Peyton Ferris, Riley Nordgaard and the Montana State Bobcats were determined to wash away the pain of Saturday’s rivalry loss. Consider MSU cleansed.
Ferris scored at will, converting 16 of her 17 and scoring a career-high 33 points, Nordgaard also netted a career high with 23 points and Montana State clicked on all cylinders from the outset of its 92-71 win over Weber State on Thursday night.
“We were not too happy after that loss in Missoula,” Nordgaard said. “That one hurt a bit. We were pumped. We fought sickness the last two weeks, but everybody was fired up. We are getting schedules ready. We are getting ready to travel to not only UND and Northern Colorado but to the conference tournament (in Reno). It’s time. I think everybody is stoked and that’s what you saw tonight. We are ready to go.”
MSU women’s basketball team celebrates during a game vs. Weber State
The victory gives Montana State its first 20-win season in head coach Tricia Binford’s 11 seasons. MSU is now 13-2 in Big Sky Conference play and remains in first place in the league standings with three games remaining in the regular season. Montana State sewed up at least a top three seed for the Big Sky Tournament in Reno with the victory.
“I was asked about being not sure how our kids would respond after that loss but I had no doubt how our kids would respond after that loss,” Binford said. “Our kids hate to lose. That didn’t sit very well.
“I’m just proud of the kids. This is a fun team and this has been an exciting season. I just want them to be able to finish the way they deserve because they are extremely talented.”
Despite a late tipoff because the Big Sky Indoor Track & Field Championships began earlier Thursday, a crowd of nearly 1,500 spurred on a Bobcat squad that won the rebounding battle 45-21 and scored 56 points in the paint thanks to Ferris’ dominant performance and Nordgaard’s 10-rebound evening.
“I fed off my teammates and this awesome crowd,” Nordgaard said. “I know it was a late game and I know that throws people off but wow, was that crowd fun to play in front of.”
Ferris hit eight straight field goals in the first quarter as MSU built a 21-12 lead. Ferris hit her first 10 shots as MSU led 45-29 at halftime. Her first and only miss came three minutes into the second half. Her 16-of-17 night bested Lori Cloar’s 10-of-11 night against Weber State on February 26, 1989.
MSU forward Peyton Ferris
“I always joke and say I’m glad I’m not going to graduate without her,” said Nordgaard, a junior like Ferris. “I won’t ever play a game as a Bobcat without her. She does it all. She brings up the ball. She shoots it. She can kill you on the inside. I have a lot to learn from Peyton Ferris.”
The junior from Twin Bridges was held scoreless for the first 25 minutes of MSU’s 70-66 loss at rival Montana on Saturday. She turned it on late, scoring 15 in the fourth quarter but the defeat smoldered within her.
“My personal goal of the game was to come out and find my rhythm, not to back track,” Ferris said. “I was disappointed with how I came out on Saturday and I said that can’t happen again.”
Weber State constantly presses, playing a high-pressure style on both sides with an offense that drives at the basket relentlessly. The Wildcats notched 14 steals, including four by senior Brittney Dunbar, who scored a team-high 16 points. But Montana State shared the ball with efficiency, notching 21 assists on 38 field goals, including seven from sophomore Hannah Caudill and five more from sophomore Delany Junkermier.
The visitors were reluctant to send double teams at Montana State’s posts despite the efficiency at which Ferris, and seniors Jasmine Hommes and Alexa Dawkins typically operate with. Hommes and Dawkins each finished with eight points.
“At the beginning, I was wary because when you play small teams, they are really quick and they were scrappy but they were very respectable and played honest so I just went to the basket,” Ferris said. “I got lucky on a few. Some days you just have those days.
MSU forward Jasmine Hommes
Ferris, the Montana Gatorade Player of the Year and the reigning Big Sky Conference Top Reserve, raised her league-leading field goal percentage to 60.4 percent, 2.4 percent higher than entering the coJohnntest.
“I’ve worked with Coach (John) Stockton individually and he tells me I have my own unique game but it works for me,” Ferris said. “He said, ‘If you add a little pace, know when to be quick and when to be slow and analyze the floor, you will do well. It’s paid off for me a lot. I’m fortunate to have that.”
Nordgaard hit 5-of-8 3-pointers and accounted for all but one of MSU’s 3-point makes. Her ability to stretch the defense with her corner shooting made it hard for Weber to double the post. Her rebounding and her four steals helped MSU dominate the possession count despite committing 25 turnovers.
MSU’s historic season continues with the win. The Bobcats are off to their best start in a generation. With one more win, the Bobcats will be one loss by Eastern Washington or Idaho away from clinching its first regular-season Big Sky title since 1993.
“It’s good confidence to know we clinched that first-round bye,” Ferris said. “We can go out and play with confidence. We have nothing to be concerned about.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
