Bobcats down Thunderbirds, Remain atop Big Sky Standings

Saturday, February 13

Cedar City, UT

7 p.m.

Montana State University

19-5, 12-1BSC

Southern Utah

2-21, 0-12BSC

Montana State

Southern Utah

Riley Nordgaard had 17 points Saturday night.

Photo by: Dean O'Driscoll

Bobcats down Thunderbirds, Remain atop Big Sky Standings

2/13/2016 10:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Trailing by one-point just fifty-two seconds into the second quarter, the Montana State women’s basketball team flexed its muscle with a 12-0 run and never looked back, en route to an 87-66 win over Southern Utah, Saturday night in Centrum Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

Trailing by one-point just fifty-two seconds into the second quarter, the Montana State women's basketball team flexed its muscle with a 12-0 run and never looked back, en route to an 87-66 win over Southern Utah, Saturday night in Centrum Arena.

"Southern Utah was crashing all over and we had no answer for them on the glass," said MSU Head Coach Tricia Binford. "Give Southern Utah credit, they played hard and hit shots. It was a tough first half."

Montana State (19-5, 12-1) held a one-point advantage after the opening period, but Southern Utah (2-21, 0-12) started the second stanza with a three-pointer and a bucket by Taylor Baird gave the Thunderbirds a 25-24 lead at the 9:08 mark.

MSU's 12-0 run was sparked by an unlikely source as Margreet Barhoum converted a layup, followed by five straight points by Riley Nordgaard. The Bobcats built its largest lead of the opening half at 41-29 on a Nordgaard triple. SUU responded with a three-pointer via Jamie Smith to close the gap to 41-32 at intermission.

Southern Utah opened the second half cutting the margin to six-points at the 7:11 mark, but once again MSU put its foot down and reeled off 13 consecutive points. Five different players scored during the run, which saw MSU connect on four 3-pointers.

"The strength of the team is that we have kids that can step up at any given time," Binford said. "As coaches, we got out of their way and just let them play the game in the second half. It was great team basketball."

Montana State took its largest lead of the contest at 77-48 with 7:35 remaining on a Nordgaard field-goal. With the lead secured, the Bobcats were able to go deep into its bench.

Freshman Haley Blodgett was a defensive stalwart for the Bobcats recording a school record seven blocks to go along with a career-high eight rebounds.

"Haley is a great help on the defensive end, and because of her size, we don't have to throw a double-team," Binford said. "Offensively, she's getting more comfortable. It was important for us to give our bench quality minutes, while at the same time resting bodies."

Nordgaard, a product of Canby, Minnesota, finished with a game-high 17 points, while Jasmine Hommes and Peyton Ferris also hit double-digits with 15 and 13 points, respectively.

Southern Utah was led by Baird with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Montana State will travel to Montana on Saturday for the second Brawl of the Wild meeting this winter.

NOTES: Montana State posts its 19^th win, which matches (2011-12) Tricia Binfords' best total at MSU…MSU's 12 Big Sky wins is the most in a single-season during the Tricia Binford era…MSU's Haley Blodgett recorded seven blocks, which ties the MSU mark with Sarah Balian (2010)… Haley Blodgett recorded a career-high eight rebounds…All 11 players suited-up saw playing time, the least seeing seven minutes.