jan.5 with 13 points, a career-high ten rebounds and seven assists. Against Weber State on Thursday she dished out three assists.
KUDERER'S KUDOS: Junior Martha Kuderer, who also sat out last season after transferring from Seton Hall, is averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She had her best Big Sky outing recording 19 points and six rebounds in MSU's win at Sacramento State. Her best weekend of the season came against Delaware and Texas State in the WNIT when she averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 62.5 percent from the field. Kuderer had her best outing against Texas State with a season-high 21 points. In MSU's win over Delaware she posted 17 points and 10 rebounds for her only double-double at MSU. On the season, she has been in double-digit scoring on nine occasions.
BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Juniors Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past three seasons. The duo has swapped starting time at the five and each average 19.5 minutes or more per contest. Braxton, a product of Highlands Ranch, Colo., is first on the team hauling down 5.8 rebounds per game, while Smith, from Snohomish, Wash., is third averaging 5.1 per contest. Braxton recorded a career-high 18 points in MSU's loss to Idaho on Jan. 10. For the game, she connected on seven-of-11 from the field and was four-of-six from the line. She also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds and had a block. Smith registered a season-high 16 points against Northern Colorado knocking down seven-of-10 attempts to go along with seven rebounds. Smith has been in double-figure scoring on five occasions, while Braxton has four double-digit games. On the season, the duo has combined to shoot an impressive 57 percent (101-178) from the floor.
THE WRIGHT STUFF: Freshman Halle Wright received her first start against TCU on Dec. 8. The Aumsville, Ore., product missed the first three games with a leg injury, but has started 12 straight since coming back. She had one of her best games of the season against Eastern Washington seeing 36 minutes of action and recording 13 points, including nine points in the overtime period. She finished the game connecting on 5-of-8 from the field. Wright also added a season-high eight assists and seven rebounds. She is averaging 5.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in Big Sky action.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Montana State sophomore Tori Martell has connected on 28 three-pointers this season. The Somerset, Wis., native connected on 36 three-pointers, including 19 in the last eight games of the season, last winter. She is currently averaging 7.6 points per game in Big Sky play. Martell found her stroke from outside in Montana State's win at Northern Colorado on Jan. 14 scoring a career-high 19 points, which included a 5-of-8 performance from beyond the three-point line. She went 4-of-8 from long distance against EWU and was 3-of-6 from the arc at Weber State.
FEET TO THE FIRE: Freshman Gabby Mocchi has played in all 19 games and is averaging 2.3 points per game. She posted a season-best eight points at Wyoming on Nov. 27. Against Northern Colorado on Jan. 14 she connected on a pair of triples. Freshman Kamden Hilborn has played in 17 games and has dished out 25 assists, while adding eleven steals. The Helena High product is averaging 12.5 minutes per game.
THROWING SHAIDE: Madisyn Shaide had a career night against then No. 19 Marquette. The Missoula native went 2-of-4 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. 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 40 of its last 45 games in The Brick. The Bobcats are averaging 2,221 fans per game, which includes its sold out crowd of 6,772 against Carroll College on Nov. 6. MSU is ranked 56th in the nation in attendance.
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 @ 2 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: MSU- 10-9, 5-4, Montana- 10-8, 5-4
SERIES: Montana 78-27
LAST MTG: February 24, 2018 - @UM 87, MSU 63
RADIO: 1450 KMMS AM with Jason Alvine on play-by-play
TV: SWX Montana, Chris Byers, play-by-play, Krista Redpath, color commentary
VIDEO: Pluto TV 238; WatchBigSky.com
NEXT UP: The Bobcat women's basketball team will conclude the first half of the Big Sky Conference schedule when it hosts Montana in the annual Brawl of the Wild series on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena. On Monday, MSU will begin the second half of the conference slate when it hosts league-leading Northern Colorado at 6 p.m., in Shroyer Gym. Please note time and venue for the Northern Colorado game on Monday night.
ON A SERIES NOTE: Despite Montana owning a sizeable 78-27 lead in its all-time series with the Bobcats dating back to the 1974-75 season, the Bobcats have claimed five of the last seven games from the Lady Griz. Last season, each team won on its home floor as MSU posted an 81-64 victory in Worthington Arena on Jan. 20, before Montana returned the favor 87-63 in Missoula. Head Coach Tricia Binford is 10-19 all-time against UM in her 14 years at the helm of the Bobcat program.
STAT OF THE WEEK: Despite its shooting woes last week, the Cats shot 82 percent from the line. MSU leads the Big Sky in free throws, shooting 78.8%.
THAT WAS THE GAME THAT WAS:
Like a good Dickens' novel, it was the tale of two halves.
Idaho State out-scored Montana State 34-14 in the second half, en route to a 61-43 victory over the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon in Reed Gym.
Idaho State (12-6, 7-2) held Montana State (10-9, 5-4) to nine points in the third quarter and just five in the final frame. MSU was one-of-11 from the field in the fourth quarter and finished the game shooting 21.7 percent overall.
Meanwhile, the Bengals shot 48 percent from the field in the second half to cruise to the win.
The first half saw the Bobcats right where they wanted to be as Martha Kuderer torched the Reed Gym net with 18 points, connecting on five-of-seven from the field, including a four-of-four effort from long distance and a four-of-four performance from the line.
The Bobcats held a 13-9 lead after the opening period and built the margin to 25-19 at the 5:13 mark of the second quarter following an Ashley Van Sickle three-pointer. MSU entered intermission sporting a slim 29-27 advantage.
Idaho State opened the second half with a 14-4 run and kept an eight-point cushion heading into the final 10-minutes. The Bobcats were unable to get any closer in the fourth quarter shooting a dismal 9.1 percent from the floor.
