WBB Semi-Final Preview

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Today in Bobcat Women’s Basketball:
March 11-13, 2010 @ Big Sky Tourney in Cheney, Washington

Fri., March 12 (6) Montana State vs (1) Eastern Washington University
Venue/Tip Reese Court, Cheney, WA, (5,000), 7:00 pm (MST)
Sat., March 13 If Win: (6) MSU vs. TBA, 3:05 pm

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Live Television Championship on Saturday - Altitude TV

Next Up:
The Montana State women’s basketball team will face the number one seed and host of the tournament Eastern Washington on Friday. In the other semi-final game on Friday, number two seed Montana will play number five seed Portland State at 4:30 p.m.(MST). The Big Sky Conference championship game is slated for Saturday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. (MST) and will be aired on Altitude. Montana State enters Friday’s game with a 17-13 overall mark, after finishing 9-7 in Big Sky Conference action. The Bobcats went 6-2 in league play in the second half of the season and have won seven-of-their-last-nine contests, including a 5-1 record away from Worthington Arena.

Last Night's Win:
Last night’s win over Sacramento State gave the cats a 15-14 record overall in conference tournament play. The win also gives Coach Binford a winning record in BSC tourney play at 4-3.
Junior Sarah Strand reached 1000 career points with her 14 from last night's game. Her three blocks in the game also placed her in the number one spot in career blocks at MSU (111), passing Alaina Bauer who held the spot with 110. Katie Bussey's five three-pointers placed her fourth on career three-points makes with 112, passing Julie Brown who was fourth with 110. Erica Perry's two assists put her at fourth on the MSU career assists list with 416, passing Anna Wherry.

A Look at the #1 Eastern Washington vs. #6 Montana State:
Eastern Washington earned the right to host the Big Sky Conference tourney after finishing the season with a 12-4 conference record. They were 12-2 at home on Reese Court this season, and are 5-3 on their last eight games. They are second in the conference in game defense, holding opponents to an average of 63 points per game. The Cats are 35-32 overall against the Eagles.

The Cats have lost twice this season to EWU by a total of 13 points. MSU and EWU have met only once in post-season play—in 1988, EWU beat MSU in the first round of the tournament, 81-65. EWU’s overall record in post season conference play is 3-10. Head coach Wendy Schuller, this year’s BSC Coach of the Year, is responsible for all three of those wins and has a 3-5 record in BSC tourney play. The Eagles are led in scoring by Julie Piper, the BSC Most Valuable Player of the Year and unanimous first team all-conference selection. Piper averages 12 points per game to lead the Eagles. Junior Kyla Evans is EWU’s second leading scorer averaging nine points per game.