Montana State-Idaho State Boxscore(pdf)
For the first time since Nov. 22, 2009, the Montana State women’s basketball team won a road game.
Behind a 25-point performance by point-guard Erica Perry, the Bobcats downed Idaho State 83-72, Friday night in Reed Gym.
The win also marked the first time this season –nine attempts- that Montana State (11-11, 4-5) overcame a halftime deficit to post a victory. After trailing by three-points at intermission, MSU outscored Idaho State (9-13, 4-5) 48-34 in the second stanza.
“I felt at halftime that we were maintaining a pretty good tempo,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “We came out in the second half and really had good energy and we hit the boards hard. It was important to get second opportunities.”
ISU opened the game staking a 16-9 advantage and entered intermission with a 38-35 lead. MSU was led in the first stanza by Perry, who notched 13 points on six-of-ten field-goals.
“Erica really has done a nice job in the last two games with her focus and leadership,” Binford said. “It’s fun to see everyone else feed off of her energy.”
After getting down 40-35 in the early stages of the second period, the Bobcats broke away from a 51-48 advantage with an 8-0 run. The run was sparked by an Ashley Albert triple, followed by two free throws from Katie Bussey after an Idaho State technical foul with 13:04 remaining.
Idaho State would get no closer than seven points down the stretch as Montana State converted 20-26 second-half free throws to secure the win.
“Rebounding was a key; Rachel Semansky and Janette Jackson really led the way,” Binford said. “Right now, we’re doing a good job of staying loose and not worrying about our mistakes.”
Perry, a 5-4 native of Lynwood, Calif., finished the game connecting on seven-of-12 from the field and nine-of-12 from the free throw line. In addition, she added six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Also in double-figures for the Bobcats were Bussey 18, including three 3-pointers, and Jackson, who poured in a career-high 12 points.
Semansky and Jackson guided MSU under the boards with 12 and nine rebounds, respectively. The Bobcats out-rebounded the Bengals 57-29.
ISU was paced in the loss by Oana Iacovita with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Montana State will play at Weber State on Saturday night.