Montana State University
Northern Arizona
Cat Women Head to Northern Arizona and Southern Utah
1/24/2018 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State will venture back out on the Big Sky Conference road this weekend as it faces Northern Arizona, Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Flagstaff.
MSU WBB NOTES l NAU WBB NOTES l LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS
MONTANA STATE (10-8, 4-3) at NORTHERN ARIZONA (4-14, 1-6)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018
Tipoff: 6:30 p.m. p.m. (MST)
Site: Walkup Skydome (10,000) * Flagstaff, AZ
Radio: My 103.5 FM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
Live Video: Pluto TV (ch. 239) or WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats: nauathletics.com
Live Audio: msubobcats.com/watch
Live TV: NAU-TV
MONTANA STATE (10-8, 4-3) at SOUTHERN UTAH (3-15, 2-5)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018
Tipoff: 12:30 p.m. (MST)
Site: America First Event Center (5,300) * Cedar City, UT
Radio: My 103.5 FM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
Live Video: Pluto TV (ch. 236) or WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats: suutbirds.com
Live Audio: msubobcats.com/watch
Live TV: None
NEXT UP: Montana State will venture back out on the Big Sky Conference road this weekend as it faces Northern Arizona, Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Flagstaff. The Cats will conclude weekend play at Southern Utah, Saturday, Jan. 27 at 12:30 p.m. in Cedar City.
ON A SERIES NOTE: Montana State holds a 44-21 lead in its all-time series with Northern Arizona dating back to Jan. 14, 1988. The Bobcats defeated the Lumberjacks 81-39 on Dec. 30 in Bozeman. MSU has captured 13 of the last 14 meetings between the two schools. The one loss came on Jan. 24, 2015 (79-64) in Flagstaff. Following its 91-71 win over Southern Utah to open Big Sky play on Dec. 28, the Bobcats are now 16-5 all-time against the Thunderbirds dating back to Nov. 29, 1988. Montana State has won the last four meetings between the two conference foes. MSU's last win (87-66) in Cedar City came on Feb. 13, 2016.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Cats saw the nation's second longest home court win streak snapped against Portland State on Jan. 11. The loss broke MSU's 31-game home streak, which was second to national power UConn (72). Before the loss to the Vikings, Montana State's last defeat in Worthington Arena was a 62-49 decision to San Diego on Nov. 24, 2015. MSU has won 33 of its last 34 games in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. On another note, the Cats are averaging 2,615 fans per game, which ranks 46th in the nation and is the second best total in the Big Sky Conference to Montana (3,060) and ahead of programs such as North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma State and seven of the twelve Pac-12 schools.
THE NITTY GRITTY: According to the Jan. 22, 2018 NCAA Nitty-Gritty rankings the Bobcats are currently ranked #223 in the country. The highest Big Sky Conference listing belongs to Northern Colorado at #41, followed by #137 North Dakota, #138 Portland State, #142 Idaho State, #144 Weber State, #208 Eastern Washington and #212 Idaho. Ranked behind Montana State is #243 Montana, #271 Sacramento State, #303 Southern Utah and #322 Northern Arizona. The Bobcats finished the 2016-17 season ranked #59 - its highest finish ever.
DISHING THE ROCK: Senior Hannah Caudill's 426 career assists is fourth most in Montana State history. She currently has her sights set on breaking the all-time mark of 443 set by Vicki Heebner-Carle from 1980-84. In addition, Caudill is second all-time in three-point field-goals made with 204 triples (only the second Bobcat to go over 200 makes) 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. As a sophomore, she led the league averaging 5.4 assists per contest. She dished out 166 assists, which was second most ever recorded in a single-season at MSU. Her current +1.8 assist-turnover ratio is second in the Big Sky Conference. Caudill matched a career-high 24 points at North Dakota on Jan.6, connecting on nine-of-19 from the field, including four 3-pointers. The product of Spokane, Wash., has connected on season-high six 3-pointers against both Long Beach State and Southern Utah. Caudill was named to the Oregon State/Maui Jim Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 11 points and two assists per game. Caudill guided MSU to a win over Wyoming on Nov. 29 with a 19-point effort, which included a four-of-five showing from beyond the arc. Caudill matched a season best eight assists against Sacramento State. She is currently seventh in the Big Sky averaging 4.1 assists per game and her 3.0 three-point makes per contest are fourth best in the league. Caudill is shooting 42.2 percent from long distance, which is fourth in the Big Sky. Last weekend, she recorded 14 points and six assists in MSU's win over rival Montana. Caudill currently leads the Big Sky Conference averaging 5.4 assists in league only games. She also ranks in the top five in three-point field-goal makes and assist/turnover ratio.
