Hawai’i Captures Rollercoaster Victory

Monday, December 4

Manoa, HI

10 p.m. (MT)

Montana State University

5-4

Hawaii

5-3

Montana State

Hawaii

Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

12/5/2017 3:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

“Offensively, I thought our execution was very good,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “We had consistent production across the board. I think having this kind of production at the end of a long week is a good sign of things to come.”

By: Tom Schulz

In a game that featured six ties and 13 lead changes, it was the University of Hawai'i that pulled away from a one-point contest with 1:54 remaining out-scoring Montana State 10-5 down the stretch to post an 81-75 win, Monday night in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Montana State (5-4) had one of its best offensive performances of the season as five players reached double-figure scoring. In addition, the Bobcats shot 47.5 percent from the field and connected on ten-of-26 three pointers and 90 percent from the line.

"Offensively, I thought our execution was very good," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "We had consistent production across the board. I think having this kind of production at the end of a long week is a good sign of things to come."

Senior Hannah Caudill guided MSU with 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Also in double-digits were Oliana Squires 14, Laura Pranger and Rebekah Hatchard, who eached chipped in a career-best 11 points, and Madeline Smith 10.

After getting out to a slow start, MSU rebounded from a 12-4 deficit with a 12-2 run to take its first lead at 16-14 following a Blaire Braxton layin with 36-seconds left in the opening frame.

Hawai'i's (5-3) Julissa Tago took over for the Rainbow Wahines scoring the first seven points of the second quarter. Hawai'I held a 35-27 advantage at the 4:41 mark before the Bobcats rattled off a 13-1 run sparked by seven points via Pranger.

The 'Bows entered intermission with a 41-40 lead. Hawai'i finished the first 20-minutes shooting 63 percent from the field, while MSU hit at a 50 percent clip, including an eight-of-14 effort from three-point range.

Montana State took its largest lead of the game at 49-44 with 6:33 left in the third stanza following a Squires layup. Hawai'i responded and built a 61-58 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Hawai'i took a seven-point lead midway through the final quarter, but the Cats whittled the margin down to one-point with just under two minutes left. The 'Bows connected on eight-of-10 charity tosses in the waning moments to secure the victory.

The Bobcats were whistled for ten fouls in the final period, while Hawai'I committed just two. For the game, the 'Bows went 14-22 from the line, while Montana State connected on nine-of-10.

MSU won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding Hawai'I 29-28. Smith paced the Cats with a game-high eight rebounds, while Delany Junkemier and Pranger added six, apiece. In addition, MSU committed a season-low ten turnovers.

"We did a better job taking care of the ball," Binford said. "We have some things to clean up, but overall I think we come away from the last week a much better team."

The 'Bows were paced by Sarah Toeaina with 25 points and four rebounds.

MSU will host Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., in Worthington Arena.