Bobcats Celebrate Senior Day on Saturday Hosting Northern Arizona

Saturday, February 29

BOZEMAN

2 p.m.

Montana State University

Northern Arizona

Tickets

Bobcat Seniors (l to r): Fallyn Freije, Blaire Braxton, Madeline Smith, Oliana Squires and Martha Kuderer

Photo by: Garrett Becker

Bobcats Celebrate Senior Day on Saturday Hosting Northern Arizona

2/28/2020 2:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

WBB NOTES

Montana State closes out its 2019-20 home season when it hosts Northern Arizona, Saturday, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena. Prior to the opening tip, the Bobcats will celebrate the careers of its five seniors - Blaire Braxton, Fallyn Freije, Martha Kuderer, Madeline Smith and Oliana Squires.

By: Tom Schulz

WHO:             Northern Arizona at Montana State
WHEN:           Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 @ 2 p.m. (MT)
WHERE:         Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS:      MSU: 20-6, 16-1; Northern Arizona: 15-12, 12-6
SERIES:           Montana State leads No. Arizona 47-22
LAST MTG:    Dec. 30, 2019 - Montana St. 72, @Sac State 64
RADIO:           Live on My 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 Portland State is available on Pluto TV (Channel 538) and at WatchBigSky.com

SENIOR CELEBRATION: Montana State closes out its 2019-20 home season when it hosts Northern Arizona, Saturday, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena. Prior to the opening tip, the Bobcats will celebrate the careers of its five seniors - Blaire Braxton, Fallyn Freije, Martha Kuderer, Madeline Smith and Oliana Squires. MSU finishes the Big Sky season next week at Southern Utah and No. Colorado.

SERIES NOTE: The Cats hold a 47-22 advantage in its all-time series with Northern Arizona going back to its first meeting - a 73-61 Bobcat victory- on Jan. 14, 1988. MSU won the first contest this season, defeating the Lumberjacks in Flagstaff 72-64 on Dec. 30. The Bobcats have captured eight of the last ten games between the Big Sky rivals and 16 of the last 18 outings, as well. NAU's last win came last season with a 76-72 victory on its homecourt on March 2.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Montana State won its third regular season Big Sky title in the last five years with its 113-69 win over Sacramento State on Thursday. The Bobcats also posted its sixth 20-game win season and its third under head coach Tricia Binford (2015-16: 21-10; 2016-17: 25-7).

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: MSU has done a solid job on the defensive end this season. The Cats lead the Big Sky in total rebounds (42.9 rpg), rebounding defense (34.6 rpg), rebound margin (+8.4 rpg) and steals (9.7). They are second in field-goal percentage defense (36.9%) and 3-pt. field-goal percentage defense (30%), third in scoring defense (62.5 ppg) and fourth in defensive rebounds (28.0 rpg). MSU boasts five players averaging 4.5 rebound per game or better in Big Sky action led by Fallyn Freije (8.4 rpg), Darian White (5.5 rpg), Madeline Smith (5.1 rpg), Blaire Braxton (4.9 rpg) and Martha Kuderer (4.5 rpg).

OFFENSE HELPS, TOO: MSU is also one of the top offensive squads in the Big Sky. The Cats lead the league in scoring (82.5 ppg), scoring margin (+20.1 ppg), Field-goal percentage (46.1%) three-point field-goal percentage (38.8%) and offensive rebounds (14.9 rpg). They are ranked second in assists (14.4 apg) and four in free throw percentage (72.5%). Two players rank in the Big Sky's top 25 in scoring: Fallyn Freije (4th, 14.6 ppg) and Darian White (11th, 12.9 ppg).

NOTABLES: *Darian White's 2.50 steals per game are third in the nation among freshman. White is trails Mikayla Woods of UTSA (2.67) and Dyaisha Fair of Buffalo (.264)…*Darian White's 65 steals are second in the nation for freshmen, ranked by Dyaisha Fair of Buffalo (66)…*Madeline Smith's 53.9% career field-goal percentage currently ranks second all-time at Montana State behind Jessica Blake (54.6%)…*As a team, the Bobcats have recorded six games with 50 or more rebounds this season, including a high of 59 boards in its win at Sacramento State on Dec. 28…*The 2019-20 Bobcats are giving up 61.7 points per game, making it one of the stingiest defenses in school history. The mark currently ranks fourth all-time at MSU. The 1986-87 Bobcats hold the all-time mark 59.4 per game…*In its last four games, MSU is averaging 101.3 ppg, while shooting 54.2% from the field.

MORE ON THE LUMBERJACKS: Montana scored 41 points in the final 15 minutes of the game, erasing a seven-point Northern Arizona women's basketball lead midway through the third quarter and preventing the Lumberjacks from picking up their first win in Dahlberg Arena in 13 years. The Lady Griz posted an eventual 70-57 victory over the 'Jacks, dropping NAU's record to 15-12 overall and 12-6 in conference play. NAU's offensive woes of late continued on Thursday with the 'Jacks only shooting 35.4 percent from the floor, including 32.7 percent after the first quarter. Montana shot 41.3 percent and the Lady Griz's bench outscored the Lumberjacks' reserves by a 33-8 margin. NAU was also outrebounded, 43-40, and the 'Jacks were swatted 11 times by the Lady Griz – marking a season-high in blocks by an opponent. Junior Khiarica Rasheed led all players with 17 points, all coming in the second half, while redshirt sophomore Nina Radford chipped in 13. Redshirt junior Jacey Bailey recorded eight points and posted a game-high 10 boards.