JUNK MAIL: Delany Junkermier recorded a career-high 23 points in Montana State's win over Sacramento State on Jan. 13. Against the Hornets, she shot seven-of-12 from the field, including a five-of-six effort from beyond the arc. In her last her last six games, she has posted 20 or more points on three occasions. Over that span, Junkermier is averaging 18 points per game, while shooting 55.9 percent from the field and connecting on 20 3-pointers. The Mead High graduate moved into eighth on MSU's all-time Top 10 3-point makes list on Saturday. She currently has 126 career three-pointers. On Saturday, Junkermier posted a team-high 16 points, while hauling down seven rebounds and adding two assists and two steals. Against Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 9, Junkermier pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds. She is currently first in the Big Sky in 3-point field-goal percentage (.606), second in field-goal percentage (.559), fourth in three-point field goal made per game (3.3) and fifth in the league in scoring (18.4).
MAD ABOUT YOU: Madeline Smith is making an impact in her second season with the Bobcats. The product of Snohomish, Washington is averaging 11.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.7 percent from the field, connecting on 89-172 attempts. Against Omaha on Nov. 17, Smith recorded her first-ever double-double with 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. Smith is third in the Big Sky in rebounds per game, while her 51.7 percent field-goal percentage is second highest in the league. Her 8.9 rebounds per game is the 12th highest total by a sophomore at the NCAA Division I level so far this season. Last Saturday, Smith registered seven points, while pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds as the Bobcats defeated rival Montana in Bozeman.
SECRET BRAXTON FAMILY RECIPE: Blaire Braxton is currently second on the squad averaging 5.6 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 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. On Saturday afternoon, Braxton posted a season-high eight points in MSU's win over Montana. For the game, she connected on four-of-six from the field. Braxton swatted a career-high five blocks against Wyoming on Nov. 29. Braxton recorded a career-high five assists in MSU's win over Long Beach State. Her current 1.39 blocks per game is fifth in the Big Sky and ranks 135th 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 7.4 rebounds per game.
HOLY MOLY, OLI: Oliana Squires has started all 18 games and is averaging 10.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. The Colorado Springs, Colo., product posted a career-high 20 points in Montana State's win in overtime against Stephen F. Austin. For the game, she connected on a career-high six 3-pointers. Squires is currently second on the squad with 38 triples. In her last 10 outings, she has averaged 13 points a game, including a 26-of-57 effort from beyond the arc. Squires is ninth in the Big Sky shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc and her 2.11 3-point field-goals per game is 12th best in the league. On Saturday, Squires recorded 11 points, four assists and three rebounds in MSU's win over Montana.
HATCHET JOB: Senior Rebekah Hatchard has started the last seven games for the Bobcats and has averaged 10.3 points and four rebounds per game over that span. Hatchard recorded a career-high 17 points at North Dakota on Jan. 6, connecting on seven-of-10 from the field and three-of-three from the free throw line. She is currently shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc and has gone 10-of-23 from long distance in the last seven games.
THROWING SHAIDE: Sophomore Madisyn Shaide is averaging 2.1 minutes per game. The Missoula Big Sky grad has played in 11 games this season.
FAB FROSH: All five of Montana State's freshmen have made an impact this season. Leading the contingent is 6-2 forward Laura Pranger. The product of Centennial, Colo., received her first collegiate start against Northern Arizona on Dec. 30 and notched a career-best 12 points connecting on five-of-six from the field and two-of-two from three-point range. For the season, Pranger is shooting 41.4 percent from the field and is pulling down 3.4 rebounds per contest. She is currently second on the team with 20 blocked shots. Guards Tori Martell and Ashley Van Sickle have combined for 31 three-pointers and are averaging a combined 6.1 points per game. Van Sickle went three-of-four from long distance in MSU's win over Montana on Saturday afternoon.
BOZEMAN DOWNTOWN ASSOC.: MSU is shooting 36.8 percent from beyond the arc and averaging 9.8 makes per game. Against Southern Utah on Dec. 28, the Cats set a new school-record with 18 three-pointers. MSU came out hot against the T-Birds, converting nine triples in the opening quarter. As a team, MSU has recorded at least one 3-pointer in the last 151 consecutive games. The last time the Cats were held without a trey was Jan. 24, 2013 (0-9) at Weber State. Last season, MSU's 245 3-pointers were a school-record. The Cats currently have made 177 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. The Cats are currently tops in the league (22nd in the nation) in 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.3) and are second in scoring defense (62.2) and field-goal percentage defense (38.9). MSU is third in blocked shots (75) and blocks per game (4.2) and fourth in rebound margin (2.9). So far this season, the Bobcats have held five teams to 50 points or less - Providence (31), Northern Arizona (39), Wyoming (46), MSU Billings (47) and Sacramento State (50).
THAT'S OFFENSIVE: The Cats are sixth in the nation averaging 9.8 three-pointers a game; 14th in 3-pointers made with 177; and 33rd in 3-point FG percentage at 36.8.
