Boise State Athletics
#MVPMonday: Lupfer Leads The Repeat
4/13/2020 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
#MVPMonday enters its third week as BroncoSports.com continues to look back at Boise State's unprecedented run of four-straight Mountain West Tournament titles, and five over the last six seasons (2015, 2017-20).
With five titles, the Broncos share the lead with New Mexico for most in conference history. But, the Broncos' achievement begs extra praise. Boise State has been in the Mountain West for just nine seasons (2011-12 was the Broncos' first Mountain West campaign), and has won its five titles over that short span, while New Mexico is a charter member of the conference, beginning in 1999-2000.
The Broncos' rise to the top of the Mountain West has followed the team's "Family" ethos, as contributions to every title have come from a variety of individuals and been the true "team effort." But only one player can be named the Mountain West Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Our #MVPMonday series continues today, as Riley Lupfer joined Brooke Pahukoa (2015) as just the second sophomore to be named Mountain West Tournament MVP.
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2018 Mountain West Championship MVP – Riley Lupfer
Riley Lupfer shouldn't have had anything left to prove at the 2018 Mountain West Tournament, but after surprisingly not being named the conference's player of the year at the conclusion of the regular season, perhaps the rest of the team's needed a reminder.
Lupfer had set the conference ablaze in 2017-18, sinking a Boise State and Mountain West single-season record 122 3-pointers in all games, including a record 79 in MW-only contests (4.4 per game). Over the 18-game Mountain West campaign, Lupfer led the loop in 3-pointers made (her tally outdistanced the next-closest player by 36) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.500), finished second in scoring (18.9 ppg), and eighth in field-goal percentage (50.9). She was named Mountain West Player of the Week a conference-best three times (Jan. 2, Jan. 15, Feb. 19), and was recognized nationally with inclusion on the NCAA.com Starting Five for the week of Jan. 8-14.
Along with her free-throw percentage of 97.2 percent, the sophomore from Spokane, Wash., posted the vaunted "50/50/90" campaign, posting shooting percentages of at least 50.0 percent from the floor and 3-point range, and at least 90.0 percent from the line. She is the only Mountain West player with at least 200 field-goal attempts to post a shooting percentage of at least 50.0.
Additionally, Lupfer posted eight 20-point games during conference play, and failed to score in double digits just once out of 18 contests. Four times she hit seven 3-pointers in a single game, and her figure of accounting for 27.5 percent of Boise State's total points per game (18.9 of 68.8 ppg) ranked third in the conference behind only Fresno State's Candice White (29.0 percent) and Air Force's Immel (28.9 percent).
All of that helped lead Boise State to a 14-4 conference mark, the program's first regular-season Mountain West title, and the top seed at the conference tournament.
With that said, let's move on to the tournament.
Lupfer wasted little time showing that her regular-season performance would extend into the postseason, opening the tournament with a 19-point, five-3-pointer showing in a 60-46 quarterfinal win over Air Force. The Spokane, Wash., native scored eight points over the second and third quarters, and hit her 111th 3-pointers of the season, setting the Mountain West single-season record, when the Broncos turned an 11-10 lead after a quarter into a 42-28 advantage going into the fourth. She would add eight more points in the final frame, as the Broncos closed out the win.
It would be her mere presence and fear of what she could unleash that would help the Broncos cruise past Colorado State, 76-51, in the semifinals.
With Lupfer's 17-point fourth quarter in the Bronco semifinal upset from the year before fresh in their minds, the Rams were wholly dedicated to not allowing a repeat performance. While Lupfer still managed to go 5-for-9 from the field and score 12 points, the attention she drew from the Rams defense opened it up for Braydey Hodgins to score a then-career high 25 points, and Marta Hermida to go for 14.
Colorado State would take advantage of cold Bronco shooting early to take a 15-8 lead early in the second quarter, but the rest of the Bronco offense woke up. With the Rams so focused on covering Lupfer, Hodgins scored 21 of her game-high 25 points over the second and third quarter as Boise State outscored Colorado State, 48-23, to take control.
"It opens up a lot for us, and teams have realized they can't key on Riley any more. She's a great player and she deserves the respect teams and defenses give her, but we have other weapons that were just waiting to come out," Hodgins said after the game of the Broncos' versatility.
All that stood between the Broncos and a repeat Mountain West Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance was a championship-game date with Nevada, a feisty No. 7 seed which had knocked off No. 2 UNLV and No. 3 Wyoming in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
And behind A'Shanti Coleman's buzzer-beating, championship-winning putback for the dramatic 62-60 win was Lupfer's second 19-point, five-3-pointer performance of the tournament.
Lupfer scored 13 points in the first half, as the Broncos stayed within two of the stubborn Wolf Pack at the half. With the Broncos trailing by eight early in the fourth quarter, Lupfer would hit her fifth triple of the game to begin the Bronco comeback, as Boise State would outscore Nevada, 19-9, over the final 8:26.
Over the tournament, Lupfer averaged 16.7 points while hitting 12 3-pointers and shooting 44.4 percent from behind the arc (12-for-27).
With five titles, the Broncos share the lead with New Mexico for most in conference history. But, the Broncos' achievement begs extra praise. Boise State has been in the Mountain West for just nine seasons (2011-12 was the Broncos' first Mountain West campaign), and has won its five titles over that short span, while New Mexico is a charter member of the conference, beginning in 1999-2000.
