Monday, November 4
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Northwest Nazarene (Ex.)
Senior Oliana Squires
Photo by: Brooks Nuanez
Bobcat Basketball Opens 2019-20 Season Hosting Northwest Nazarene in Exhibition Action
11/1/2019 5:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Montana State women’s basketball team will open its 2019-20 season when it hosts Northwest Nazarene, Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana State women's basketball team will open its 2019-20 season when it hosts Northwest Nazarene, Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The game is slated as an exhibition contest for both squads and will not count in the won/loss records.
Montana State enters the season as the Big Sky Conference's preseason favorites. The Bobcats were picked to finish atop the league in both the preseason coaches' and media polls. In addition, transfer Fallyn Freije was tabbed as the Big Sky's preseason MVP, while senior Oliana Squires was also named to the All-Big Sky Conference preseason team.
Last season, the Bobcats posted a 16-15 overall record and an 11-9 league ledger. MSU fell to eventual Big Sky champion Portland State 68-56 in quarterfinal action. MSU returns four starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad.
"We're excited to get the season started," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who enters her 15th season at the helm of the Bobcat program. "Northwest Nazarene is coming off an outstanding season and will give us a good test. We still have a lot of work to do before the regular-season opener, but this game will give us a good sense for where we are, and where we need to get to by next Friday night."
Northwest Nazarene was picked to finish fourth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Nighthawks are coming off a 29-3 record that included the program's first GNAC tournament championship and a trip to the NCAA West Regional semifinals.
NNU will feature Avery Albrecht, who was first-team All-GNAC and Second-Team All-West Region last season. Albrecht averaged 13.7 points per game a year ago. She is joined by fellow senior Marina Valles, who was a second team All-GNAC selection.
Montana State will tipoff its regular-season schedule when it hosts UC Davis on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The Aggies are coming off its third consecutive Big West Conference regular-season title. UC Davis posted a 25-7 overall mark and a 15-1 league record, last winter.
Montana State enters the season as the Big Sky Conference's preseason favorites. The Bobcats were picked to finish atop the league in both the preseason coaches' and media polls. In addition, transfer Fallyn Freije was tabbed as the Big Sky's preseason MVP, while senior Oliana Squires was also named to the All-Big Sky Conference preseason team.
Last season, the Bobcats posted a 16-15 overall record and an 11-9 league ledger. MSU fell to eventual Big Sky champion Portland State 68-56 in quarterfinal action. MSU returns four starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad.
"We're excited to get the season started," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who enters her 15th season at the helm of the Bobcat program. "Northwest Nazarene is coming off an outstanding season and will give us a good test. We still have a lot of work to do before the regular-season opener, but this game will give us a good sense for where we are, and where we need to get to by next Friday night."
Northwest Nazarene was picked to finish fourth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Nighthawks are coming off a 29-3 record that included the program's first GNAC tournament championship and a trip to the NCAA West Regional semifinals.
NNU will feature Avery Albrecht, who was first-team All-GNAC and Second-Team All-West Region last season. Albrecht averaged 13.7 points per game a year ago. She is joined by fellow senior Marina Valles, who was a second team All-GNAC selection.
Montana State will tipoff its regular-season schedule when it hosts UC Davis on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The Aggies are coming off its third consecutive Big West Conference regular-season title. UC Davis posted a 25-7 overall mark and a 15-1 league record, last winter.
Players Mentioned
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