Saturday, January 11
Portland, OR
3 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Portland State
Freshman Darian White
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Cats Face Portland State in Rose City
1/10/2020 7:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
After dropping a 69-68 double overtime decision to Idaho on Thursday night, the Montana State women’s basketball team will quickly reboot when it travels to Portland State, Saturday, Jan. 11.
WHO: Montana State at Portland State
WHEN: Saturday, January 11, 2020 @ 3 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Portland, Ore. - Viking Pavilion (3,000)
RECORDS: MSU: 8-6, 4-1, Portland State: 8-6, 2-2
SERIES: Montana State leads 36-27
LAST MTG: March 12, 2019 - Portland St. 68, MSU 56
RADIO: Live on KZMY 103.5 FM with Jason Alvine on the call; pregame begins 15-minutes prior to opening tip.
STATS: Live statistics can be accessed at bobcatstats.com; running play-by-play and boxscore are available
VIDEO: Montana State's game against Idaho available on Pluto TV (Channel 532) and at WatchBigSky.com
NO REST FOR THE WEARY: After dropping a 69-68 double overtime decision to Idaho on Thursday night, the Montana State women's basketball team will quickly reboot when it travels to Portland State, Saturday, Jan. 11. The Bobcats and Vikings will tipoff at 3 p.m. (MT) in Viking Pavilion. MSU will then be off from Big Sky action until it faces Eastern Washington in Cheney on Saturday, Jan. 18. PSU will host Montana on Monday, Jan. 13 in the Rose City.
SERIES NOTE: Montana State leads the all-time series with Portland State 36-27; however, the Vikings have won the last six meetings between the two Big Sky rivals, including all three meetings last winter. PSU knocked the Bobcats out of the Big Sky Tournament last March winning a 68-56 contest on their way to capturing the conference crown. Montana State's last victory in Portland came on Jan. 9, 2016 as the Cats handed the Viks a 106-59 setback.
FREIJE ON FIRE: Fallyn Freije was named the College Sports Madness Big Sky Player of the Week after averaging 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in two wins over No. Colorado and Southern Utah.
MORE ON PORTLAND STATE: Portland State did not play on Thursday night and haven't played a Big Sky Conference game since defeating Eastern Washington (75-58) last Saturday. Saturday's game between the Vikings and Bobcats will pit the top two scoring offenses in the Big Sky against each other. Montana State moved into the conference lead with 72.4 points per game after its game with Idaho, while the Vikings rank close behind with 71.6 points per game. The Vikings had a solid three-point shooting performance against Idaho and Eastern Washington. The Vikings went a combined 23-of-49 (.469) from three-point range.
BOBCATS VS. TOP 25: Montana State is 3-24 all-time against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 or USA Today/WBCA Coaches polls, following its 78-67 loss to No. 11 Texas A&M on Dec. 21 in Puerto Rico. 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 a top 25 school came at #21 Boise State (69-68) on Jan. 28. 1994. The highest ranked team Montana State has played was #2 Baylor on Nov. 13, 2010- a 93-56 loss in Waco.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires, a 2019-20 preseason All-Big Sky pick, is currently averaging 11.7 points per game, second highest on the squad. She became the 24th member of MSU's 1000-point club last Saturday after posting 11 points in MSU's win over Southern Utah. Her career 1,020 points ranks 22nd all-time. Squires notched a season-high 17 points at Seattle U on Nov. 30. She's been in double-digit scoring in 12 of MSU's 14 games. Squires dished out a season-best seven assists at Sacramento State on Dec. 28 and had a season-best four steals against Wichita State in Puerto Rico. The senior tri-captain is first on the squad in three-point makes (24) and assists (43). Last winter, Squires earned All-Big Sky Third-Team accolades after guiding the Bobcats averaging 11.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and a steal per game.
MAD ABOUT YOU: Madeline Smith, who played in all 31 games, including 23 starts for the Bobcats last season, is currently averaging 8.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Smith posted her second double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds at Sacramento State on Dec. 28. 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 on Nov. 17. After 14 games, Smith is shooting 57.5% from the field, which leads the team. Last winter, Smith 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 590 rebounds ranks 16th all-time.
MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all 14 games and is averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds, while shooting 50%. She has been in double-digits on five occasions, including a career-high 23 points to lead MSU to a victory over Sacramento State Dec. 28. The Eden Prairie, Minn., product has been on fire lately. In games against Northern Colorado and Southern Utah, she averaged 18 ppg, while shooting a whopping 88 percent from the field. Against Southern Utah, Kuderer was perfect from the field going seven-of-seven from the floor.
BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats, last winter, is currently averaging 3.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Braxton posted a season-high nine points in MSU's loss to No. 11 Texas A&M in Puerto Rico. For the game, she connected on 4-7 from the field. Last winter, Braxton averaged 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 14th on MSU's all-time rebounding chart with 607 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 1,022 points and has amassed 607 rebounds over the course of her collegiate career.
DEEP FREIJE: Senior Fallyn Freije is currently averaging a team-best 13.1 points per game. She is first on the squad pulling down 7.3 rebounds, as well. On the season, Freije has been in double-digit scoring on 11 occasions, including matching a season-high 20 points in Montana State's win over Southern Utah, last Saturday. Freije also posted her second double-double of the season with 20 pts/10 rebs. vs. No. Arizona on Dec. 30.
BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past four seasons. The duo 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 Braxton/Smith, 1,197, 2020; Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196, 1991; and Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034, 2001.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on 19 3-pointers in the early season. She is averaging 6.4 points per game coming off the bench and is shooting 45.1% from the field and 37.3% from long distance. Martell posted nine points against Sacramento State on Dec. 28, including two 3-pointers. Against Northern Colorado on Jan. 2, Martell dished out a career-high five assists. She notched a season-high 13 points in MSU's first two games of the season against UC Davis and Carroll College.
FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White is off to a strong start in the Blue and Gold. The Boise, Idaho product has started all 14 games and is third on the team averaging 10.3 points game. She has been in double-figure scoring ten times. White matched a season-high with 15 points at Northern Arizona on Dec. 30. She had an outstanding showing at the Coqui Classic in Puerto Rico averaging 11.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. Last week, against Northern Colorado and Southern Utah, she averaged 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.1%. Last winter, she was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year.
ALL JACKED UP: Freshman Madison Jackson is averaging 15.5 minutes of action over the first 14 games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-high 14 points against Northern Colorado on Jan. 2, going six-of-10 from the field and two-of-three from long distance. 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.
I'LL HAVE A KOLA, PLEASE: True-freshman Kola Bad Bear is off to a solid start averaging 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game over the first 14 outings. The Billings Senior grad recorded a season-best eight points at Sacramento State on Dec. 28, hitting four-of-six from the field. Bad Bear hauled down nine rebounds in MSU's win over MSU Northern. For the season, Bad Bear is averaging 11.8 minutes per game.
WHEN: Saturday, January 11, 2020 @ 3 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Portland, Ore. - Viking Pavilion (3,000)
RECORDS: MSU: 8-6, 4-1, Portland State: 8-6, 2-2
SERIES: Montana State leads 36-27
LAST MTG: March 12, 2019 - Portland St. 68, MSU 56
RADIO: Live on KZMY 103.5 FM with Jason Alvine on the call; pregame begins 15-minutes prior to opening tip.
STATS: Live statistics can be accessed at bobcatstats.com; running play-by-play and boxscore are available
VIDEO: Montana State's game against Idaho available on Pluto TV (Channel 532) and at WatchBigSky.com
NO REST FOR THE WEARY: After dropping a 69-68 double overtime decision to Idaho on Thursday night, the Montana State women's basketball team will quickly reboot when it travels to Portland State, Saturday, Jan. 11. The Bobcats and Vikings will tipoff at 3 p.m. (MT) in Viking Pavilion. MSU will then be off from Big Sky action until it faces Eastern Washington in Cheney on Saturday, Jan. 18. PSU will host Montana on Monday, Jan. 13 in the Rose City.
SERIES NOTE: Montana State leads the all-time series with Portland State 36-27; however, the Vikings have won the last six meetings between the two Big Sky rivals, including all three meetings last winter. PSU knocked the Bobcats out of the Big Sky Tournament last March winning a 68-56 contest on their way to capturing the conference crown. Montana State's last victory in Portland came on Jan. 9, 2016 as the Cats handed the Viks a 106-59 setback.
FREIJE ON FIRE: Fallyn Freije was named the College Sports Madness Big Sky Player of the Week after averaging 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in two wins over No. Colorado and Southern Utah.
MORE ON PORTLAND STATE: Portland State did not play on Thursday night and haven't played a Big Sky Conference game since defeating Eastern Washington (75-58) last Saturday. Saturday's game between the Vikings and Bobcats will pit the top two scoring offenses in the Big Sky against each other. Montana State moved into the conference lead with 72.4 points per game after its game with Idaho, while the Vikings rank close behind with 71.6 points per game. The Vikings had a solid three-point shooting performance against Idaho and Eastern Washington. The Vikings went a combined 23-of-49 (.469) from three-point range.
