Big Sky Conference

Bobcats striving for different ending to second championship season

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RENO — As a crowd of more than 2,300 stood in ovation, Tricia Binford grabbed a microphone. Montana State’s 12th-year head coach thanked her team’s passionate fan base for their support throughout a second straight 20-win season, a surge built on the foundation of MSU’s perfect record at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

Then Binford invited the fans to stay a little longer. Montana State’s 72-53 win over Weber State in Bozeman on Friday night stamped MSU’s 25th straight home win, setting a program record. It also solidified a 15-3 finish in Big Sky Conference play, the most league victories in program history. But to secure a share of a second straight league title, the Bobcats needed help from the Portland State Vikings.

The 22nd win of Montana State’s 2016-17 campaign ended at 8:40 p.m. Binford invited anyone who wished to stay and watch as Portland State tried to knock off North Dakota in a West Coast game that tipped an hour later than MSU’s season finale.

A good amount of people did stay. By 9:50 p.m., the Bobcats were cutting down the nets at the Brick. Portland State posted an 81-67 win over UND, forcing a tie at the top of the Big Sky standings. Because of MSU’s overtime win in Grand Forks in the only matchup between the teams earlier this season, the Bobcats will take the No. 1 seed into the Big Sky Tournament in Reno this week and hang a banner in the Fieldhouse for the second straight year.

Montana State senior forward Peyton Ferris earned Big Sky MVP honors this season

Montana State senior forward Peyton Ferris earned Big Sky MVP honors this season

MSU earned a repeat despite losing Big Sky MVP Jasmine Hommes, the fourth-leading scorer in school history. The Bobcats won one more game than a season ago, overall and in conference, despite the graduation of steady contributors point guard Lindsay Stockton and power forward Alexa Dawkins. Montana State won back-to-back Big Sky titles for the first time since 2002 and 2003 despite featuring three true freshmen — starting center Blaire Braxton, explosive reserve combo guard Oliana Squires and efficient post Madeline Smith — in its rotation.

“There’s been a lot of firsts but our record just finished better than last year’s squad,” said Binford, last season’s Big Sky Coach of the Year and MSU’s all-time leader in wins. “We’ve talked all year long that this is a new team, this is a different team. I’ve told it to our seniors. The seniors had to step up with leadership getting everybody’s best shot every night and being in a new role. Our freshmen had to come in and get experience and be quick learners. And then our bench had to come in and contribute every day because we rely on it so heavily.

“It’s really fun to see that they have had the consistency to do that.”

Montana State 12th-year head coach Tricia Binford

Montana State 12th-year head coach Tricia Binford

Montana State had more than consistency; the Bobcats at times displayed dominance, like shooting 62 percent after halftime in a 104-82 win at Sac State to spark the Bobcats’ four-game winning streak entering Reno. Montana State has also shown resiliency, like rallying from a nine-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to beat rival Montana in Missoula in overtime.

During that win over the Lady Griz, and for most of MSU’s championship season, Peyton Ferris hit an array of clutch shots to answer any resistance by MSU’s opponents. At Montana, Ferris hit six field goals after Montana tied the score, then sparked a 9-0 run over the last two and a half minutes or regulation to force OT on a night she finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds.

The Twin Bridges native earned the Big Sky’s Top Reserve her sophomore and junior seasons. Entering her senior year, Ferris was named the preseason Big Sky MVP. She averaged 17.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, including 18.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per Big Sky outing to earn the league’s postseason MVP.

Ferris and second-team all-league senior Riley Nordgaard proved to be the best offensive and defensive tone setters in the league.

“It’s upper classmen setting the example,” Ferris said. “We are a really competitive group. We hate to lose and we love the game of basketball. Bringing the under classmen in under our wing, not only focusing on your own thing but bringing them along with you. I think that’s the biggest thing and they see the type of culture we’ve established here over the last two years. That started with some other captains before and now it’s finally a full circle.”

MSU assistant coach John Stockton

MSU assistant coach John Stockton

Stockton, the daughter of NBA Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton, has as feisty of a demeanor and as competitive a style of play as any lady in the league. She also provided the Bobcats with a once in a lifetime experience as John served as an MSU volunteer assistant for Lindsay’s senior season.

Many wondered how the Bobcats would adjust to life after the Stocktons. With junior Hannah Caudill running the show, MSU’s offense was even more efficient, it’s defense as solid.

Montana State proved its depth in the final weekend of the season. Caudill on the bench with an undisclosed illness, senior Margreet Barhoum started for the first two times in her final season. She helped MSU to a 27-7 first-quarter lead in a win over Idaho State and to a 22-9 first-quarter lead in a win over Weber State as MSU capped a four-game winning streak entering tournament play.

“We are missing our starting point guard and we are excited to have Hannah back but in her absence, we’ve really been able to push the tempo and kind of let some other kids develop,” Nordgaard said following the Weber State win. “Honestly, I think it’s been a good opportunity for those kids to have some time and gain some confidence right before tournament. And of course, when we have Hannah back, we are stoked for that.”

