The Montana State women’s basketball team used a late 13-3 run to secure a spot atop the Big Sky Conference standings all alone.
MSU cashed in on a pair of 3-pointers and went 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the final three minutes of the game as MSU overcame a late deficit for an 83-72 win at Northern Arizona Thursday night in the Walkup Skydome.
The win, head coach Tricia Binford’s 100th Big Sky victory, moves the Bobcats to 11-1 in league play, 18-5 overall. MSU’s win coupled with North Dakota’s 72-69 victory over Eastern Washington, puts the Bobcats in sole possession of the top spot in the league.
“It was a tough game to get into any kind of a flow,” Binford said. “It was hard to establish a tempo, but I’m proud of the kids and their resiliency. Everyone stepped-up and just made plays to finish the game against a really tough opponent.”
Montana State (18-5, 11-1) took a 34-29 advantage into intermission. Junior Riley Nordgaard paced the Bobcats in the first two quarters, posting 10 points and eight rebounds.
“Riley was all over the glass,” Binford said.
Northern Arizona (6-17, 2-10) enjoyed a 14-4 run to open the third quarter, taking a 45-40 lead at the 4:09 mark on a layup via Taylor Leyva. The Bobcats closed out the stanza on an 11-5 run, giving MSU a one-point cushion heading into the final stanza.
MSU senior center Jasmine Hommes and senior point guard Lindsay Stockton each finished with a team-high 19 points. Hommes went 8-of-14 from the field and added seven rebounds. Stockton went 3-of-4 from 3-point range and dished out a game-high seven assists, as well.
Nordgaard recorded her second double-double in the last three games finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. MSU junior Peyton Ferris also hit double-digits with 17 points. Sophomore guard Hannah Caudill came off the bench to chip in seven points and five assists.
“Lindsay (Stockton) really got us going heading into the fourth quarter,” Binford said. “We got into some foul trouble and Annika (Lai) and Haley (Blodgett) came in and gave us good minutes. Margreet (Barhoum) hit a big three and Jasmine (Hommes) and Peyton (Ferris) really took over when we needed it the most. It was just a great team effort.”
For the game, Montana State shot 53 percent from the field and 56 percent from 3-point range, connecting on 9-of-16 attempts. MSU held a slight 34-31 advantage under the boards.
NAU freshman Alyssa Rader scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Lumberjacks.
The Bobcats’ 11 Big Sky wins are tied for the most under Binford. MSU won 11 Big Sky games in 2008, 2011 and 2013. Montana State will play at Southern Utah on Saturday night in Cedar City.
