Game against UW women a homecoming for Montana State duo

Published 1:30 am Friday, March 17, 2017

On Monday evening the Montana State University women’s basketball team gathered at the Strand Union Building ballroom on campus to watch the NCAA Tournament selection show and learn their fate.

When it was revealed that their opponent is the University of Washington and their destination was Seattle, senior guard Margreet Barhoum jumped out of her chair and began clapping, then gave hugs to her teammates.

That’s because for her and teammate Madeline Smith, it meant they were headed home.

This season the two Snohomish County products helped the Bobcats reach the NCAA tournament for just the second time in school history, and their reward was a chance to play on women’s college basketball’s biggest stage in what is essentially their hometown.

“It’s so exciting just playing in the NCAA Tournament, and adding on top of that the chance to go home, play at the UW where I watched a ton of games and played tournaments, you can’t ask for a better matchup or place to play our first NCAA game,” Barhoum said.

Montana State, the No. 14 seed in the Oklahoma City Region, faces third-seeded Washington at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The winner faces either No. 6 Oklahoma or No. 11 Gonzaga on Monday.

Both Barhoum, a graduate of Meadowdale High School, and Smith, a graduate of Snohomish, are key reserves for a Montana State team that’s dancing for the first time since 1993.

Barhoum, who measures in at 5-foot-7, graduated from Meadowdale in 2012 after averaging 21.3 points per game and earning honorable mention Associated Press 3A all-state honors as a senior. She’s in her fifth year in the Montana State program after redshirting her first season. This season she’s averaging 2.6 points per game in 11.5 minutes primarily as a back-up point guard, though she also made two starts.

“It’s been an unbelievable season,” Barhoum said. “For me this season has gone the fastest of all of them. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s my last or because of the girls and the chemistry we have on and off the court. We really love and support and root for each other. We have such a deep bench and it’s great because everyone is so supportive. This season has been the most fun I’ve had. Winning helps, too, but all of it is why we’ve been successful.”

Smith, a 6-foot-2 freshman forward, helped Snohomish claim second place at the 4A state tournament last year, also being named an honorable mention all-state selection by the Associated Press. In her first collegiate season she’s averaging 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 13.7 minutes.

“We’ve had a great season,” Smith said. “I think we work together really well and we share the ball well.

“I’ve been pretty happy with my season,” Smith added. “I’m just happy with being a freshman and being able to contribute. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Barhoum and Smith helped the Bobcats go 15-3 in the Big Sky Conference and 25-6 overall. Montana State finished first in the conference standings, then won the Big Sky tournament championship in Reno, Nevada, with consecutive close victories against Weber State, Eastern Washington and Idaho State.

For Barhoum in particular, making the NCAA tournament represented redemption, considering what happened a year ago. Last year the Bobcats also finished first in the Big Sky during the regular season, only to be upset in their first game at the conference tournament by ninth-seeded Idaho State, thus denying Montana State a chance at the NCAAs.

“That put a chip on our shoulders,” Barhoum said. “It made us work harder in the offseason, focus on the details and not overlook any team. That extra chip helped us this year and played a part in our success.”

Now Barhoum and Smith get a chance to play in front of their family and friends. Both estimated that they’ll have 20-25 people attending Saturday’s game.

But the Bobcats have their hands full with Washington. The Huskies are ranked 12th in the nation, reached last year’s Final Four, and feature the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in senior guard Kelsey Plum.

“I think it’s a good matchup for us,” Barhoum said. “We’ve been a good defensive team and they’re very offense-oriented. I’m excited to play against great players and a great team, I think it will be a good game. I think we’ll give them a run for their money.”