Saturday, January 18
Cheney, WA
3 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Eastern Washington
Senior Madeline Smith converts a layup against Gonzaga in early December.
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Saturday Matinee`: Cats Face Eagles in Cheney
1/17/2020 1:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Bobcats will play only one game this weekend when it travels to Cheney, Wash., to face Eastern Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. (MT) on Reese Court.
WHO: Montana State at Eastern Washington
WHEN: Saturday, January 18, 2020 @ 3 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Cheney, Wash. - Reese Court (3,000)
RECORDS: MSU: 9-6, 5-1, E. Washington: 2-12, 1-4
SERIES: Montana State leads 45-43
LAST MTG: Feb. 7, 2019 - MSU 61, @ E. Washington 47
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 E. Washington available on Pluto TV (Channel 534) and at WatchBigSky.com
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Bobcats will play only one game this weekend when it travels to Cheney, Wash., to face Eastern Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. (MT) on Reese Court. MSU will be playing its fourth Big Sky contest on the road. The Bobcats are 3-0 in league play away from the warm confines of Worthington Arena. Montana State's last road game was a 73-62 decision over Portland State, last Saturday in Viking Pavilion.
SERIES NOTE: Montana State holds a slim 45-43 lead in its all-time series with Eastern Washington going back to the 1976-77 season. Last year, the two rivals split its series, each winning on its opponent's home court. EWU defeated MSU 89-87 in overtime in Bozeman, while the Cats returned the favor, 61-47, in Cheney. In the last ten meetings Montana State holds a 6-4 advantage with two of the games going into overtime. MSU is 20-22 all-time at Reese Court.
KUDERER ON FIRE: Martha Kuderer has had the hot-hand for the Cats. The product of Eden Prairie, Minn., is averaging 14.7 ppg, while shooting 55.6% in Big Sky play. She is nine-of-nine from beyond the arc in the last four games.
MORE ON EASTERN WASHINGTON: For the first and only time during the month of January, the Eastern Washington women's basketball team will be playing at home when it faces the Bobcats on Saturday. EWU is coming off of a 69-60 loss at Idaho on Thursday. The Eagles hung with the Vandals for three quarters and only trailed by two points heading into the fourth quarter. However, 6:42 ticked off the clock without any points for the Eagles while Idaho used a 14-0 run to put the game away. Eastern Washington shot 45.1% from the field and held Idaho to 39.3%. The Eagles had three in double figures, led by Kennedy Dickie's career-high 18 points.
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 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 8.1 points and 5.5 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 15 games, Smith is shooting 55.9% 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 592 rebounds ranks 16th all-time.
MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all 15 games and is averaging 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds, while shooting 50.5%. She has been in double-digits on six 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 Big Sky Conference games, Kuderer is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game, while shooting 55.6% from the field. In addition, she is hitting at a 62.5% percent clip from beyond the arc and has connected on nine-of-nine of her last 3-point attempts.
BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats, last winter, is currently averaging 3.5 points and 4.4 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 616 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 1,029 points and has amassed 613 rebounds over the course of her collegiate career.
DEEP FREIJE: Senior Fallyn Freije is currently averaging a team-best 12.7 points per game. She is first on the squad pulling down 7.4 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, 1,208, 2020; Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196, 1991; and Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034, 2001.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on 22 3-pointers in the early season. She is averaging 6.9 points per game coming off the bench and is shooting 45.7% from the field and 37.9% from long distance. Martell matched a season-high 13 points in Montana State's win at Portland State, last Saturday afternoon. Against the Vikings, she connected on five-of-10 from the field, including three 3-pointers. In addition, the Somerset, Wis., product pulled down a season-best six rebounds.
FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White is off to a strong start in the Blue and Gold. The Boise, Idaho product has started all 15 games and is third on the team averaging 10.9 points game. She has been in double-figure scoring 11 times. White notched a season and career-high 19 points in MSU's win at Portland State, last Saturday. For the game, she connected on nine-of-12 from the field, along with hauling down six rebounds, dishing out five assists and adding four steals. For the weekend, White averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 38.5%. Last winter, she was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year.
