Bobcats Hit 20-Win Plateau on Record Setting Night

Thursday, February 25

BOZEMAN

8 p.m.

Montana State University

20-6, 13-2BSC

Weber State

18-8, 10-5BSC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Weber State	12	17	19	23	71
Montana State	21	24	21	26	92

Peyton Ferris scored a career-high 33 points against Weber State on Thursday night.

Photo by: Brooks Nuanez

2/25/2016 11:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

If there was any question how the Montana State women’s basketball team would respond following a disappointing loss at Montana last Saturday it was erased in the first ten minutes as MSU cruised to a 92-71 win over Weber State, Thursday night in Worthington Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

If there was any question how the Montana State women's basketball team would respond following a disappointing loss at Montana last Saturday it was erased in the first ten minutes as MSU cruised to a 92-71 win over Weber State, Thursday night in Worthington Arena.

Montana State (20-6, 13-2) scored the first nine points of the contest sparked by the play of Peyton Ferris and Riley Nordgaard. The tandem would each go on to record-setting performances as MSU posted its first 20-win season since 2002-03 (21-9); secured a first-round bye at the Big Sky Conference Tournament; and defeated Weber State (18-8, 10-5) for the 18^th consecutive time.

"We had a great start in the first quarter, a good response in the second quarter and we did a great job finishing out the game," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "I really liked our energy and Peyton and Riley each had a special night. This is a special team and I'm proud of all our kids and their unselfishness."

MSU built a 13-point lead in the opening period, before the Wildcats cut the margin to six points at the 6:35 mark of the second stanza. The Bobcats responded with a 20-10 run to enter intermission with a 45-29 advantage.

Ferris, a product of Twin Bridges, went nine-of-nine in the first half for 18 points in just ten minutes of action. Nordgaard chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals in the opening half.

"Those two were in 'The Zone,'" Binford said. "Their teammates did a great job getting them the ball."

Both teams traded baskets in the third quarter before a Ferris bucket with three-seconds left gave the Bobcats a 16-point lead heading into the final period. Montana State built its largest lead of the contest at 92-64 with a minute left on two free throws via Margreet Barhoum. The Bobcats shot an impressive 73.3 percent from the floor in the final 10-minutes.

Ferris ended the game with a career-high 33 points and a school-record for field-goal percentage at 94.1 percent, connecting on 16-of-17 attempts. The old mark of 90.9 percent was set by Lori Cloar, ironically, almost 27-years ago to the date and against Weber State on Feb. 26, 1989.

Nordgaard finished with a career-high 23 points, while hauling down ten rebounds. The Canby, Minnesota native connected on five-of-eight from beyond the arc. She also didn't show any signs of battling the flu bug. "I'm stoked. That was fun, let's do it again," she chuckled.

For the game, MSU shot 62 percent from the field, 46 percent from long distance and 83 percent from the free throw line. The Bobcats also dominated the glass out-rebounding Weber State 45-21.

WSU was paced by Brittney Dunbar with 16 points and four assists.

MSU will celebrate Senior Night against Idaho State, Saturday at 8 p.m. in Worthington Arena.