Montana State and Portland square off in NIT matchup
Portland Pilots (20-14, 12-8 WCC) at Montana State Bobcats (26-7, 18-3 Big Sky)
Bozeman, Montana; Thursday, 9 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Montana State squares off against Portland in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Bobcats have gone 18-3 against Big Sky teams, with an 8-4 record in non-conference play. Montana State averages 14.6 turnovers per game and is 25-6 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents.
The Pilots’ record in WCC play is 12-8. Portland is ninth in the WCC with 30.0 rebounds per game led by Florence Dallow averaging 5.2.
Montana State scores 74.3 points, 10.9 more per game than the 63.4 Portland allows. Portland scores 8.1 more points per game (69.1) than Montana State gives up to opponents (61.0).
The teams square off for the second time this season. Montana State defeated Portland 86-72 in their last matchup on Nov. 8. Taylee Chirrick led Montana State with 23 points, and Rhyan Mogel led Portland with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Isobel Bunyan averages 1.8 made 3-pointers per game for the Bobcats, scoring 7.6 points while shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc. Chirrick is shooting 37.4% and averaging 16.6 points over the last 10 games.
Dyani Ananiev is scoring 11.5 points per game and averaging 3.9 rebounds for the Pilots. Nicole Rodriguez is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bobcats: 9-1, averaging 69.8 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 15.0 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 39.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 56.4 points per game.
Pilots: 6-4, averaging 67.0 points, 28.3 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 11.0 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 39.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.3 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Cal plays Columbia after Walker’s 28-point game
Columbia Lions (22-8, 11-4 Ivy League) at California Golden Bears (21-14, 10-10 ACC)
Berkeley, California; Thursday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Cal hosts Columbia after Sakima Walker scored 28 points in Cal’s 83-75 victory against the Kansas State Wildcats.
Cal is 0-2 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
Columbia averages 16.2 assists per game to lead the Ivy League, paced by Fliss Henderson with 3.7.
Cal makes 43.4% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.8 percentage points higher than Columbia has allowed to its opponents (40.6%). Columbia averages 6.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 more made shots on average than the 4.7 per game Cal allows.
TOP PERFORMERS: Lulu Twidale is scoring 16.2 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Golden Bears. Walker is averaging 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Henderson is averaging 6.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lions. Riley Weiss is averaging 22.9 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Bears: 6-4, averaging 68.7 points, 33.2 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 41.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 62.6 points per game.
Lions: 8-2, averaging 71.6 points, 33.9 rebounds, 16.2 assists, 11.9 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 53.0 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
South Dakota squares off against Pepperdine in NIT matchup
Pepperdine Waves (21-12, 10-9 WCC) at South Dakota Coyotes (24-9, 13-5 Summit)
Vermillion, South Dakota; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: South Dakota and Pepperdine meet in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Coyotes are 13-5 against Summit opponents and 11-4 in non-conference play. South Dakota has a 3-1 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Waves are 10-9 in WCC play. Pepperdine has a 2-5 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
South Dakota’s average of 5.6 made 3-pointers per game is 1.2 fewer made shots on average than the 6.8 per game Pepperdine gives up. Pepperdine has shot at a 44.4% clip from the field this season, 8.6 percentage points greater than the 35.8% shooting opponents of South Dakota have averaged.
The teams square off for the second time this season. Pepperdine won 73-65 in the last meeting on Dec. 18. Meghan Fiso led the Waves with 19 points, and Elise Turrubiates led the Coyotes with 19 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Angelina Robles is scoring 16.1 points per game with 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Coyotes. Molly Joyce is averaging 14.1 points over the last 10 games.
Elli Guiney is averaging 14.9 points for the Waves. Lina Falk is averaging 12 points over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Coyotes: 7-3, averaging 66.3 points, 30.0 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 40.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.5 points per game.
Waves: 7-3, averaging 74.2 points, 33.9 rebounds, 15.6 assists, 7.0 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.7 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Middle Tennessee squares off against Cleveland State in NIT matchup
Cleveland State Vikings (25-9, 14-8 Horizon) at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (17-15, 11-8 CUSA)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Middle Tennessee and Cleveland State meet in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Blue Raiders’ record in CUSA games is 11-8, and their record is 6-7 in non-conference play. Middle Tennessee ranks fourth in the CUSA at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 60.2 points while holding opponents to 39.7% shooting.
The Vikings’ record in Horizon action is 14-8. Cleveland State ranks fourth in the Horizon with 24.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Izzi Zingaro averaging 5.4.
Middle Tennessee scores 62.1 points per game, 2.0 more points than the 60.1 Cleveland State gives up. Cleveland State has shot at a 44.7% clip from the field this season, 5.0 percentage points greater than the 39.7% shooting opponents of Middle Tennessee have averaged.
TOP PERFORMERS: Alayna Contreras is averaging 14.5 points and 1.5 steals for the Blue Raiders. Blair Baugus is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games.
Zingaro is averaging 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Vikings. Colbi Maples is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Raiders: 5-5, averaging 65.4 points, 30.3 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 8.6 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 39.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 62.3 points per game.
Vikings: 8-2, averaging 72.1 points, 34.0 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 8.7 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 63.5 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
