(Editor’s Note: Montana State University athletics release)
BOZEMAN – The Montana State women’s basketball team suffered their first loss at home in nearly a month as they fell to the University of Idaho 82-66 on Thursday night.
Four scorers had double digits for the Bobcats, led by Blaire Braxton, who had 18 points and eight rebounds. Oliana Squires nearly notched a double-double for MSU with 15 points and nine assists.
But two Vandals could not be stopped in the game, Taylor Pierce and Mikayla Ferenz. Pierce dropped 28 points, while Ferenz added another 24 in the game.
“(Taylor) Pierce and (Mikayla) Ferenz had fantastic nights and we did not do a great job of forcing more contested shots,” MSU head coach Tricia Binford said in a Montana State media release. “Obviously, there were some that they hit that we contested, but too good of shooters to give them rhythm looks. We had some breakdowns, internally, and we needed to do a better job on those two.”
Meanwhile, the Montana State men proved they could win on the road, taking down the Vandals 77-67 on Thursday. Tyler Hall scored 20 points, while Harald Frey added 19 for the Bobcats in the win. But this game was won on the other end of the court.
“It’s been a while since we’ve won a game with defense,” Fish said in a MSU media release. “Idaho runs as much stuff (offensively) as anyone in the league, and to guard it all is hard. I thought the key was that we won methodically and by playing hard. I thought that was a key.”
Coming into Thursday’s contest, Montana State was just 1-7 on the road. And with the win, the bump up to 4-1 in Big Sky play.