ALL JACKED UP: Freshman Madison Jackson is averaging 15.7 minutes of action over the first 15 games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 5.5 points and 3.0 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 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game over the first 15 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 11.6 minutes per game.
WHEN: Saturday, January 18, 2020 @ 3 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Cheney, Wash. - Reese Court (3,000)
RECORDS: MSU: 9-6, 5-1, E. Washington: 2-12, 1-4
SERIES: Montana State leads 45-43
LAST MTG: Feb. 7, 2019 - MSU 61, @ E. Washington 47
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 E. Washington available on Pluto TV (Channel 534) and at WatchBigSky.com
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Bobcats will play only one game this weekend when it travels to Cheney, Wash., to face Eastern Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. (MT) on Reese Court. MSU will be playing its fourth Big Sky contest on the road. The Bobcats are 3-0 in league play away from the warm confines of Worthington Arena. Montana State's last road game was a 73-62 decision over Portland State, last Saturday in Viking Pavilion.
SERIES NOTE: Montana State holds a slim 45-43 lead in its all-time series with Eastern Washington going back to the 1976-77 season. Last year, the two rivals split its series, each winning on its opponent's home court. EWU defeated MSU 89-87 in overtime in Bozeman, while the Cats returned the favor, 61-47, in Cheney. In the last ten meetings Montana State holds a 6-4 advantage with two of the games going into overtime. MSU is 20-22 all-time at Reese Court.
KUDERER ON FIRE: Martha Kuderer has had the hot-hand for the Cats. The product of Eden Prairie, Minn., is averaging 14.7 ppg, while shooting 55.6% in Big Sky play. She is nine-of-nine from beyond the arc in the last four games.
MORE ON EASTERN WASHINGTON: For the first and only time during the month of January, the Eastern Washington women's basketball team will be playing at home when it faces the Bobcats on Saturday. EWU is coming off of a 69-60 loss at Idaho on Thursday. The Eagles hung with the Vandals for three quarters and only trailed by two points heading into the fourth quarter. However, 6:42 ticked off the clock without any points for the Eagles while Idaho used a 14-0 run to put the game away. Eastern Washington shot 45.1% from the field and held Idaho to 39.3%. The Eagles had three in double figures, led by Kennedy Dickie's career-high 18 points.
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 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 8.1 points and 5.5 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 15 games, Smith is shooting 55.9% 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 592 rebounds ranks 16th all-time.
MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all 15 games and is averaging 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds, while shooting 50.5%. She has been in double-digits on six 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 Big Sky Conference games, Kuderer is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game, while shooting 55.6% from the field. In addition, she is hitting at a 62.5% percent clip from beyond the arc and has connected on nine-of-nine of her last 3-point attempts.
BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats, last winter, is currently averaging 3.5 points and 4.4 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 616 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 1,029 points and has amassed 613 rebounds over the course of her collegiate career.
DEEP FREIJE: Senior Fallyn Freije is currently averaging a team-best 12.7 points per game. She is first on the squad pulling down 7.4 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, 1,208, 2020; Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196, 1991; and Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034, 2001.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on 22 3-pointers in the early season. She is averaging 6.9 points per game coming off the bench and is shooting 45.7% from the field and 37.9% from long distance. Martell matched a season-high 13 points in Montana State's win at Portland State, last Saturday afternoon. Against the Vikings, she connected on five-of-10 from the field, including three 3-pointers. In addition, the Somerset, Wis., product pulled down a season-best six rebounds.
FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White is off to a strong start in the Blue and Gold. The Boise, Idaho product has started all 15 games and is third on the team averaging 10.9 points game. She has been in double-figure scoring 11 times. White notched a season and career-high 19 points in MSU's win at Portland State, last Saturday. For the game, she connected on nine-of-12 from the field, along with hauling down six rebounds, dishing out five assists and adding four steals. For the weekend, White averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 38.5%. Last winter, she was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year.
ALL JACKED UP: Freshman Madison Jackson is averaging 15.7 minutes of action over the first 15 games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 5.5 points and 3.0 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 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game over the first 15 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 11.6 minutes per game.
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