Big Sky Rankings — We’re halfway there

It’s the midway point and we’re halfway to ... to, well, we have no idea do we?

The Montana State Bobcats were hotter than the Super Bowl’s media day lights, until running into a fired up and angry Idaho State squad.


Eastern Washington began its Big Sky schedule by winning in Pocatello before knocking off Montana in Cheney. But then the Eagles lost three straight, including back-to-back 15-point losses at Northern Arizona and Sacramento State.
Since then, though, EWU has the longest winning streak in the conference, putting it one game behind our co-leaders, MSU and UM.

Heck, even Weber State showed some life in a comeback loss at home against the Lady Griz.

I guess all we really know is that the final month or so of the regular season is going to be a wild one.

Without further ado.

1. Montana 14-5, 8-2
Last week: No. 2
The Lady Griz are back to No. 1 after hitting the pavement and beating Idaho State 57-52 and Weber State 61-53.


Now that I’ve seen Montana in person, I couldn’t be more impressed. Senior post Katie Baker  — averaging 13.4 points, seventh in the conference — is an impossible matchup. She’s got a great turnaround jumper with a high release — absolutely unguardable.

And any coach would love to have Montana’s turnover margin (plus 10, fifth in the country). So how exactly did the Lady Griz let Weber State hang around before pulling away late? You’ve got me. It’s basketball.

2. Montana State 14-5, 8-2
Last week: No. 1
Montana State waxed Weber State by 30 and then lost to Idaho State 63-55, both on the road.

Baker from Montana relies on precision post moves and a smooth jumper when she’s working in the post. Montana State’s Rachel Semansky is pretty much the polar opposite.

She’s a true bruiser who, despite a 6-foot frame, attacks the rim and bullies her way up for layups. Against the Bengals, though, the senior was held to 4-for-10 from the field for eight points, about six below her average.

This week, MSU falls to No. 2 below Montana (MSU beat UM 58-49 Jan. 19) simply because, up close, I was more impressed with the Lady Griz than the Bobcats.

3. Eastern Washington 11-8, 7-3
Last week: No. 3
In its only game of the weekend, Eastern Washington beat Southern Utah 79-70 in Cheney.

The Thunderbirds outrebounded Eastern 44-25 in the game, but the Eagles finished 25-of-26 from the free throw line and scored 24 points off 19 SUU turnovers to help pull away.

The victory kept the Eagles only a game back from the Big Sky’s co-leaders. This week, Eastern travels to Montana State Thursday and Montana Saturday.

It’s the toughest roadtrip in the league (one EWU swept last season), and could go a long way in determining the Big Sky regular season champion.

4. Idaho State 11-8, 6-4
Last week: No. 4
It showed some real moxie for Idaho State to beat Montana State 63-55 after losing to Montana 57-52.

If the Bengals had won both games, there would have been a three-way tie for second in the conference. But if ISU hadn’t taken care of MSU then Idaho State would have been three games back from the co-leaders with 10 games left.

In other words, a split wasn’t a disaster, far from it.

And it should be noted that Ashleigh Vella and Kaela Oakes combined for 68 points on 46 percent shooting over the two games. Vella’s 13 second-half points against Montana State, in particular, were absolutely crucial.

5. Northern Colorado 9-9, 6-3
Last week: No. 5
At home, Northern Colorado beat up Northern Arizona 69-54 and Sacramento State 79-63.

The Bears’ Lauren Oosdyke was big both nights, scoring 24 against the Lumberjacks and 21 in the Hornets’ win, all while shooting 68 percent from the field.

The victory over Sacramento State was particularly impressive. Before the Hornets finished the game on a 13-0 run, the Bears had built a 75-44 second-half lead.

And it wasn’t just Oosdyke torturing Sac. State. Junior do-everything D’Shara Strange eclipsed the 1,000 point threshold while scoring 18 points, pulling down five rebounds and dishing five assists in 31 minutes.

The Bears beat ISU earlier in the season and have fewer conference losses, so why not move UNC up? Because a 1-9 road record (including a 1-3 record away from Greeley in conference) is a weak spot Northern Colorado hasn’t proven it can overcome.

The Bears and Bengals clash this Thursday. We’ll know more after by then.

6. Sacramento State 10-8, 5-4
Last week: No. 6
As previously mentioned, Sacramento State lost to Northern Colorado 79-63, but the Hornets beat North Dakota 79-77 two days prior.

The Hornets can score — evidence, see: No. 1 scoring offense in the Big Sky at 71.9 points a game — but Sacramento State’s defense, although it is hectic, allows 72 a night.

One has to figure that, at some point, Sacramento State’s defense — or lack thereof — will be its undoing.

7. Southern Utah 10-9, 4-5
Last week: No. 7
On a Northwest road trip, Southern Utah beat Portland State 70-68 in overtime and then fell at Eastern Washington 79-70.

The T-Birds have dropped three of four and now play Sacramento State and Northern Arizona on the road. If SUU can at least get a split of those two games then it can look at a four-game home-stand in the middle of February to find some wins.

As an aside, can someone, anyone tell me what a Thunderbird is? Honestly, I've gone to the Internet and done some research. As far as I can tell a Thunderbird is either a “supernatural” bird of power and strength, a car or a plane. I’m not sure which is worse.

8. Portland State 9-10, 3-7
Last week: No. 8
Portland State lost to Southern Utah by two in overtime and then had an entire week to think about it before traveling to Montana Thursday.

The Vikings’ loss to the mythical birds from Southern Utah was especially painful considering PSU coughed up an eight-point lead with just over a minute left in overtime.

The trip through Montana takes on added importance if the Vikings want to reach the postseason (the top seven teams advance to the Big Sky tournament).

9. North Dakota 8-11, 3-7
Last week: No. 10
Mascot-less North Dakota lost 79-77 to Sacramento State and then snapped a five-game losing streak with a 70-50 whipping of Northern Arizona.

North Dakota is 5-0 when it has less than 16 turnovers a game. The problem for UND is that it averages nearly 21 a night.

Much like Portland State, if North Dakota hopes to reach the Big Sky tournament then the next couple of week are crucial.

After facing the sacrificial Wildcat known as Weber State Thursday, UND takes on ISU in Pocatello and then Montana State and Montana back in frigid Grand Forks.

10. Northern Arizona 4-14, 3-6
Last week: No. 9
The Lumberjacks lost by 15 at Northern Colorado and 20 at North Dakota.

In both games, NAU fell behind by double digits at half, down 32-19 at Northern Colorado and 41-17 to North Dakota. Not good when on the road.

Three of the Lumberjack’s next four are away from Flagstaff. It’s not time to permanently stick NAU in the bottom at No. 10, but that day may be fast approaching.

11. Weber State 0-19, 0-10
Last week: No. 11
Weber State lost to Montana State 67-37, and then in the surprise of the week kept it close against Montana in a 61-53 defeat.

Montana nearly screwed it all up before a late 8-0 run put the Wildcats away for good, ensuring “The March to History” can continue. WSU has now lost 38 straight. Seven more and we’ve got a new record for awfulness in Big Sky women’s basketball.