Friday, December 20
Guaynabo, P.R.
9 a.m.
Montana State University
vs
Wichita State University
The Bobcats will play Wichita State and Texas A&M this weekend in Puerto Rico.
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Women Travel to Coqui Classic in Puerto Rico
12/16/2019 2:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State will play two games in the Coqui Classic in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Dec. 20-21 to close out its non-conference schedule. The Bobcats will face Wichita State on Friday, Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. (MT) and will conclude action against No.11th-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
WHO: Wichita State vs. Montana State
WHEN: Friday, December 20, 2019 @ 9 a.m. (MT)
WHERE: Guaynabo, P.R. - Mario Morales Coliseo (5,500)
RECORDS: MSU: 4-3 overall, Wichita State 6-4 overall
SERIES: First Meeting
LAST MTG: First Meeting
RADIO: Live on KMMS 1450 AM with Tom Schulz on the call; pregame begins 15-minutes prior to opening tip.
VIDEO: Montana State's game at the Coqui Classic in Puerto Rico available at www.youtube.com/c/TopTechStudios
LIVE STATS: Live statistics can be accessed at bobcatstats.com
NEXT UP: Montana State will play two games in the Coqui Classic in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Dec. 20-21 to close out its non-conference schedule. The Bobcats will face Wichita State on Friday, Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. (MT) and will conclude action against No.11th-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
COQUI CLASSIC: Six teams will compete in the Coqui Classic on Friday and Saturday in Puerto Rico. Besides MSU, Wichita State and Texas A&M, also participating will be Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Rice.
SERIES NOTE: Montana State and Wichita State will meet for the first time. The Bobcats trails Texas A&M 2-0 in its all-time series with the Aggies. Texas A&M defeated MSU 61-43 on Dec. 12, 1986 and 64-50 on Dec. 19, 1988.
LOOKING AHEAD: Following its games at the Coqui Classic in Puerto Rico, the Cats will take a week off for the holidays before opening its Big Sky Conference schedule at Sacramento State on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m. MSU finishes the road trip at Northern Arizona on Monday, Dec. 30 at 6:30 p.m.
MORE ON THE SHOCKERS/AGGIES: Wichita State (6-4) cruised to a 100-50 victory over Arkansas Pine Bluff on Monday morning. Five players hit double-figures against UAPB led by Mariah McCully and Reid with 17 points, apiece. For the game, the Shockers shot 50 percent from the field and went 36-45 from the line. On the season, McCully has paced WSU averaging 12.6 points per game. No. 11 Texas A&M is 9-1 overall after defeating Houston 72-43 on Sunday to give head coach Gary Blair his 800th career victory. The Aggies are led by Chennedy Carter, who averages 22.7 ppg.
BOBCATS VS. TOP 25: Montana State is 3-23 all-time against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 or the USA Today/WBCA Coaches polls, following its 70-55 loss to No. 17-ranked Gonzaga on Dec. 5. MSU's victories have come over Montana, twice, when the Lady Griz were ranked. The Bobcats defeated #17 Montana (58-52 in Bozeman) on March 4, 1994 as well as #16 Montana (58-56 in Bozeman) on March 5, 1988. MSU's other victory of an AP Top 25 school came at #21 Boise State (69-68) on Jan. 28. 1994. The highest ranked team Montana State have ever played was #2 Baylor on Nov. 13, 2010, which resulted in a 93-56 loss in Waco. MSU has met Gonzaga once while the Zags were listed at No. 24. The Bulldogs won the contest 89-60 on Nov. 21, 2014. MSU has faced Texas A&M twice, but never when the Aggies have been ranked.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires, a 2019-20 preseason All-Big Sky Conference pick, is currently averaging a team-best 12.0 points per game. She posted 14 points in MSU last outing against No. 18 Gonzaga on Dec. 5 going 7-16 from the field. The senior tri-captain is first on the squad in assists (19) and three-point makes (12). Last winter, Squires earned All-Big Sky Conference Third-Team accolades after guiding the Bobcats averaging 11.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and a steal per game. Squires' 92% free throw rate was tops on the squad last winter and her 94% Big Sky free throw percentage was best in the league.
