Cold Shooting Costs 'Cats Shot at Championship

Friday, March 9

5 p.m.

Montana State University

Northern Colorado

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

3/9/2012 10:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Montana State picked the wrong time for the well to run dry in a 51-43 loss to Northern Colorado, Friday night.

By: Tom Schulz

Sometimes the well runs dry.

Shooting just 27 percent from the field, including 23 percent in the first half, the Montana State women's basketball team scored a season low 43 points against Northern Colorado, Friday night in semifinal action of the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

UNC wasn't spectacular from the field, as well, but used an 11-0 run to open the second stanza and staved off a late MSU rally to notch a 51-43 victory.

“We didn't give ourselves an opportunity,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “We let Northern Colorado's defense dictate the game.”

Montana State (19-11) connected on just seven-of-30 shots from the floor in the opening period, while Northern Colorado (20-10) hit at an icy 31.8 percent. The Bears held an 18-16 advantage at intermission.

In the second period, UNC worked its way to the free throw line owning a commanding 26 to seven advantage. Over half of Northern Colorado's second half points came from the charity stripe.

“We only had nine turnovers for the game, which was a goal,” Binford said. “But it was tough to overcome the deficit at the free throw line. Despite giving up 22 points from the line, we still had a shot down the stretch.”

Trailing by as much as 13-points in the final period, a Jackie Elliott three-pointer at the 2:38 mark closed the gap to 43-39. UNC responded with four straight free throws to secure the win.

Senior Katie Bussey, playing in her final game for the Bobcats, led MSU with a team-high 14 points. Bussey finished her career with 1,710 points, becoming only the second Montana State player in history to surpass the 1,700-point plateau.

Also finishing in double-digits were Rachel Semansky with 11 points and Kalli Durham 10. Ashley Albert led the Bobcats under the boards with eight rebounds.

MSU's 19 victories this season is the most during Binford's tenure with the Bobcats.

MSU will lose just the services of Bussey due to graduation.