Montana State University
Stephen F. Austin
Cat Women Host SFA
12/8/2017 4:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Following a hellacious stretch of four games in six days, the Bobcats return from its Hawaii trip to face Stephen F. Austin inside the friendly confines of Worthington Arena on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m
GAME NOTES L LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (6-2) AT MONTANA STATE (5-4)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017
Tipoff: 4:30 p.m. (MST)
Site: Worthington Arena (7,000) * Bozeman, MT
Radio: 1450 KMMS-AM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
Live Video: Pluto TV or WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats: Bobcatstats.com
Live Audio: msubobcats.com/watch
Live TV: Statewide on SWX & SWX Right Now (app); Chris Byers, Play-by-Play; Krista Redpath, Color Commentary
NEXT UP: Following a hellacious stretch of four games in six days, the Bobcats return from its Hawaii trip to face Stephen F. Austin inside the friendly confines of Worthington Arena on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. The game is the second of a double-header with the MSU men's team. The MSU men's squad will tip at 2 p.m. against UC Santa Barbara. Both games will be televised on SWX and the SWX Right Now (app). Chris Byers will handle play-by=play duties, with Krista Redpath adding the color commentary. Montana channels carrying the game include SW Montana (18.3), NW Montana (23.3), Great Falls (5.3), Helena (21.3), Billings (8.2) or Charter cable channel 199.
ON A SERIES NOTE: Saturday's game is the first meeting between Montana State and Stephen F. Austin.
FAMILIAR FOE: Saturday's game will be a homecoming for a pair of former Bobcats. Stephen F. Austin head coach Mark Kellogg served as an assistant coach at Montana State from 2001-05. In his four seasons in Bozeman, he helped guide the Bobcats to 63 victories, including back-to-back Big Sky Conference titles in 2002 and 2003. The 2003 Montana State squad went 21-9 overall and advanced to the WNIT where it lost to Colorado State in the first round. After leaving MSU, Kellogg served as head coach at Fort Lewis (CO), NW Missouri State and West Texas A&M. His 2010 Fort Lewis team and his 2014 West Texas A&M squad both finished as NCAA Division II runner-ups. Kellogg's 13-year career mark stands at 299-84. Also on the Ladyjacks coaching staff is former Bobcat standout Rebecca Alvidrez. Alvidrez played at MSU for two seasons from 2000-02. Her 161 assists during the 2001-02 campaign are the third most ever recorded in a single-season at MSU. Alvidrez transferred to Montana State from Otero (CO) Junior College. She was the 2001 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year and the 2002 Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, Alvidrez was a two-time All-Big Sky First-Team selection and was a 2002 All-Big Sky Tournament pick. On another note, Kellogg coached current MSU assistant Kati (Burrows) Mobley during his tenure at MSU, while Mobley played along-side Alvidrez in the Blue and Gold.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Bobcats finished its 2016-17 home season with a perfect 13-0 mark. Its current 28-game home winning streak is second longest at the NCAA Division I level only behind UConn. The Huskies have won 69 straight. The 28-game home win streak is a Montana State school-record.
THE NITTY GRITTY: The Bobcats finished the 2016-17 season ranked No. 59 in the NCAA's final Nitty Gritty listings. It was the highest a MSU team has ever been ranked. The next closest Big Sky team was Northern Colorado at No. 128.
DISHING THE ROCK: Senior Hannah Caudill matched a career-high 24 points to lift MSU to a victory at Long Beach State on Nov. 12. The product of Spokane, Wash., connected on 6-11 from the field and 6-9 from beyond the 3-point arc. Last Wednesday, Caudill guided MSU to a win over Wyoming with a 19-point effort, which included a four-of-five showing from beyond the arc. In addition, she pulled down three rebounds, dished out three assists and went three-of-four from the line to secure the Bobcat victory. On MSU's recent Hawaii trip, Caudill averaged 13.7 points per game. She was in double-digit scoring on two occasions with 19 points at Hawaii and 16 points in MSU's win over Utah State at the Maui Jim Classic. Caudill dished out a season best seven assists at Omaha on Nov. 17. She is currently tenth in the Big Sky averaging 3.1 assists per game and her 3.1 three-point makes per contest are third best in the league. Caudill is shooting 45.2 percent from long distance, which is the sixth best mark in the Big Sky. Caudill's 380 career assists is sixth most in Montana State history. She currently has her sights set on establishing the all-time mark of 443 set by Vicki Heebner-Carle from 1980-84. As a sophomore, Caudill led the Big Sky averaging 5.4 assists per contest. She dished out 166 assists, which was second most ever recorded in a single-season at MSU. In addition, Caudill moved into second all-time in three-point field-goals made at 178 triples (had 10 on the Hawaii trip) and is first all-time in career three-point field-goal percentage hitting at a 39.2 clip. As a junior, Caudill averaged 4.4 assists per game, which ranked fourth in the Big Sky. Her current +1.3 assist-turnover ratio is tenth in the Big Sky Conference.
