Saturday, January 5
Sacramento, CA
3 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Sacramento State
Blaire Braxton finishes the fastbreak.
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Women at Sacramento State
1/4/2019 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Bobcat women’s basketball team closes out its first Big Sky road trip of the season at Sacramento State, Saturday, Jan. 5 at 3 p.m. (MT).
WHO: Montana State at Sacramento State
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 @ 3 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Sacramento, CA - The Nest (1,012)
RECORDS: MSU- 7-6, 2-1, Sacramento State- 4-6, 0-2
SERIES: Montana State leads 32-12
LAST MTG: Feb. 8, 2018 - @ SAC 88, MSU 77
RADIO: 103.5 KZMY FM with Jason Alvine on play-by-play
VIDEO: WatchBigSky.com; Pluto TV ch. 233
NEXT UP: The Bobcat women's basketball team closes out its first Big Sky road trip of the season at Sacramento State, Saturday, Jan. 5 at 3 p.m. (MT).
ON A SERIES NOTE: Montana State leads its all-time series with Sacramento State 32-12 dating back to Jan. 24, 1997- a 70-51 Bobcat victory in Worthington Arena. Last winter, the two Big Sky rivals split its season series, each winning on its home floor. Sacramento State snapped a five-game losing streak to Montana State with its 88-77 win over the Bobcats in The Nest on Feb. 8, 2018. MSU's last win at Sacramento State, 104-82, came on Feb. 18, 2017. In their last 10 meetings, three games have seen a team hit the 100-point plateau- Jan. 2, 2014 @SAC 107, MSU 95; Feb. 6, 2016 @MSU 116, SAC 99; Feb. 18, 2017 MSU 104, @SAC 82.
STAT OF THE WEEK: The Bobcats were clutch from the free throw line in both games last weekend. In all, Montana State shot 83.7 percent (41-49) from the line. Even more impressive was hitting 100 percent (18-18) from the stripe - combined - in the final two minutes of both games.
THAT WAS THE GAME THAT WAS:
Montana State had Portland State on the ropes leading by nine points entering the fourth quarter, but the Vikings out-scored the Bobcats 20-9 in the final frame to post a 55-53 win on a pair of Ashley Bolston free throws with 5.7-seconds remaining, Thursday night in Viking Pavilion.
Montana State (7-6, 2-1) got out to an impressive 20-2 start shooting 42 percent from the field, while holding Portland State (9-2, 1-1) to just 17 percent. The Bobcats held a 20-7 lead after the opening period behind nine points from Claire Lundberg.
Despite being out-scored by the Vikings in the second quarter, MSU held a 44-35 advantage at intermission.
The two teams traded points in the third period and MSU took a 44-35 margin into the final 10-minutes.
Portland State opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to pull to within 44-42 with 5:58 left on a Sidney Reilly jumper. A pair of Martha Kuderer free throws pushed MSU's lead back to six points with 4:46 remaining, but PSU answered with a 6-0 run to even the contest.
The score was tied four times down the stretch. A pair of Kamden Hilborn free throws with 1:49 left gave MSU a 53-51 advantage. Bolston then nailed a jumper with just over a minute to go, and her two charity tosses in the final seconds gave the Vikings its only lead of the game.
"We had our opportunities and just didn't finish the last couple of possessions," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford.
Lundberg finished with a team-high 16 points, while Kuderer and Madeline Smith each chipped in ten points, apiece.
MSU out-rebounded PSU 44-36 and were paced under the glass by Smith with eight rebounds. Freshman Gabby Mocchi added a season-best seven boards.
