(Editor’s note: Montana State athletics release)
BOZEMAN — Montana State snapped a three-game losing skid and started a new home court winning streak behind a career-high 23 points from Delany Junkermier as the Bobcats cruised to an 85-50 win over Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon in front of 2,724 spectators in Worthington Arena.
Montana State (9-8, 3-3) closed out the opening period on an 11-0 run and held a 37-31 advantage at intermission. MSU shot 48.3 percent from the field, including a seven-of-12 effort from beyond the three-point arc in the opening twenty minutes.
The Bobcats opened the third quarter on a 10-1 run and never looked back. The Cats built a 63-44 lead with 33-seconds left in the frame as Oliana Squires converted one of two from the free throw line.
MSU’s largest lead came at the 2:05 mark of the final period as walk-on Janie McRae converted a layup to give the Cats an 81-44 cushion.
“We had a great team effort,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “I loved our energy and tempo. I liked how we shared the ball and were aggressive. Our assist-to-turnover ratio was 21-10; a coach couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Also hitting double-digits for MSU were Madeline Smith 14, Rebekah Hatchard 11 and Squires 10. All 12 players scored for the Bobcats. MSU finished the game shooting 51.8 percent, including a 13-24 effort from long distance.
Montana State also won the battle of the boards, almost doubling-up Sacramento State (3-13, 1-4) with a sizeable 50-26 advantage. Smith and Blaire Braxton each recorded a team-high six rebounds.
Senior Hannah Caudill dished out a season-high eight assists, which moved her into fifth on MSU’s all-time career chart with 420 assists. In addition, the Spokane native became only the second player in Bobcat history to notch over 200 3-pointers. Caudill has a career 201 triples. Katie Bussey (2008-12) holds the all-time MSU record with 254 makes from beyond the three-point line.
The Hornets were led by Maranne Johnson with 20 points.
Montana State will host Montana on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