MAD ABOUT YOU: Madeline Smith, who played in all 31 games, including 23 starts for the Bobcats last season, is currently averaging 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, after notching seven points and five rebounds in MSU's loss to No. 18 Gonzaga on Dec. 5. The Snohomish, Wash., product posted MSU's first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Cats' victory over MSU Northern. After seven games, Smith is shooting 59.5% from the field. Last winter, Smith averaged 8.8 points per game and was third in the Big Sky in field-goal percentage, shooting 53.7% from the floor. She had ten games in double-figure scoring and posted a career-high 27 points against Southern Utah. Her current total of 552 rebounds ranks 18th all-time.
MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all seven games and is averaging 7.1 points per game, while shooting 45% from the field. She has been in double-digits on two occasions, including a season-high 17 points in MSU's win over Carroll College. Last winter, the Eden Prairie, Minn., product averaged 10 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Kuderer posted 11 games in double-figure scoring. She recorded a season-high 21 points against Texas State in preseason WNIT action. Her 44 steals were the best on the squad.
BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats, last winter, is currently third on the team averaging 4.4 rebounds per game. In addition, Braxton is averaging 2.9 points per game. Braxton ended the 2018-19 campaign averaging 7.0 points per outing and notched seven games in double-figure scoring, including a career-high 18 points against Idaho. She also recorded two double-digit rebounding games, including a season-high 13 boards in MSU's win at Eastern Washington. She saw remarkable improvement in field-goal percentage shooting a team-best 55.8% from the field. Braxton's 54% shooting acumen in Big Sky games was third best in the league. Braxton is currently 16th on MSU's all-time rebounding chart with 581 boards.
PRESEASON MVP: Despite not playing in a game for over a year and not ever wearing the Blue and Gold, senior Fallyn Freije was named preseason Big Sky Conference MVP. The Edmore, N.D. product played three seasons at North Dakota before transferring to Bozeman. Freije was a two-time All-Big Sky performer for the Fighting Hawks, where she averaged 13.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a junior. She played in 90 games and started in 58. Freije has recorded 918 points and has amassed 551 rebounds over the course of her collegiate career.
DEEP FREIJE: Senior Fallyn Freije currently third on the team averaging 10.3 points per game. She is first on the squad hauling down 7.0 rebounds, as well. On the season, Freije has been in double-digit scoring on four occasions, including a season-high 13 points in MSU's win over Carroll College.
BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Seniors Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past three seasons. The duo will finish their eligibility this season and will go down as one of the best tandems to ever guard the glass in Worthington Arena. Blythe Hommes/Julie Brown combined for a program record 1,248 rebounds when they finished their careers in 1997. Other top performers include Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196, 1991; Braxton/Smith, 1,133, 2020; and Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034, 2001.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on ten 3-pointers in the early season. She is averaging 6.9 points per game coming off the bench and is shooting 46.2% from the field and 38.5% from long distance. Last winter, Martell saw action in 29 games, including 18 starts and averaged 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. She registered a season-best five triples in Montana State's win at Northern Colorado and ended the game with a career-high 19 points converting six-of-11 from the field.
FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White is off to a fast start in the Blue and Gold. The Boise, Idaho product has started all seven games and is third on the team averaging 9.9 points game. White is also second in assists (16) and fifth in rebounding (4.0). On the season, she has been in double-figure scoring four times, including a season-high 15 points against UC Davis. Last winter, White was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year. White had six points and three rebounds against No. 18 Gonzaga on Dec. 5 in Worthington Arena.
ALL JACKED UP: True-freshman Maddison Jackson is averaging 16.4 minutes of action over the first four games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Jackson recorded a season-high eight points on two occasions, against UC Davis and MSU Northern. She is second on the team with ten steals. An outstanding athlete, Jackson was an Idaho state champion in the 100 and 330-meter hurdles, the high jump and as a member of the 4X400-meter relay team.