Bolston was the only Vikings player to reach double-digits with 14 points
MORE ON THE HORNETS: Sacramento State is 4-6 overall and 0-2 in Big Sky Conference play after dropping a double-overtime decision to Montana, 88-86, on Thursday night in The Nest. The Hornets held a 38-34 advantage at intermission. Going into the final frame, UM held a one-point lead and Sacramento State needed a bucket at the buzzer to force overtime. Each team scored 10 points in the first OT to go in to a second extended period. With the Lady Griz leading 87-86, a last second shot by the Hornets clung to the front of the rim before falling out. Montana hit one free throw in the final seconds for the two-point victory. Sacramento State had three players in double-figures led by Gabi Bade with 26, Hannah Friend 23 and Kennedy Nicholas. UM out-rebounded the Hornets 53-36 and out-scored Sacramento State on second chance points 17-4. The Hornets were led under the glass by Nicholas with a game-high 10 rebounds. For the game, Sacramento State shot 44.4 percent from the field and connected on 11-of-26 from beyond the arc. On the season, Friend averages 21.5 points and 8.4 boards per game, while Nicholas chips in 14.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per outing.
PRESEASON WNIT: MSU played in the preseason WNIT for the first time in its history. The Cats fell at #19 Marquette 100-52 in Milwaukee on Nov. 9. MSU rebounded to win its consolation pod defeating Delaware 69-60 and Texas State 67-59. Marquette went on to defeat Northern Iowa 102-61, before falling to Miami 63-55 in the semifinals. Iowa State captured the WNIT title with a 75-52 win over Miami.
LAUDING LUNDBERG: Transfer Claire Lundberg has made an immediate impact on the court for the Bobcat women's basketball program. The Anoka High School product is third in the Big Sky averaging 18.5 points per contest. In addition, she is first in three-point field-goal percentage (41.7), second in free throw percentage (90.0), field-goals made (87), field-goal percentage (48.6) and points (240), third in 3-point field-goal made (30) and field-goals attempted (179) and fifth in 3-point field-goals per game (2.31). 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 13 games, including five 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 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. Lundberg 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. Against Portland State on Thursday night, Lundberg posted 16 points, including four 3-pointers.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires is averaging 10.8 points per game. The Colorado Springs, Colo., product notched a season-high, as well as a career-high 21 points in MSU's win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 31. Against the Lumberjacks, she went 5-of-11 from the floor and was nine-of-10 from the line. Against Omaha on Dec. 16. Squires notched a career-high eight assists and seven rebounds. In the season-opener against No. 19-ranked Marquette, Squires nailed four 3-pointers. She has been in double-digit scoring in eight of MSU's 13 games. Squires recorded 10 points in the fourth quarter against Southern Utah a week ago, finishing with 13 points, including a 7-of-7 effort at the line. She went scoreless at Portland State on Thursday night.
KUDERER'S KUDOS: Junior Martha Kuderer, who also sat out last season after transferring from Seton Hall, is averaging 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, after recording 10 points and six boards in MSU's loss at Portland State on Thursday. She had her best weekend of the season as Montana State faced Delaware and Texas State in the WNIT in November. 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 six occasions, including the last three games.
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 18.8 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 5.2 per contest. Braxton's best outing of the season came against Long Beach State with a career-high 15 points going 5-of-5 from the field and 5-of--5 from the line. She also provided a spark off the bench for MSU against Northern Arizona on Monday with 13 points and seven rebounds. Smith registered ten points and 11 boards against Long Beach State for her first double-double of the season. Smith posted 10 points and eight boards against Portland State on Thursday. On the season, the duo has combined to shoot an impressive 59 percent (67-113) from the floor.
THE WRIGHT STUFF: Freshman Halle Wright received her first start against TCU on Dec. 8. The Aumsville, Ore., product posted four assists and three rebounds in her debut against the Horned Frogs. Wright missed the first three games 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 went scoreless at Portland State on Thursday.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Montana State sophomore Tori Martell has connected on 15 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 5.7 points per game. Martell recorded three points, three rebounds and two assists as the Bobcats defeated Southern Utah last Saturday afternoon in Worthington Arena.
FEET TO THE FIRE: Freshman Gabby Mocchi has played in all 13 games and is averaging 2.2 points per game. She posted a season-best eight points at Wyoming on Nov. 27. Freshman Kamden Hilborn has played in 12 games and has dished out 15 assists, while adding eleven steals. On Thursday, the Helena High product scored a season-high 8 points and added 3 assists.
