By TOM SCHULZ
MONTANA STATE SPORTS INFORMATION
Montana State senior standout Peyton Ferris became the seventh Bobcat in history to be named the Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player, announced the league office on Sunday night.
The Twin Bridges product, who led the Big Sky in scoring averaging 18.8 points per game, was also a unanimous First-Team All-Big Sky Conference selection.
Montana State senior Peyton Ferris
Tabbed as the preseason league MVP, Ferris held her end of the bargain playing in all 28 games and averaging 17.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field. A two-time Big Sky Conference Top Reserve of the Year, she joined MSU’s 1,000-point club with a season-best 32 points at North Dakota. Currently, she is 14th on MSU’s all-time scoring chart, and 18 points away from surpassing Tennyson Ballek (95-99) for 13th.
In addition, Ferris became the 12th member of MSU’s prestigious 1,000/500 club as she is 16th all-time with 562 rebounds. Ferris recorded her fourth double-double of the year with 22 points and 10 boards against Weber State on Friday night. She had notched eight games over 20 points and two games over the 30-point plateau. As a co-captain, Ferris guided MSU to 29 league wins over the past two years, which is the best total in the Big Sky Conference.
“Peyton has been super consistent all season long,” said MSU 12th year head coach Tricia Binford. “She’s had a lot of double teams and even had some triple teams, so the consistency she’s been able to show against that type of pressure and defense all season long is truly remarkable. I’m really proud of her, but I know for her, this is not where we want to finish.”
Montana State senior Riley Nordgaard
In addition, senior Riley Nordgaard garnered Second-Team All-Big Sky accolades. Nordgaard, who was the 2016 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, is averaging 13.9 points and a team-best 7.8 rebound per contest. Nordgaard also leads the team in steals and is second in three-point makes.
“Riley is just one of those kids that just makes plays,” Binford said. “She is a difference maker when she steps on the court. She’s a playmaker, whether it’s on the offensive end, whether it’s on the defensive end, she rebounds at a high level. She’s a steal-maker, she’s energy for our team. She never gives up on a play and we love that about her.
“Peyton and Riley have raise the level of competitiveness of every practice for us all season long and that’s what you really need to be able to come out every single night and be able to get it done,” Binford added. “I’m really proud of both of them for getting recognized.”
Big Sky women’s All-Conference awards
MVP: Peyton Ferris, Montana State
Top Newcomer: Ashley Bolston, Portland State
Top Reserve: Darri Frandsen, Southern Utah
Outstanding Freshman: Estefania Ors, Idaho State
Defensive Player of the Year: Karlee Wilson, Idaho; Freya Newton, Idaho State
FIRST TEAM:
Peyton Ferris, Sr., F Montana State (MVP) (Unanimous)
Makailah Dyer, Sr., G North Dakota (Unanimous)
Delaney Hodgins, Jr., F Eastern Washington
Mikayla Ferenz, So., G Idaho
Savannah Smith, So., G Northern Colorado
SECOND TEAM:
Riley Nordgaard, Sr., F Montana State
Savannah Scott, Jr., G Northern Colorado
Lexi Klabo, So., F North Dakota
Tisha Phillips, Sr. G Eastern Washington
Ashley Bolston, So., G Portland State
THIRD TEAM:
Maranne Johnson, Jr., G Sacramento State
Olivia Lucero, Jr., G Northern Arizona
Sidney Rielly, So., G Portland State
Saylair Grandon, So., G Idaho State
Deeshyra Thomas, Sr., G Weber State
HONORABLE MENTION:
Ashli Payne, EWU; Fallyn Freije, North Dakota; Jessica Richardson, Southern Utah