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 1,126 points ranks 19th all-time. Squires notched a season-high 21 points at Weber State on Feb. 15, which included a 5-of-5 effort from beyond the arc. She's been in double-digit scoring in 18 of 24 games. Squires dished out a season-best eight assists in MSU's win over Portland State on Feb. 20. She had a season-best four steals at Idaho on Feb.6. The senior tri-captain has posted 45 three-pointers and 84 assists this season. Last winter, Squires earned All-Big Sky Third-Team accolades after guiding the Bobcats averaging 11.4 ppg, 3.8 apg and 3.5 rpg.

MAD ABOUT YOU: Madeline Smith, who has started all 26 games for the Bobcats, is currently averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Smith posted her third double-double of the year leading MSU to a double overtime win at Eastern Washington on Jan. 18 with 14 points and 13 rebounds. After 26 games, the Snohomish, Wash., product is shooting 54.6% from the field, which leads the team. Her career field-goal percentage currently stands at 53.9% (411-763) which would rank third all-time at Montana State. 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 647 career rebounds ranks 14th all-time.

MARTHA'S MOMENTS: Martha Kuderer has started in all 26 games and is averaging 9.6 points and 4.4 rebounds, while shooting 47.3%. She has been in double-digits on 11 occasions, including a career-high 23 points to lead MSU to a victory over Sacramento State Dec. 28. In Big Sky games, the Eden Prairie, Minn., product is averaging 10.9 points per game, while shooting 48.1% from the field. In addition, she is hitting at a 41.9% percent clip from beyond the arc and has connected on 18-of-43 three-pointers in 16 Big Sky Conference games.

BOUNDING WITH BLAIRE: Blaire Braxton, who played in all 31 games, including seven starts for the Bobcats last winter, is currently averaging 5.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Braxton posted a season-high 15 points in 19 minutes to spark the Bobcats to its victory over Montana, last Saturday afternoon. In her best outing of the season, the Highlands Ranch, Colo., product connected on four-of-eight from the field and seven-of-nine at the line. In addition, she pulled down seven rebounds and dished out three assists. In wins over Portland State and the Lady Griz last week, Braxton averaged 11.5 points and six rebounds per game, while shooting 50% from the field and 78.6% (11-14) from the charity stripe. Braxton is currently 11th on MSU's all-time rebounding chart with 668 boards. She is also fourth on Montana State's all-time career blocks chart with 106 swats.

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 1,192 points and has amassed 707 rebounds over the course of her collegiate career.

DEEP FREIJE: Senior Fallyn Freije is averaging a team-best 13.6 points per game. She is first on the squad pulling down 7.8 rebounds, as well. On the season, Freije has been in double-digit scoring on 21 occasions, including a career-high 27 points in MSU's overtime win at Montana on Feb. 1. Freije posted her fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Bobcats defeated Portland State on Feb. 20. In Big Sky Conference action, she is averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds, while shooting 46.4% from the field and 81.8% from the free throw line.

BARDS OF THE BLOCK: Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton have manned the blocks for the Bobcats the past four seasons and on Feb. 1 at Montana became the all-time senior tandem in MSU history when it comes to rebounding. The duo has combined for 1,318 rebounds, surpassing the old mark of 1,248 boards held by the senior duo of Blythe Hommes and Julie Brown (1997). Other top senior combos include Alaina Bauer/Sandy Neiss, 1,196 (1991); & Kelly Martin/Serena Merrill, 1,034 (2001).

TORI, TORI, TORI: Tori Martell has connected on 53 3-pointers this season. She is averaging 8.5 points per game, while shooting 46.1% from the field and 43.1% from long distance. Martell, who filled in for Oliana Squires for four games, notched a season-high 17 points in MSU's double overtime win at Eastern Washington. As part of the starting rotation, she averaged 12 points per game and connected on 11 three-pointers. In the last seven games, Martell has connected on 23-of-43 from beyond the arc, shooting at a 53.5% clip.

FRESH START: True-freshman Darian White has made quite the impression on the Big Sky this season. The Boise, Idaho product has started all 26 games and is second on the team averaging 12.0 points game. She has been in double-digit scoring 20 times. White notched a season-high 23 points in MSU's double overtime win at E. Washington on Jan. 18. White connected on 8-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 play, White has averaged 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.1 steals per game. White is currently ranked 32nd in the nation in steals per game at 2.50 per contest. Last winter, she was the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year.

ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has averaged 15.2 minutes over 23 games. The Parma, Idaho native is averaging 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-high 15 points in Montana State's win at E. Washington on Jan. 18. Jackson's points came from beyond the arc as she connected on 5-of-8 triples. 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: Kola Bad Bear is averaging 2.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in 25 outings. The Billings Senior grad had a season-best 8 points vs. Sacramento State twice this season, combining for 7-of-10 (70%) 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.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Bobcats held the nation's second longest home court win streak (31) before it was snapped by Portland State on Jan. 11, 2018. Since losing to San Diego on Nov. 24, 2015, MSU has won 54 of 65 games (83%) in The Brick. The Bobcats average 2,318 fans. The Cats had a season-high 6,596 in attendance for its annual Bobcat School Day Nov. 11, 2019.