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 43 games in The Brick. The Bobcats are averaging 2,344 fans per game, which includes its sold out crowd of 6,772 against Carroll College on Nov. 6. MSU is ranked 51st in the nation in attendance.
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 @ 3 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Sacramento, CA - The Nest (1,012)
RECORDS: MSU- 7-6, 2-1, Sacramento State- 4-6, 0-2
SERIES: Montana State leads 32-12
LAST MTG: Feb. 8, 2018 - @ SAC 88, MSU 77
RADIO: 103.5 KZMY FM with Jason Alvine on play-by-play
VIDEO: WatchBigSky.com; Pluto TV ch. 233
NEXT UP: The Bobcat women's basketball team closes out its first Big Sky road trip of the season at Sacramento State, Saturday, Jan. 5 at 3 p.m. (MT).
ON A SERIES NOTE: Montana State leads its all-time series with Sacramento State 32-12 dating back to Jan. 24, 1997- a 70-51 Bobcat victory in Worthington Arena. Last winter, the two Big Sky rivals split its season series, each winning on its home floor. Sacramento State snapped a five-game losing streak to Montana State with its 88-77 win over the Bobcats in The Nest on Feb. 8, 2018. MSU's last win at Sacramento State, 104-82, came on Feb. 18, 2017. In their last 10 meetings, three games have seen a team hit the 100-point plateau- Jan. 2, 2014 @SAC 107, MSU 95; Feb. 6, 2016 @MSU 116, SAC 99; Feb. 18, 2017 MSU 104, @SAC 82.
STAT OF THE WEEK: The Bobcats were clutch from the free throw line in both games last weekend. In all, Montana State shot 83.7 percent (41-49) from the line. Even more impressive was hitting 100 percent (18-18) from the stripe - combined - in the final two minutes of both games.
THAT WAS THE GAME THAT WAS:
Montana State had Portland State on the ropes leading by nine points entering the fourth quarter, but the Vikings out-scored the Bobcats 20-9 in the final frame to post a 55-53 win on a pair of Ashley Bolston free throws with 5.7-seconds remaining, Thursday night in Viking Pavilion.
Montana State (7-6, 2-1) got out to an impressive 20-2 start shooting 42 percent from the field, while holding Portland State (9-2, 1-1) to just 17 percent. The Bobcats held a 20-7 lead after the opening period behind nine points from Claire Lundberg.
Despite being out-scored by the Vikings in the second quarter, MSU held a 44-35 advantage at intermission.
The two teams traded points in the third period and MSU took a 44-35 margin into the final 10-minutes.
Portland State opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to pull to within 44-42 with 5:58 left on a Sidney Reilly jumper. A pair of Martha Kuderer free throws pushed MSU's lead back to six points with 4:46 remaining, but PSU answered with a 6-0 run to even the contest.
The score was tied four times down the stretch. A pair of Kamden Hilborn free throws with 1:49 left gave MSU a 53-51 advantage. Bolston then nailed a jumper with just over a minute to go, and her two charity tosses in the final seconds gave the Vikings its only lead of the game.
"We had our opportunities and just didn't finish the last couple of possessions," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford.
Lundberg finished with a team-high 16 points, while Kuderer and Madeline Smith each chipped in ten points, apiece.
MSU out-rebounded PSU 44-36 and were paced under the glass by Smith with eight rebounds. Freshman Gabby Mocchi added a season-best seven boards.
Bolston was the only Vikings player to reach double-digits with 14 points
MORE ON THE HORNETS: Sacramento State is 4-6 overall and 0-2 in Big Sky Conference play after dropping a double-overtime decision to Montana, 88-86, on Thursday night in The Nest. The Hornets held a 38-34 advantage at intermission. Going into the final frame, UM held a one-point lead and Sacramento State needed a bucket at the buzzer to force overtime. Each team scored 10 points in the first OT to go in to a second extended period. With the Lady Griz leading 87-86, a last second shot by the Hornets clung to the front of the rim before falling out. Montana hit one free throw in the final seconds for the two-point victory. Sacramento State had three players in double-figures led by Gabi Bade with 26, Hannah Friend 23 and Kennedy Nicholas. UM out-rebounded the Hornets 53-36 and out-scored Sacramento State on second chance points 17-4. The Hornets were led under the glass by Nicholas with a game-high 10 rebounds. For the game, Sacramento State shot 44.4 percent from the field and connected on 11-of-26 from beyond the arc. On the season, Friend averages 21.5 points and 8.4 boards per game, while Nicholas chips in 14.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per outing.