"We're learning how to put together a complete 40-minute effort," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "I was proud of our first half defense, and Martha really kept us in the game. In the second half we had some defensive breakdowns and missed box-outs along with unforced turnovers that are uncharacteristic of our team. ISU dominated the possession game off our miscues and we couldn't recover.
Despite pouring in 18 points in the first half, Kuderer was held scoreless in the second half. She was the only Bobcat to reach double-figures. MSU's top scorer Claire Lundberg finished with eight points, while Tori Martell added seven.
ISU also dominated the boards, out-rebounding MSU 40-25. Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton led the Bobcats with six and five rebounds, respectively.
Idaho State was paced by Grace Kenyon with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
MORE ON THE LADY GRIZ: Montana is tied with the Bobcats for fifth place in the Big Sky standings after splitting a pair of road games last weekend. The Lady Griz dropped a 50-34 decision at Idaho State on Thursday as the Bengals limited UM to an ISU record low offensive output. For the game, Montana reached double-digits in just one of the four quarters, and finished the contest shooting 25.9 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from beyond the arc. Sammy Fatkin paced the Lady Griz with 10 points. On Saturday, UM got back in the win column with a 72-60 victory at Weber State. All five Lady Griz starters reached double-figures, including a team-high 18 points from Gabi Harrington. On the season, UM is led by Jace Henderson, who averages 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
LAUDING LUNDBERG: Seton Hall transfer Claire Lundberg has made an immediate impact on the court. The Anoka High School product is sixth in the Big Sky averaging 17.6 points per contest. In addition, she is second in field-goals made (116), third in free throw percentage (87.1), three-point field-goal percentage (40.7) and points (334), fourth in three-point field-goals made (48), three-pointers per game (2.53), field-goals attempted (263), field-goal percentage (44.1) and three-point field-goals attempted (118). 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 17 of 19 games, including seven games with 20 points or more. She posted a season-high 28 points in MSU's win over Delaware on Nov. 16. Lundberg was Big Sky Player of the Week for Nov. 20 after averaging 27 points and six rebounds as MSU knocked-off Delaware and Texas State in WNIT action. The native of Andover, Minn., threw a perfect game against Texas State on Nov. 17 hitting eight-of-eight from the field, four-of-four from long distance and six-of-six from the free throw line. Last weekend at Weber State and Idaho State, Lundberg averaged 15.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting just 29.6 from the field.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires is averaging 10.6points per game. The Colorado Springs, Colo., product notched a season and career-high 21 points in MSU's win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 31. In the season-opener against No. 19-ranked Marquette, Squires nailed four 3-pointers. She has been in double-digit scoring in 12 of MSU's 19 games. Squires nearly pulled off a triple double at Sacramento State on Jan.5 with 13 points, a career-high ten rebounds and seven assists. Against Weber State on Thursday she dished out three assists.
KUDERER'S KUDOS: Junior Martha Kuderer, who also sat out last season after transferring from Seton Hall, is averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She had her best Big Sky outing recording 19 points and six rebounds in MSU's win at Sacramento State. Her best weekend of the season came against Delaware and Texas State in the WNIT when she averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 62.5 percent from the field. Kuderer had her best outing against Texas State with a season-high 21 points. In MSU's win over Delaware she posted 17 points and 10 rebounds for her only double-double at MSU. On the season, she has been in double-digit scoring on nine occasions.
BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Juniors Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past three seasons. The duo has swapped starting time at the five and each average 19.5 minutes or more per contest. Braxton, a product of Highlands Ranch, Colo., is first on the team hauling down 5.8 rebounds per game, while Smith, from Snohomish, Wash., is third averaging 5.1 per contest. Braxton recorded a career-high 18 points in MSU's loss to Idaho on Jan. 10. For the game, she connected on seven-of-11 from the field and was four-of-six from the line. She also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds and had a block. Smith registered a season-high 16 points against Northern Colorado knocking down seven-of-10 attempts to go along with seven rebounds. Smith has been in double-figure scoring on five occasions, while Braxton has four double-digit games. On the season, the duo has combined to shoot an impressive 57 percent (101-178) from the floor.
THE WRIGHT STUFF: Freshman Halle Wright received her first start against TCU on Dec. 8. The Aumsville, Ore., product missed the first three games with a leg injury, but has started 12 straight since coming back. She had one of her best games of the season against Eastern Washington seeing 36 minutes of action and recording 13 points, including nine points in the overtime period. She finished the game connecting on 5-of-8 from the field. Wright also added a season-high eight assists and seven rebounds. She is averaging 5.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in Big Sky action.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Montana State sophomore Tori Martell has connected on 28 three-pointers this season. The Somerset, Wis., native connected on 36 three-pointers, including 19 in the last eight games of the season, last winter. She is currently averaging 7.6 points per game in Big Sky play. Martell found her stroke from outside in Montana State's win at Northern Colorado on Jan. 14 scoring a career-high 19 points, which included a 5-of-8 performance from beyond the three-point line. She went 4-of-8 from long distance against EWU and was 3-of-6 from the arc at Weber State.
FEET TO THE FIRE: Freshman Gabby Mocchi has played in all 19 games and is averaging 2.3 points per game. She posted a season-best eight points at Wyoming on Nov. 27. Against Northern Colorado on Jan. 14 she connected on a pair of triples. Freshman Kamden Hilborn has played in 17 games and has dished out 25 assists, while adding eleven steals. The Helena High product is averaging 12.5 minutes per game.
THROWING SHAIDE: Madisyn Shaide had a career night against then No. 19 Marquette. The Missoula native went 2-of-4 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. 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 40 of its last 45 games in The Brick. The Bobcats are averaging 2,221 fans per game, which includes its sold out crowd of 6,772 against Carroll College on Nov. 6. MSU is ranked 56th in the nation in attendance.
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