Saturday, February 1
Missoula, MT
2 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Montana
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Cats Face Lady Griz in Missoula on Saturday Afternoon
1/29/2020 5:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State plays its only game of the week when it faces Montana in Missoula on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena. The game will mark the midway point of the Big Sky Conference season.
WHO: Montana State at Montana
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 @ 2 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Missoula, Mont. - Dahlberg Arena (7,200)
RECORDS: MSU: 12-6, 8-1, Montana 10-8, 5-4
SERIES: Montana leads 78-29
LAST MTG: Feb. 23, 2019 - Montana St. 75, @ UM 71
RADIO: Live on KMMS 1450 AM 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: MSU's game at Montana on Saturday is available on Pluto TV (Channel 537) and at WatchBigSky.com.
TV: Montana State's game at Montana will be broadcast live by SWX. P-B-P: Riley Corcoran, Color: Krista Redpath
CAT-GRIZ: Montana State plays its only game of the week when it faces Montana in Missoula on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena. The game will mark the midway point of the Big Sky Conference season. The Bobcats are 4-1 at home and 4-0 on the road in league play and remain atop the league standings.
SERIES NOTE: Montana State trails Montana 78-29 in its all-time series going back to the 1974-75 season. Last year, the Cats swept the Lady Griz, winning in Bozeman, 72-52, on Feb. 2, and in Missoula, 75-71, on Feb.23. Despite the lopsided series record, MSU holds a 7-3 mark against UM in the last ten contests and are 11-11 with their intra-state rival in the last decade. Head Coach Tricia Binford is 12-19 against Montana going back to her first season at MSU in 2005-06.
CAT OF THE WEEK: Fallyn Freije is the Bobcat Player of the Week for her efforts in wins over Weber State and Idaho State. The product of Edmore, N.D. averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 50% from the field and 100% at the line. In addition, Freije added five assists, two steals and two blocks. Her best game came against Idaho State as she recorded 15 points and eight rebounds.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: MSU has done an outstanding job on the defensive end of the court this season. The Bobcats lead the Big Sky Conference in rebound margin at +7.9, overall rebounding at 44.1 per game and steals (10.8). MSU is ranked second in field-goal% defense (36.2%), third in scoring defense (62.4 ppg), and fourth in rebounding defense (36.2 rpg) MSU boasts five players averaging 4.3 rpg or better paced by Fallyn Freije (8.7), Madeline Smith (5.6), Darian White (5.6), Blaire Braxton (5.0) and Martha Kuderer (4.3).
OFFENSE HELPS, TOO: Montana State is also one of the top offensive squads in the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats lead the league in scoring at 79.7 points per game, scoring margin at +17.2, field-goal percentage at 44.7%, field goals made at 263 and offensive boards at 15.3 per contest. Individually, three players are ranked in the top 15 in the league in scoring led by Fallyn Freije (9th, 13.7 ppg), Darian White (T14th, 12.6) and Martha Kuderer (T14th, 12.6).
MORE ON MONTANA: The Lady Griz (10-8, 5-4 BSC) will face Portland State (12-8, 6-4 BSC) on Thursday night for the second time this month, before hosting the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Griz bounced back from last Thursday's 67-53 home loss to Idaho State with an 85-57 thumping of last-place Weber State at Dahlberg Arena. Montana enters the week in fifth place in the Big Sky standings, one spot behind Portland State. The Lady Griz are 2-4 in their last six games, and it has all come down to shooting. In its four losses, to Northern Colorado, Portland State, Idaho and Idaho State, Montana has shot just 30.4 percent and averaged 56.8 points. In their two wins during that stretch, over Eastern Washington and Weber State, the Lady Griz have looked unstoppable, averaging 88.5 points on 50.4 percent shooting. In Montana's 85-57 win over Weber State, six players took between eight and 11 shots. Of the three players who scored 15 points in that game, McKenzie Johnston went 7 for 10, and Jamie Pickens 7 for 11.
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 11.3 points per game, third highest on the squad. She became the 24th member of MSU's 1000-point club on Jan. 4 after posting 11 points in MSU's win over Southern Utah. Her career 1,037 points ranks 21st all-time. Squires notched a season-high 17 points at Seattle U on Nov. 30. She's been in double-digit scoring in 13 of 16 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 has posted 25 three-pointers and 47 assists this season. 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 has started all 18 games for the Bobcats, is currently averaging 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Smith posted her third double-double of the year leading MSU to a double overtime win at Eastern Washington with 14 points and 13 rebounds. 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 18 games, Smith is shooting 53.6% 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 610 rebounds ranks 15th all-time.
MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all 18 games and is averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds, while shooting 49.2%. She has been in double-digits on seven 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 12.6 points per game, while shooting 51.9% from the field. In addition, she is hitting at a 52.4% percent clip from beyond the arc and has connected on 11-of-21 3-pointers over the last nine league games.
BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats, last winter, is currently averaging 4.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Braxton posted a season-high 12 points in Montana State's win over Weber State last Thursday night, connecting on three-of-four from the line and career six-of-six from the free throw line. In addition, she added seven rebounds and a blocked shot. Braxton is currently 14th on MSU's all-time rebounding chart with 629 boards. 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.
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 1,067 points and has amassed 640 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 7.7 rebounds, as well. On the season, Freije has been in double-digit scoring on 14 occasions, including matching a season-high 20 points twice, the last in MSU's win over Southern Utah Jan. 4. Freije posted her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds at E. Washington on Jan. 18. Last week, in victories over Weber State and Idaho State, she averaged 13 points, 7.5 assists and 2.5 assists, while shooting 50% from the field and 100% at the line.
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, 1,239, 2020; Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196, 1991; and Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034, 2001.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on 30 3-pointers this season. She is averaging 7.7 points per game and is shooting 45.4% from the field and 38.5% from long distance. Martell, who has filled in for Oliana Squires the past four games, notched a season-high 17 points in MSU's double overtime win at Eastern Washington connecting on five-of-10 from the field, including four 3-pointers on Jan. 18. Since moving into the starting lineup, she's averaged 12 points per game and had connected on 11 triples.
FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White is making a good impression in the Blue and Gold. The Boise, Idaho product has started all 18 games and is second on the team averaging 11.4 points game. She has been in double-figure scoring 13 times. White notched a season-high 23 points in MSU's double overtime win at Eastern Washington. White connected on eight-of-15 from the field and went 6-of-6 at the line. In addition, she pulled down nine rebounds, dished out seven assists and had five steals. In Big Sky Conference play, White has averaged 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Last winter, she was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has averaged 16.1 minutes over 18 games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-high 15 points in Montana State's win at Eastern Washington. Jackson's points all came from beyond the arc as she connected on 5-of-8 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 averaging 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game over the first 18 outings. The Billings Senior grad recorded a season-best eight points at Sacramento State on December 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 11.4 minutes per game.
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 @ 2 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Missoula, Mont. - Dahlberg Arena (7,200)
RECORDS: MSU: 12-6, 8-1, Montana 10-8, 5-4
SERIES: Montana leads 78-29
LAST MTG: Feb. 23, 2019 - Montana St. 75, @ UM 71
RADIO: Live on KMMS 1450 AM 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: MSU's game at Montana on Saturday is available on Pluto TV (Channel 537) and at WatchBigSky.com.
TV: Montana State's game at Montana will be broadcast live by SWX. P-B-P: Riley Corcoran, Color: Krista Redpath
CAT-GRIZ: Montana State plays its only game of the week when it faces Montana in Missoula on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena. The game will mark the midway point of the Big Sky Conference season. The Bobcats are 4-1 at home and 4-0 on the road in league play and remain atop the league standings.
SERIES NOTE: Montana State trails Montana 78-29 in its all-time series going back to the 1974-75 season. Last year, the Cats swept the Lady Griz, winning in Bozeman, 72-52, on Feb. 2, and in Missoula, 75-71, on Feb.23. Despite the lopsided series record, MSU holds a 7-3 mark against UM in the last ten contests and are 11-11 with their intra-state rival in the last decade. Head Coach Tricia Binford is 12-19 against Montana going back to her first season at MSU in 2005-06.
CAT OF THE WEEK: Fallyn Freije is the Bobcat Player of the Week for her efforts in wins over Weber State and Idaho State. The product of Edmore, N.D. averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 50% from the field and 100% at the line. In addition, Freije added five assists, two steals and two blocks. Her best game came against Idaho State as she recorded 15 points and eight rebounds.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: MSU has done an outstanding job on the defensive end of the court this season. The Bobcats lead the Big Sky Conference in rebound margin at +7.9, overall rebounding at 44.1 per game and steals (10.8). MSU is ranked second in field-goal% defense (36.2%), third in scoring defense (62.4 ppg), and fourth in rebounding defense (36.2 rpg) MSU boasts five players averaging 4.3 rpg or better paced by Fallyn Freije (8.7), Madeline Smith (5.6), Darian White (5.6), Blaire Braxton (5.0) and Martha Kuderer (4.3).