PRESEASON WNIT: MSU played in the preseason WNIT for the first time in its history. The Cats fell at #19 Marquette 100-52 in Milwaukee on Nov. 9. MSU rebounded to win its consolation pod defeating Delaware 69-60 and Texas State 67-59. Marquette went on to defeat Northern Iowa 102-61, before falling to Miami 63-55 in the semifinals. Iowa State captured the WNIT title with a 75-52 win over Miami.
LAUDING LUNDBERG: Transfer Claire Lundberg has made an immediate impact on the court for the Bobcat women's basketball program. The Anoka High School product is third in the Big Sky averaging 18.5 points per contest. In addition, she is first in three-point field-goal percentage (41.7), second in free throw percentage (90.0), field-goals made (87), field-goal percentage (48.6) and points (240), third in 3-point field-goal made (30) and field-goals attempted (179) and fifth in 3-point field-goals per game (2.31). 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 13 games, including five 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 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. Lundberg 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. Against Portland State on Thursday night, Lundberg posted 16 points, including four 3-pointers.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires is averaging 10.8 points per game. The Colorado Springs, Colo., product notched a season-high, as well as a career-high 21 points in MSU's win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 31. Against the Lumberjacks, she went 5-of-11 from the floor and was nine-of-10 from the line. Against Omaha on Dec. 16. Squires notched a career-high eight assists and seven rebounds. In the season-opener against No. 19-ranked Marquette, Squires nailed four 3-pointers. She has been in double-digit scoring in eight of MSU's 13 games. Squires recorded 10 points in the fourth quarter against Southern Utah a week ago, finishing with 13 points, including a 7-of-7 effort at the line. She went scoreless at Portland State on Thursday night.
KUDERER'S KUDOS: Junior Martha Kuderer, who also sat out last season after transferring from Seton Hall, is averaging 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, after recording 10 points and six boards in MSU's loss at Portland State on Thursday. She had her best weekend of the season as Montana State faced Delaware and Texas State in the WNIT in November. 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 six occasions, including the last three games.
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 18.8 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 5.2 per contest. Braxton's best outing of the season came against Long Beach State with a career-high 15 points going 5-of-5 from the field and 5-of--5 from the line. She also provided a spark off the bench for MSU against Northern Arizona on Monday with 13 points and seven rebounds. Smith registered ten points and 11 boards against Long Beach State for her first double-double of the season. Smith posted 10 points and eight boards against Portland State on Thursday. On the season, the duo has combined to shoot an impressive 59 percent (67-113) from the floor.
THE WRIGHT STUFF: Freshman Halle Wright received her first start against TCU on Dec. 8. The Aumsville, Ore., product posted four assists and three rebounds in her debut against the Horned Frogs. Wright missed the first three games 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 went scoreless at Portland State on Thursday.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Montana State sophomore Tori Martell has connected on 15 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 5.7 points per game. Martell recorded three points, three rebounds and two assists as the Bobcats defeated Southern Utah last Saturday afternoon in Worthington Arena.
FEET TO THE FIRE: Freshman Gabby Mocchi has played in all 13 games and is averaging 2.2 points per game. She posted a season-best eight points at Wyoming on Nov. 27. Freshman Kamden Hilborn has played in 12 games and has dished out 15 assists, while adding eleven steals. On Thursday, the Helena High product scored a season-high 8 points and added 3 assists.
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 43 games in The Brick. The Bobcats are averaging 2,344 fans per game, which includes its sold out crowd of 6,772 against Carroll College on Nov. 6. MSU is ranked 51st in the nation in attendance.
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