Montana State assistant head coach Nate Harris

Montana State assistant head coach Nate Harris

From Erica Perry to Rebecca Mercer to Katie Bussey, Binford has a proven track record in recruiting and developing smooth scoring guards. From Sarah Balian to Rachel Semansky to Hommes, the Bobcats have consistently developed skilled post players. Binford, a standout at Boise State before playing in the WNBA, has consistently put offensively proficient teams on the court.

The last two seasons, the difference for the Bobcats has been pairing that offense with the team-oriented defensive concepts implemented by assistant head coach Nate Harris. The Bobcats averaged 73.6 points per game this season, second in the league, including 75.8 in Big Sky games. The Bobcats give up 64.7 points per game, fourth in the league.

“We play so many possessions, we are never going to lead the league in scoring defense,” said Harris, who was an assistant at Montana State-Billings before joining Binford’s staff. “We want to be one of the most efficient defensive teams on a per-possession basis. It’s a matter of taking advantage of the advantages you have. Our big thing is to not give up open shots, rebound the basketball. There’s a lot of different things inside of that — accountability, intensity to be great. I think we have gotten more intense, more physical, tougher over time.”

UM guard Taylor Goligoski (23) shot blocked by MSU forward Riley Nordgaard (15)

UM guard Taylor Goligoski (23) shot blocked by MSU forward Riley Nordgaard (15)

In the past, Montana State was hindered by the offensive rebounding of opponents against rosters sprinkled with finesse players. With the emergence of Nordgaard as a play-maker and the evolution of Harris’ team concepts, MSU has improved greatly defensively in large part do to an emphasis on rebounding margin. MSU ranks third in the league in rebounding margin in conference games (+3.8), top the Big Sky in defensive rebounds per game (30.3) and rank third in defensive rebounding percentage, securing 70.1 percent of opponents’ misses.

“There’s a lot of ways to play basketball and we decided to play basketball a certain way here,” Harris said. “With what we are doing, we are never going to turn teams over a bunch. Us being really good on the defensive glass has helped us.

“Basketball comes down to four factors: rebounding margin, turnovers, 3-point shooting and just making shots. The 3-point shot is added in because it’s so important on its own. It’s really tough to be good at all of them. You aren’t going to turn people over a whole bunch and still rebound well. We wanted to focus on forcing people to miss shot and rebounding those missed shots so we can get out in transition. “

Nordgaard’s 7.8 rebounds per game despite her 5-foot-10 frame helped the captain earn second-team All-Big Sky honors. Her ability to snare a rebound and whip an outlet pass to an MSU guard to spark the Bobcats’ transition has been crucial in MSU’s ability to push the pace.

“Playing extended runs of aggressive, physical defense equates to more efficient offense and better rebounding and all other aspects of the way we want to play,” Nordgaard said.

“Focusing on defense creates our most efficient offense, whether it’s a steal that creates transition, a rebound to a quick outlet, defense is what makes us better on offense.”

MSU guard Hannah Caudill (23)

MSU guard Hannah Caudill (23)

Swoons in the second half of the league season have been commonplace over Binford this decade. Ferris’ true freshman year, MSU started 8-1 in conference only to lose nine of 12 down the stretch, including in the first round of the tournament. MSU won at least seven games the first half of conference play each of the last four seasons only to lose in the first round of the tournament all but once.

Even last season, the Bobcats shot out to a 13-1 start in league play only to lose four straight to end an otherwise banner year. The top seed in the Big Sky Tournament lost on a half-court buzzer beater to Idaho State, then got blown out at Utah in the first round of the WNIT.

This year’s Bobcat team seems to have a much different mentality. MSU dropped the first game of its final regular-season road trip, losing at Portland State. Instead of spiraling, MSU rallied for a win at Sac State, pounded Montana at home and swept its final home stand, including a win over ISU, MSU’s longtime nemesis. The Bobcats are on a four-game winning streak entering Wednesday’s tournament opener against No. 8 Weber State. Montana State is determined to ride the momentum into the Big Dance.

“I love the mentality we are playing at right now,” Binford said. “I love our defense that we picked up some energy. We would love to have Hannah back as well. We believe we will have her. Those pieces all put together, it’s one of those things that you say momentum is great but you have to show up and perform well and be consistent. On Wednesday, we are showing up, attacking and playing our best basketball.”

BIG SKY WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT

Wednesday March 8 (TIMES PACIFIC)

No. 1 Montana State vs. No. 8 Weber State – 12:05 p.m.

No. 4 Eastern Washington vs. No. 5 Idaho – 2:35 p.m.

No. 2 North Dakota vs. No. 7 Portland State – 5:35 p.m.

No. 3 Northern Colorado vs. No. 6 Idaho State – 8:05 p.m.

All photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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