OFFENSE HELPS, TOO: Montana State is also one of the top offensive squads in the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats lead the league in scoring at 79.7 points per game, scoring margin at +17.2, field-goal percentage at 44.7%, field goals made at 263 and offensive boards at 15.3 per contest. Individually, three players are ranked in the top 15 in the league in scoring led by Fallyn Freije (9th, 13.7 ppg), Darian White (T14th, 12.6) and Martha Kuderer (T14th, 12.6).
MORE ON MONTANA: The Lady Griz (10-8, 5-4 BSC) will face Portland State (12-8, 6-4 BSC) on Thursday night for the second time this month, before hosting the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Griz bounced back from last Thursday's 67-53 home loss to Idaho State with an 85-57 thumping of last-place Weber State at Dahlberg Arena. Montana enters the week in fifth place in the Big Sky standings, one spot behind Portland State. The Lady Griz are 2-4 in their last six games, and it has all come down to shooting. In its four losses, to Northern Colorado, Portland State, Idaho and Idaho State, Montana has shot just 30.4 percent and averaged 56.8 points. In their two wins during that stretch, over Eastern Washington and Weber State, the Lady Griz have looked unstoppable, averaging 88.5 points on 50.4 percent shooting. In Montana's 85-57 win over Weber State, six players took between eight and 11 shots. Of the three players who scored 15 points in that game, McKenzie Johnston went 7 for 10, and Jamie Pickens 7 for 11.
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 11.3 points per game, third highest on the squad. She became the 24th member of MSU's 1000-point club on Jan. 4 after posting 11 points in MSU's win over Southern Utah. Her career 1,037 points ranks 21st all-time. Squires notched a season-high 17 points at Seattle U on Nov. 30. She's been in double-digit scoring in 13 of 16 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 has posted 25 three-pointers and 47 assists this season. 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 has started all 18 games for the Bobcats, is currently averaging 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Smith posted her third double-double of the year leading MSU to a double overtime win at Eastern Washington with 14 points and 13 rebounds. 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 18 games, Smith is shooting 53.6% 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 610 rebounds ranks 15th all-time.
MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all 18 games and is averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds, while shooting 49.2%. She has been in double-digits on seven 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 12.6 points per game, while shooting 51.9% from the field. In addition, she is hitting at a 52.4% percent clip from beyond the arc and has connected on 11-of-21 3-pointers over the last nine league games.
BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats, last winter, is currently averaging 4.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Braxton posted a season-high 12 points in Montana State's win over Weber State last Thursday night, connecting on three-of-four from the line and career six-of-six from the free throw line. In addition, she added seven rebounds and a blocked shot. Braxton is currently 14th on MSU's all-time rebounding chart with 629 boards. 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.
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 1,067 points and has amassed 640 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 7.7 rebounds, as well. On the season, Freije has been in double-digit scoring on 14 occasions, including matching a season-high 20 points twice, the last in MSU's win over Southern Utah Jan. 4. Freije posted her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds at E. Washington on Jan. 18. Last week, in victories over Weber State and Idaho State, she averaged 13 points, 7.5 assists and 2.5 assists, while shooting 50% from the field and 100% at the line.
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, 1,239, 2020; Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196, 1991; and Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034, 2001.
TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on 30 3-pointers this season. She is averaging 7.7 points per game and is shooting 45.4% from the field and 38.5% from long distance. Martell, who has filled in for Oliana Squires the past four games, notched a season-high 17 points in MSU's double overtime win at Eastern Washington connecting on five-of-10 from the field, including four 3-pointers on Jan. 18. Since moving into the starting lineup, she's averaged 12 points per game and had connected on 11 triples.
FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White is making a good impression in the Blue and Gold. The Boise, Idaho product has started all 18 games and is second on the team averaging 11.4 points game. She has been in double-figure scoring 13 times. White notched a season-high 23 points in MSU's double overtime win at Eastern Washington. White connected on eight-of-15 from the field and went 6-of-6 at the line. In addition, she pulled down nine rebounds, dished out seven assists and had five steals. In Big Sky Conference play, White has averaged 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Last winter, she was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has averaged 16.1 minutes over 18 games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-high 15 points in Montana State's win at Eastern Washington. Jackson's points all came from beyond the arc as she connected on 5-of-8 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 averaging 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game over the first 18 outings. The Billings Senior grad recorded a season-best eight points at Sacramento State on December 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 11.4 minutes per game.
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