JUNK MAIL: Delany Junkermier, who delivered ten double-figure scoring games last season, including a season-high 19 points in Montana State's win over rival Montana on Feb. 25, has opened the 2017-18 season averaging 6.3 points per game. The Spokane, Wash., native notched a season-high 12 points as Montana State defeated Utah State at the Maui Jim Classic, last Friday. For the game, Junkermier connected on five-of-nine from the field. On Saturday, she pulled down a season-best seven rebounds against Nevada. Over the course of three games in Hawaii, Junkermier averaged a team-best 6.0 rebounds per contest. The Mead High graduate is six 3-point makes away from moving into MSU's top 10 all-time. She currently has 104 career three-point makes.
MAD ABOUT YOU: Madeline Smith is off to an impressive start for the Bobcats. The product of Snohomish, Washington is averaging 11.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.5 percent from the field, connecting on 46-80 attempts. Against Omaha on Nov. 17, Smith recorded her first-ever double-double with a career-high 18 points to go along with 14 rebounds. Smith pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds against Providence on Nov. 15, which was just two shy of the Bobcat school-record of 21 set by Cass Bauer in 1994. On Nov. 25, Smith registered a career-high 23 points in MSU's win over MSU Billings. For the game, she connected on 11-16 from the field and went one-of-one at the line. She also notched her second straight double-double hauling down 12 rebounds against the Yellowjackets. Smith is third in the Big Sky Conference in rebounds per game, while her field-goal percentage is second best. Her 9.0 rebounds per game is the 13th highest total by a sophomore at the NCAA Division I level so far this season.
SECRET BRAXTON FAMILY RECIPE: Blaire Braxton is currently second on the squad averaging 6.1 boards per contest. Last season as a true-freshman, Braxton started all 32 games and averaged 6.8 rebounds per game. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., product has already recorded two games with 10 rebounds or more this season. Last winter, Braxton registered four double-digit rebounding games, including a career-high 14 boards at Sacramento State. Braxton matched a season-high six points in MSU's win over Wyoming last Wednesday. For the game, she connected on three-of-seven from the field and paced all Bobcats under the glass with nine rebounds. Braxton also swatted a career-high five blocks against the Cowgirls. In addition, she has done a nice job distributing the ball, averaging 3.0 assists per contest. Braxton recorded a career-high five assists in MSU's win over Long Beach State. Her current 2.3 assist/turnover ratio is second in the Big Sky and ranks 78th overall. Braxton's brother Zach is currently in his third season at Big Sky rival Weber State. The elder Braxton is also a force under the boards, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires has started all nine games and is averaging 8.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. The Colorado Springs, Colo., product posted a career-high 18 points in Montana State's win over Utah State at the Maui Jim Classic. Squires connected on six-of-14 from the field against the Aggies, but converted a career-high five 3-pointers. Recently, she averaged 13.3 points per game on the Hawaii trip. Squires is currently second on the squad with 14 3-point makes.
BOZEMAN DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION: MSU is shooting 32.7 percent from beyond the arc and averaging 8.1 makes per game. Against Long Beach State, the Cats connected on a season-high 11-of-29 attempts for 37.9 percent, which was higher than its overall field-goal percentage of 36.7 against the 49ers. Senior Hannah Caudill is first all-time in three-point shooting at .392. Caudill has gone 28-62 for 45.2 percent in the opening nine games to the season. As a team, MSU has recorded at least one 3-pointer in the last 142 consecutive games. The last time the Cats were held without a three-pointer was Jan. 24, 2013 (0-9) at Weber State. Last season, MSU's 245 3-pointers were a school-record. The Cats have currently made 73 three-pointers.
STINGY D: The Bobcat defense evolved into one of the best units in the Big Sky Conference last winter leading the league in four statistical categories. This season has been no different to date. The Cats currently lead the Big Sky in scoring defense (59.7), are second in rebounding defense (34.1) and defensive rebounding percentage (.714) and are third in blocked shots (4.0), So far this season, the Bobcats have held three teams to under 50 points - Providence (31), Wyoming (46), and MSU Billings (47).
TO CATCH A THIEF: MSU logged 230 steals last season. Over the first nine games this fall, Montana State has posted 56 steals, paced by senior point guard Hannah Caudill with ten thefts, and senior guard Delany Junkermier with nine steals.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Stephen F. Austin dropped a 60-52 decision at the University of Montana on Thursday night. The 'Jacks shot 38.5 percent from the field and an icy 21.1 percent from long distance. Chanell Hayes, a 5-11 sophomore from Texarkana, Arkansas, led Stephen F. Austin with 17 points. Six-foot senior Stevi Parker guided the Ladyjacks under the boards with a team-high nine rebounds. On the season, Parker averages a double-double posting 11.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, respectively. Also averaging double-digits is Alyssa Mayfield at 10 points per contest. Hayes is SFA's top threat from beyond the 3-point line, connecting on nine triples to date.