The Broncos' rise to the top of the Mountain West has followed the team's "Family" ethos, as contributions to every title have come from a variety of individuals and been the true "team effort." But only one player can be named the Mountain West Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Our #MVPMonday series continues today, as Riley Lupfer joined Brooke Pahukoa (2015) as just the second sophomore to be named Mountain West Tournament MVP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018 Mountain West Championship MVP – Riley Lupfer
Riley Lupfer shouldn't have had anything left to prove at the 2018 Mountain West Tournament, but after surprisingly not being named the conference's player of the year at the conclusion of the regular season, perhaps the rest of the team's needed a reminder.
This one doesn't get decided by a vote. #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/qUYSUgBvpZ
— Boise State WBB (@BroncoSportsWBB) March 9, 2018
Lupfer had set the conference ablaze in 2017-18, sinking a Boise State and Mountain West single-season record 122 3-pointers in all games, including a record 79 in MW-only contests (4.4 per game). Over the 18-game Mountain West campaign, Lupfer led the loop in 3-pointers made (her tally outdistanced the next-closest player by 36) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.500), finished second in scoring (18.9 ppg), and eighth in field-goal percentage (50.9). She was named Mountain West Player of the Week a conference-best three times (Jan. 2, Jan. 15, Feb. 19), and was recognized nationally with inclusion on the NCAA.com Starting Five for the week of Jan. 8-14.
Along with her free-throw percentage of 97.2 percent, the sophomore from Spokane, Wash., posted the vaunted "50/50/90" campaign, posting shooting percentages of at least 50.0 percent from the floor and 3-point range, and at least 90.0 percent from the line. She is the only Mountain West player with at least 200 field-goal attempts to post a shooting percentage of at least 50.0.
Additionally, Lupfer posted eight 20-point games during conference play, and failed to score in double digits just once out of 18 contests. Four times she hit seven 3-pointers in a single game, and her figure of accounting for 27.5 percent of Boise State's total points per game (18.9 of 68.8 ppg) ranked third in the conference behind only Fresno State's Candice White (29.0 percent) and Air Force's Immel (28.9 percent).
All of that helped lead Boise State to a 14-4 conference mark, the program's first regular-season Mountain West title, and the top seed at the conference tournament.
With that said, let's move on to the tournament.
Lupfer wasted little time showing that her regular-season performance would extend into the postseason, opening the tournament with a 19-point, five-3-pointer showing in a 60-46 quarterfinal win over Air Force. The Spokane, Wash., native scored eight points over the second and third quarters, and hit her 111th 3-pointers of the season, setting the Mountain West single-season record, when the Broncos turned an 11-10 lead after a quarter into a 42-28 advantage going into the fourth. She would add eight more points in the final frame, as the Broncos closed out the win.
3Q, 7:10 | Here it is, @rileylupfer2's 111th 3-pointer of the season, making her the single-season @MountainWest record holder! #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/16X366MDgB
— Boise State WBB (@BroncoSportsWBB) March 6, 2018
It would be her mere presence and fear of what she could unleash that would help the Broncos cruise past Colorado State, 76-51, in the semifinals.
With Lupfer's 17-point fourth quarter in the Bronco semifinal upset from the year before fresh in their minds, the Rams were wholly dedicated to not allowing a repeat performance. While Lupfer still managed to go 5-for-9 from the field and score 12 points, the attention she drew from the Rams defense opened it up for Braydey Hodgins to score a then-career high 25 points, and Marta Hermida to go for 14.
Colorado State would take advantage of cold Bronco shooting early to take a 15-8 lead early in the second quarter, but the rest of the Bronco offense woke up. With the Rams so focused on covering Lupfer, Hodgins scored 21 of her game-high 25 points over the second and third quarter as Boise State outscored Colorado State, 48-23, to take control.
"It opens up a lot for us, and teams have realized they can't key on Riley any more. She's a great player and she deserves the respect teams and defenses give her, but we have other weapons that were just waiting to come out," Hodgins said after the game of the Broncos' versatility.
All that stood between the Broncos and a repeat Mountain West Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance was a championship-game date with Nevada, a feisty No. 7 seed which had knocked off No. 2 UNLV and No. 3 Wyoming in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
And behind A'Shanti Coleman's buzzer-beating, championship-winning putback for the dramatic 62-60 win was Lupfer's second 19-point, five-3-pointer performance of the tournament.
Lupfer scored 13 points in the first half, as the Broncos stayed within two of the stubborn Wolf Pack at the half. With the Broncos trailing by eight early in the fourth quarter, Lupfer would hit her fifth triple of the game to begin the Bronco comeback, as Boise State would outscore Nevada, 19-9, over the final 8:26.
Over the tournament, Lupfer averaged 16.7 points while hitting 12 3-pointers and shooting 44.4 percent from behind the arc (12-for-27).
The Mountain West Network chats with #MWMadness MVP @rileylupfer2 of @BroncoSportsWBB after top-seeded Boise State defeated @NevadaWBB, 62-60, to win the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship. It's Boise State's third MW Tournament title in the last four years. @NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/ZDN3rhzSsa
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) March 10, 2018
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballWBB | Highlights vs. Wyoming
Thursday, January 15
Bronco Studios: Instant Reaction with Dani Bayes after Win over Colorado State
Saturday, January 10
WBB | Highlights vs. UNLV
Monday, March 10
WBB | Highlights vs Nevada
Monday, March 10
