Nordgaard leads MSU women to victory

BOZEMAN – Senior forward Riley Nordgaard scored 26 points, nabbed 10 rebounds and handed out five assists as Montana State defeated Sacramento State 84-80 Thursday night in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game.

The Bobcats of coach Tricia Binford improved to 5-2 in the Big Sky and 12-5 overall.

Hannah Caudill had 14 points and six assists, and Peyton Ferris added 12 points and seven rebounds as the Bobcats held off a late Hornet surge.

For Sac State (2-4, 6-11), Gretchen Harrigan had 19 points.

Montana State led by as many as 18 in the second half, but Sac State fought back. Maranne Johnson scored 14 points and Margaret Huntington added 12 as the Hornets placed five players in double figures.

The Bobcats dominated the boards, outrebounding Sac State 52-39 behind Nordgaard and freshman center Blaire Braxton, who finished with two points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Delayn Junkermier scored 11 points for MSU.

Nordgaard and Caudill each had four 3-pointers for MSU, which plays host to Portland State on Saturday at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

SAC STATE

Justyce Dawson 1-5 1-2 4, Margaret Huntington 5-5 2-3 12, Tiara Scott 2-5 6-8 11, Maranne Johnson 6-18 0-0 14, Gretchen Harrigan 5-11 7-8 19, Brianna Burgos 4-7 0-0 10, Ashlyn Crenshaw 2-13 2-2 8, Quayonna Harris 0-1 2-4 2, Alexia Mefi 0-3 0-4 0, Dajhae Mullins 0-4 0-0 0, Kennedy Nicholas 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 25-74 20-31 80.

MONTANA STATE

Peyton Ferris 6-15 0-0 12, Delany Junkermier 4-11 2-2 11, Riley Nordgaard 8-14 6-7 26, Hannah Caudill 5-10 0-0 14, Blaire Braxton 1-2 0-0 2, Annika Lai 0-2 2-2 2, Margreet Barhoum 1-3 1-2 3, Oliana Squires 1-6 0-0 2, Madeline Smith 5-6 2-2 12. Totals: 31-69 13-15 84.

Sac State 15 20 20 25 - 80

MSU 27 22 18 17 - 84

3-pointers: Sac State 10-32 (Dawson 1-4, Scott 1-3, Johnson 2-8, Harrigan 2-3, Burgos 2-5, Crenshaw 2-5, Mullins 0-4), MSU 9-31 (Ferris 0-1, Junkermier 1-7, Nordgaard 4-10, Caudill 4-8, Lai 0-1, Barhoum 0-1, Squires 0-3). Rebounds: Sac State 39 (Johnson 10), MSU 53 (Braxton 13, Nordgaard 10). Assists: Sac State 9, MSU 22 (Caudill 6, Nordgaard 5). Steals: Sac State 17 (Johnson 5), MSU 4. Turnovers: Sac State 14, MSU 23. Fouls: Sac State 19, MSU 22. Fouled out: Caudill, Harrigan. Att: 1,316.