MSU WBB: EWU 81, MSU 66

[Colter_Nuanez]

MSU PRESS RELEASE

Eastern Washington outscored Montana State 18-0 in fast break points, en route to an 81-66 win over the Bobcats, Thursday night at Reese Court.

“They were one step ahead of us the entire game,” MSU head coach Tricia Binford said. “They were making their shots, got rolling and had the energy. We struggled.”

Eastern Washington (10-10, 6-5) shot 53 percent from the field, while holding Montana State (11-9, 6-5) to 37 percent. EWU also held a 42-29 advantage under the boards.

“Our transition defense didn’t get it done,” Binford said. “We didn’t find our match-ups and didn’t get stops. On the offensive end, we were impatient.”

Bobcat sophomore Jasmine Hommes scored the game’s first two baskets, before the Eagles went on a 20-5 run over the next six-minutes to open up a double-digit lead. Montana State closed to within 22-19 following an Ashley Brumwell 3-pointer, but Eastern Washington pushed the margin to 43-27 at intermission.

Eastern Washington continued its hot-hand and took its largest lead at 53-34 five minutes into the second stanza. Montana State chipped the lead down to ten points with 5:06 left on a pair of Lindsay Stockton, but would get no closer.

“We did a nice job getting the lead down, but we just couldn’t get back into single figures,” Binford said.

Hommes led MSU for the third straight game with 20 points, connecting on nine-of-17 from the field. Over the last three outings the Lynden, Wash., product has averaged over 20 points per game. Also in double-digits for the Bobcats were Brumwell 14, and Stockton 10.

“Lindsay came in and gave us a nice spark,” Binford said.

Stockton also finished with a game-high five assists.

EWU had all five starters in double-figures paced by Aubrey Ashenfelter and Lexie Nelson with 16 points each.

Montana State will play at Portland State on Saturday at 3 p.m. (MST).

[BelgradeBobcat]

I guess the silver lining here is our best player, Hommes, is just a sophomore. Now if Binford can just recruit some real help for her...yet another Bobcat basketball swoon.