MSU-CSUB Boxscore
Montana State junior Sarah Strand posted a team-high 19 points, while adding eight rebound to guide the Bobcats to a 78-76 win over Cal State Bakersfield, Friday evening in the season opener for both squads.
Strand, a native of Shoreline, Wash., converted seven-of-13 from the floor and four-of-four from the free throw line. In addition, she posted three blocks, two assists and a steal.
Also hitting double-figures for Montana State (1-0) were Katie Bussey 18, Erica Perry 15 and Beata Bak 13.
“We pulled it out at the end,” said MSU fifth year head coach Tricia Binford. “That’s what preseason games are for. If we can clean up our turnovers, we can be a very solid ball club.”
Cal State Bakersfield (0-1) scored the first four points of the game, before the Bobcats rattled off sixteen unanswered points. Montana State built a 36-29 halftime advantage behind 13 points from Bussey, the 2008-09 Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year.
MSU stretched its lead to 48-37 with 15:57 remaining following a Bussey layup. The Roadrunners responded and tied the game at 57-all on a pair of free throws by Tamiko Davis.
The Bobcats scored the next five points and held a 78-71 advantage with 17-seconds left. CS Bakersfield rattled off five points in 15-seconds to pull to within 78-76, and a missed jumper at the buzzer by Phynique Allen gave MSU the win.
“That last 1 ½ minutes seemed like forever,” Binford said. “Our core group really gave us a lift when we needed it most. They hit the big shots.”
For the game, MSU shot 43.5 percent and connected on 18-of-20 free throw attempts. The Bobcats out-rebounded the Roadrunners 48-42, led by Strand, Janette Jackson 8, and Bak 8.
“We were very physical on the boards and that’s something we’ve really stressed this preseason,” Binford said.
The Bobcats set a new school record with 11 blocks, as Bak posted 4, Jamie Thornton 3, and Ashley Albert 1. The old mark of 10 was set against Rhode Island on Jan. 7, 1994.
CS Bakersfield was led in the loss by Katie Williams with 22 points and six rebounds.
MSU will play at Pacific on Sunday at 3 p.m. (MST).