BOBCATS VS. TOP 25: Montana State is 3-24 all-time against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 or USA Today/WBCA Coaches polls, following its 78-67 loss to No. 11 Texas A&M on Dec. 21 in Puerto Rico. 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 a top 25 school came at #21 Boise State (69-68) on Jan. 28. 1994. The highest ranked team Montana State has played was #2 Baylor on Nov. 13, 2010- a 93-56 loss in Waco.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires, a 2019-20 preseason All-Big Sky pick, is currently averaging 11.7 points per game, second highest on the squad. She became the 24th member of MSU's 1000-point club last Saturday after posting 11 points in MSU's win over Southern Utah. Her career 1,020 points ranks 22nd all-time. Squires notched a season-high 17 points at Seattle U on Nov. 30. She's been in double-digit scoring in 12 of MSU's 14 games. Squires dished out a season-best seven assists at Sacramento State on Dec. 28 and had a season-best four steals against Wichita State in Puerto Rico. The senior tri-captain is first on the squad in three-point makes (24) and assists (43). Last winter, Squires earned All-Big Sky Third-Team accolades after guiding the Bobcats averaging 11.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and a steal per game.
MAD ABOUT YOU: Madeline Smith, who played in all 31 games, including 23 starts for the Bobcats last season, is currently averaging 8.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Smith posted her second double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds at Sacramento State on Dec. 28. 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 on Nov. 17. After 14 games, Smith is shooting 57.5% from the field, which leads the team. Last winter, Smith 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 590 rebounds ranks 16th all-time.
MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all 14 games and is averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds, while shooting 50%. She has been in double-digits on five occasions, including a career-high 23 points to lead MSU to a victory over Sacramento State Dec. 28. The Eden Prairie, Minn., product has been on fire lately. In games against Northern Colorado and Southern Utah, she averaged 18 ppg, while shooting a whopping 88 percent from the field. Against Southern Utah, Kuderer was perfect from the field going seven-of-seven from the floor.
BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats, last winter, is currently averaging 3.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Braxton posted a season-high nine points in MSU's loss to No. 11 Texas A&M in Puerto Rico. For the game, she connected on 4-7 from the field. Last winter, Braxton averaged 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 14th on MSU's all-time rebounding chart with 607 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 1,022 points and has amassed 607 rebounds over the course of her collegiate career.
DEEP FREIJE: Senior Fallyn Freije is currently averaging a team-best 13.1 points per game. She is first on the squad pulling down 7.3 rebounds, as well. On the season, Freije has been in double-digit scoring on 11 occasions, including matching a season-high 20 points in Montana State's win over Southern Utah, last Saturday. Freije also posted her second double-double of the season with 20 pts/10 rebs. vs. No. Arizona on Dec. 30.
BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past four seasons. The duo 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 Braxton/Smith, 1,197, 2020; Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196, 1991; and Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034, 2001.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on 19 3-pointers in the early season. She is averaging 6.4 points per game coming off the bench and is shooting 45.1% from the field and 37.3% from long distance. Martell posted nine points against Sacramento State on Dec. 28, including two 3-pointers. Against Northern Colorado on Jan. 2, Martell dished out a career-high five assists. She notched a season-high 13 points in MSU's first two games of the season against UC Davis and Carroll College.
FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White is off to a strong start in the Blue and Gold. The Boise, Idaho product has started all 14 games and is third on the team averaging 10.3 points game. She has been in double-figure scoring ten times. White matched a season-high with 15 points at Northern Arizona on Dec. 30. She had an outstanding showing at the Coqui Classic in Puerto Rico averaging 11.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. Last week, against Northern Colorado and Southern Utah, she averaged 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.1%. Last winter, she was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year.
ALL JACKED UP: Freshman Madison Jackson is averaging 15.5 minutes of action over the first 14 games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-high 14 points against Northern Colorado on Jan. 2, going six-of-10 from the field and two-of-three from long distance. 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.
I'LL HAVE A KOLA, PLEASE: True-freshman Kola Bad Bear is off to a solid start averaging 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game over the first 14 outings. The Billings Senior grad recorded a season-best eight points at Sacramento State on Dec. 28, hitting four-of-six from the field. Bad Bear hauled down nine rebounds in MSU's win over MSU Northern. For the season, Bad Bear is averaging 11.8 minutes per game.
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