(Editor’s note: Montana State University media release)
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Allazia Blockton, the preseason BIG EAST MVP selection, scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting to lift No. 19-ranked Marquette to a 100-52 win over Montana State on Friday night at the Al McGuire Center in the opening-round of the preseason WNIT.
Blockton led six Marquette (2-0) players in double-digits, while Montana State (1-1) was paced by Oliana Squires and Claire Lundberg with 14 and ten points, respectively.
“There’s a reason they’re ranked No. 19,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “They are a very experienced and athletic team. They established themselves from the opening tip. Marquette converted 23 turnovers into 35 points and they shot lights-out.”
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 28-9 lead after the first 10-minutes. The Bobcats responded in the second frame as Squires scored eight straight points halfway through the stanza. MU out-scored the Cats 29-17 in the second quarter.
“A game like this exposes a lot of things that we need to get better at,” Binford said. “We were at our best when we moved the ball efficiently and were able to settle ourselves down.”
Marquette won the battle of the boards as well out-rebounding Montana State 47-34. The Bobcats were paced by Blaire Braxton with ten rebounds, while Madeline Smith added seven. Braxton and Smith also added seven and five points, respectively. Junior Madisyn Shaide came off the bench to give MSU a brief spark in the second half, connecting on a career-high six points on a pair of three-pointers.
Freshman Kamden Hilborn, along with Martha Kuderer dished out a team-best three assists, each.
MSU will find out on Sunday where they will play next as part of the preseason WNIT. Four schools, who were defeated on Friday, will meet at one location and play two games.