I'LL HAVE A KOLA, PLEASE: True-freshman Kola Bad Bear is off to a solid start averaging 2.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game over the first seven outings. Bad Bear hauled down a season-high nine rebounds in MSU's win over MSU Northern. The Billings Senior grad recorded a season-best 6 points against the Skylights, as well.
WHEN: Friday, December 20, 2019 @ 9 a.m. (MT)
WHERE: Guaynabo, P.R. - Mario Morales Coliseo (5,500)
RECORDS: MSU: 4-3 overall, Wichita State 6-4 overall
SERIES: First Meeting
LAST MTG: First Meeting
RADIO: Live on KMMS 1450 AM with Tom Schulz on the call; pregame begins 15-minutes prior to opening tip.
VIDEO: Montana State's game at the Coqui Classic in Puerto Rico available at www.youtube.com/c/TopTechStudios
LIVE STATS: Live statistics can be accessed at bobcatstats.com
NEXT UP: Montana State will play two games in the Coqui Classic in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Dec. 20-21 to close out its non-conference schedule. The Bobcats will face Wichita State on Friday, Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. (MT) and will conclude action against No.11th-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
COQUI CLASSIC: Six teams will compete in the Coqui Classic on Friday and Saturday in Puerto Rico. Besides MSU, Wichita State and Texas A&M, also participating will be Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Rice.
SERIES NOTE: Montana State and Wichita State will meet for the first time. The Bobcats trails Texas A&M 2-0 in its all-time series with the Aggies. Texas A&M defeated MSU 61-43 on Dec. 12, 1986 and 64-50 on Dec. 19, 1988.
LOOKING AHEAD: Following its games at the Coqui Classic in Puerto Rico, the Cats will take a week off for the holidays before opening its Big Sky Conference schedule at Sacramento State on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m. MSU finishes the road trip at Northern Arizona on Monday, Dec. 30 at 6:30 p.m.
MORE ON THE SHOCKERS/AGGIES: Wichita State (6-4) cruised to a 100-50 victory over Arkansas Pine Bluff on Monday morning. Five players hit double-figures against UAPB led by Mariah McCully and Reid with 17 points, apiece. For the game, the Shockers shot 50 percent from the field and went 36-45 from the line. On the season, McCully has paced WSU averaging 12.6 points per game. No. 11 Texas A&M is 9-1 overall after defeating Houston 72-43 on Sunday to give head coach Gary Blair his 800th career victory. The Aggies are led by Chennedy Carter, who averages 22.7 ppg.
BOBCATS VS. TOP 25: Montana State is 3-23 all-time against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 or the USA Today/WBCA Coaches polls, following its 70-55 loss to No. 17-ranked Gonzaga on Dec. 5. MSU's victories have come over Montana, twice, when the Lady Griz were ranked. The Bobcats defeated #17 Montana (58-52 in Bozeman) on March 4, 1994 as well as #16 Montana (58-56 in Bozeman) on March 5, 1988. MSU's other victory of an AP Top 25 school came at #21 Boise State (69-68) on Jan. 28. 1994. The highest ranked team Montana State have ever played was #2 Baylor on Nov. 13, 2010, which resulted in a 93-56 loss in Waco. MSU has met Gonzaga once while the Zags were listed at No. 24. The Bulldogs won the contest 89-60 on Nov. 21, 2014. MSU has faced Texas A&M twice, but never when the Aggies have been ranked.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires, a 2019-20 preseason All-Big Sky Conference pick, is currently averaging a team-best 12.0 points per game. She posted 14 points in MSU last outing against No. 18 Gonzaga on Dec. 5 going 7-16 from the field. The senior tri-captain is first on the squad in assists (19) and three-point makes (12). Last winter, Squires earned All-Big Sky Conference Third-Team accolades after guiding the Bobcats averaging 11.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and a steal per game. Squires' 92% free throw rate was tops on the squad last winter and her 94% Big Sky free throw percentage was best in the league.
