Bobcat Women Open Hoops Season on Monday

Senior point-guard Hannah Caudill in last season's NCAA Tournament game at Washington.

Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

10/1/2017 4:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

The two-time defending Big Sky Conference champion Montana State women’s basketball squad will look for a three-peat beginning with its first official practice on Monday at 7:30 a.m. in Worthington Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

The two-time defending Big Sky Conference champion Montana State women's basketball squad will look for a three-peat beginning with its first official practice on Monday at 7:30 a.m. in Worthington Arena.

Coming off a storybook season that included the most wins in school history (25), the program's second NCAA Tournament appearance, a regular-season Big Sky title, and the Big Sky Conference Tournament crown, Bobcat Head Coach Tricia Binford is ready to set the course for another run at league supremacy.

"We've been working on the culture of our program for years," Binford said. "We are now at the point where we have high expectations for ourselves and that is exciting heading into a new season."

And, despite the fact MSU graduated three players, including the Big Sky's most dominant player in Peyton Ferris; the effervescent and highly-talented Riley Nordgaard; and the steady influence and composure of Margreet Barhoum, Binford will again count on a trio of seniors to lead the way.

"We have a ton of strengths and talent on our team," Binford said. "We have to find ways to utilize everyone the best way that we can. Obviously, we will rely on our three seniors (Hannah Caudill, Delany Junkermier, Rebekah Hatchard). The seniors have really come back at a high level and they know what it looks like, they know what it takes."

Four sophomores, all of whom had outstanding debuts in the Blue and Gold as freshmen, will also help get the newcomers up to speed. "We're putting a lot of challenge on the upper-classmen to get things done," Binford stated. "Our core group, which also includes Blaire (Braxton), Oliana (Squires), Madeline (Smith) and Madisyn Shaide, will have to help the freshmen get on the same page. So far, they've done a fantastic job with them."

Binford welcomes seven newcomers to the squad, including transfers Claire Lundberg and Martha Kuderer from Seton Hall. Both will have to sit out the 2017-18 campaign under NCAA transfer rules. New freshmen include Tori Martell, Ashley Van Sickle, Laura Pranger, Coral Gillette and Janie McRae.

Last year, MSU's distinctiveness ran through Ferris and Nordgaard, and was accented by their grit and determination. This year's squad will begin the quest to find its identity within the quiet, early morning confines of Worthington Arena.

"We have to find what this year's identity is going to be," Binford commented. "We are going to be really different from last year from graduating the three seniors that we did and the impact that they made. We have to find our rebounding identity. And, just as important will be our ability to pick things up quickly in the preseason so we can move on and that's the challenge with so many newcomers. Finding the right pace in going to be important in the next few weeks."

And according to Binford, there is nothing like being in practice mode to feel like you're moving forward a little quicker.