MAD ABOUT YOU: Madeline Smith, who played in all 31 games, including 23 starts for the Bobcats last season, is currently averaging 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, after notching seven points and five rebounds in MSU's loss to No. 18 Gonzaga on Dec. 5. The Snohomish, Wash., product posted MSU's first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Cats' victory over MSU Northern. After seven games, Smith is shooting 59.5% from the field. Last winter, Smith averaged 8.8 points per game and was third in the Big Sky in field-goal percentage, shooting 53.7% from the floor. She had ten games in double-figure scoring and posted a career-high 27 points against Southern Utah. Her current total of 552 rebounds ranks 18th all-time.
MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all seven games and is averaging 7.1 points per game, while shooting 45% from the field. She has been in double-digits on two occasions, including a season-high 17 points in MSU's win over Carroll College. Last winter, the Eden Prairie, Minn., product averaged 10 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Kuderer posted 11 games in double-figure scoring. She recorded a season-high 21 points against Texas State in preseason WNIT action. Her 44 steals were the best on the squad.
BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats, last winter, is currently third on the team averaging 4.4 rebounds per game. In addition, Braxton is averaging 2.9 points per game. Braxton ended the 2018-19 campaign averaging 7.0 points per outing and notched seven games in double-figure scoring, including a career-high 18 points against Idaho. She also recorded two double-digit rebounding games, including a season-high 13 boards in MSU's win at Eastern Washington. She saw remarkable improvement in field-goal percentage shooting a team-best 55.8% from the field. Braxton's 54% shooting acumen in Big Sky games was third best in the league. Braxton is currently 16th on MSU's all-time rebounding chart with 581 boards.
PRESEASON MVP: Despite not playing in a game for over a year and not ever wearing the Blue and Gold, senior Fallyn Freije was named preseason Big Sky Conference MVP. The Edmore, N.D. product played three seasons at North Dakota before transferring to Bozeman. Freije was a two-time All-Big Sky performer for the Fighting Hawks, where she averaged 13.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a junior. She played in 90 games and started in 58. Freije has recorded 918 points and has amassed 551 rebounds over the course of her collegiate career.
DEEP FREIJE: Senior Fallyn Freije currently third on the team averaging 10.3 points per game. She is first on the squad hauling down 7.0 rebounds, as well. On the season, Freije has been in double-digit scoring on four occasions, including a season-high 13 points in MSU's win over Carroll College.
BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Seniors Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past three seasons. The duo will finish their eligibility this season and will go down as one of the best tandems to ever guard the glass in Worthington Arena. Blythe Hommes/Julie Brown combined for a program record 1,248 rebounds when they finished their careers in 1997. Other top performers include Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196, 1991; Braxton/Smith, 1,133, 2020; and Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034, 2001.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on ten 3-pointers in the early season. She is averaging 6.9 points per game coming off the bench and is shooting 46.2% from the field and 38.5% from long distance. Last winter, Martell saw action in 29 games, including 18 starts and averaged 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. She registered a season-best five triples in Montana State's win at Northern Colorado and ended the game with a career-high 19 points converting six-of-11 from the field.
FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White is off to a fast start in the Blue and Gold. The Boise, Idaho product has started all seven games and is third on the team averaging 9.9 points game. White is also second in assists (16) and fifth in rebounding (4.0). On the season, she has been in double-figure scoring four times, including a season-high 15 points against UC Davis. Last winter, White was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year. White had six points and three rebounds against No. 18 Gonzaga on Dec. 5 in Worthington Arena.
ALL JACKED UP: True-freshman Maddison Jackson is averaging 16.4 minutes of action over the first four games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Jackson recorded a season-high eight points on two occasions, against UC Davis and MSU Northern. She is second on the team with ten steals. An outstanding athlete, Jackson was an Idaho state champion in the 100 and 330-meter hurdles, the high jump and as a member of the 4X400-meter relay team.
I'LL HAVE A KOLA, PLEASE: True-freshman Kola Bad Bear is off to a solid start averaging 2.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game over the first seven outings. Bad Bear hauled down a season-high nine rebounds in MSU's win over MSU Northern. The Billings Senior grad recorded a season-best 6 points against the Skylights, as well.
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