Monday, December 21
BOZEMAN
12 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
(RV) South Dakota State
Kola Bad Bear will guide the Bobcats against South Dakota State on Monday.
Photo by: courtesy of Utah Sports Information
Bobcat Women Host South Dakota State on Monday Afternoon
12/18/2020 4:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State will be back in the warm confines of Worthington Arena in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Monday at 12 p.m., when it hosts South Dakota State.
WHO: South Dakota State at Montana State
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 21, 2020 @ 12 p.m. (MST)
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: MSU: 2-2, 0-0; South Dakota State 4-2, 0-0
SERIES: South Dakota State leads series 2-0
LAST MTG: Nov. 21, 2019 at So. Dakota St. 60, MSU 50
RADIO: Live on 1450 KMMS AM with Mark Martello on the call; pregame begins 15-minutes prior to opening tip.
VIDEO: Montana State's game with South Dakota State can be streamed on Pluto TV Channel 1057.
TV: SWX will carry Monday's game with So. Dakota State. Check listings: Chris Byers (pxp), Alex Eschelman (color)
BACK TO THE BRICK: Montana State will be back in the warm confines of Worthington Arena in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Monday at 12 p.m., when it hosts South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits will play at No. 20 Missouri State on Saturday afternoon, before making the trek to Bozeman.
BOBCAT PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sophomore Darian White narrowly missed a triple-double in leading the Bobcats to an 80-67 victory over Portland on Thursday afternoon. The Boise, Idaho product scored a career-high 24 points, hauled down a career-best 11 rebounds and added nine assists and five steals. For the game she shot 53.3% (8-15) from the field and was 7-of-9 (77.8%) from the line.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Darian White almost became the first Bobcat in 16 years 9 months and 4 days to record a triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists at Portland. The last Bobcat to accomplish a triple-double was Sheila Hutchison with 14 points, 11 rebounds and a school-record 14 assists against Idaho State on March 12, 2004 at the Big Sky Conference Tournament. 'Hutch' was the first player in Big Sky history to ever record a triple-double at the league's postseason dance.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: South Dakota State - The Jackrabbits (4-2) will play at No. 2 Missouri State on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Bozeman for Monday's contest. SDSU is ranked No. 8 in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top 25 poll. The Jackrabbits also received four votes in this week's AP Top 25. SDSU has notched victories over No. 15/18 Iowa State, Creighton, No. 18 Gonzaga and Drake, while dropping two decisions to Kansas State and Northern Iowa. Last Tuesday in their 87-73 win over Drake, the Jackrabbits had five players in double-figures led by Myah Selland with 21 points and 11 rebounds. On the season, SDSU is paced by Selland, a 6-1 junior forward from Letcher, S.D., who averages 17.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest, while shooting 50% from the field, 40% from long distance and 66.7% at the line. Also averaging double-digits is Paiton Burckhard, a 6-foot junior forward from Aberdeen, S.D., who is chipping in 12 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. SDSU is coached by Aaron Johnston, who is in his 21st season in Brookings. SDSU handed MSU a 60-50 setback last season Nov. 21 as Fallyn Freije led MSU with 11 points.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Bobcats held the nation's second longest home court win streak (31) before it was snapped by Portland State on Jan. 11, 2018. Since losing to San Diego on Nov. 24, 2015, MSU has gone 56-11 (83.%) in The Brick.
THE STREAK: With its win over North Dakota on Dec. 6, the Bobcats ran its consecutive winning streak to a school-record 18 games. Montana State started the streak last season on Jan. 11, 2020 with a 73-62 victory at Portland State. MSU closed out the 2019-20 season with a 76-71 win over Northern Arizona in semifinal action at the Big Sky Tournament on March 11 in Boise, Idaho. The season was halted the next day due to COVID-19. MSU's 18-game win streak was snapped at BYU on Dec. 10 in Provo. The streak was the third longest in the nation at the time, behind only Oregon (24) and Princeton (22).
PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Montana State sophomore Darian White, who broke onto the women's basketball scene last winter, has been named to the preseason all-Big Sky Conference team voted on by BSC head coaches and media members. White, a product of Boise, Idaho, was the 2020 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, after helping the Bobcats to a 25-6 overall mark, a dominating 19-1 league ledger and a Big Sky title. In what was arguably one of the best inaugural campaigns in MSU history, White collected 394 points, 150 rebounds, 104 assists and 76 steals. She played and started in all 31 games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game. White, who recorded 25 games in double-digit scoring, including the last ten games, notched a season-high 23 points in MSU's win at Eastern Washington connecting on eight-of-15 from the field and six-of-six at the line. She finished 25th in the nation in steals and 31st in the country in steals per game. In MSU's two victories at the Big Sky Tournament, White was averaging 19 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game, before the championship game was called due to COVID-19. Northern Arizona's Khiarica Rasheed was tabbed the preseason MVP. Also named to the preseason all-conference squad were Gina Marxen, Idaho, Beyonce Bea, Idaho, Dora Goles, Idaho State and Alisha Davis, Northern Colorado.
A LITTLE BIT OF TORI: When it comes to shooting the three-ball, Montana State senior Tori Martell is a Lamborghini, a Bobcat star. She's a spot-up shooter and a Big Sky hooper. She's the Big Sky Top Reserve, she sets the academic curve. She can make it rain, and you'll feel the pain. She's a little bit, she's a little bit, she's a little bit, she's a little bit T... La la la-la la la la, a little bit Tori. Martell, a product of Somerset, Wis., moved up the all-time Montana State three-point made chart last weekend, connecting on two triples. Martell has 156 career 3-pointers, which ranks fifth all-time. Ahead of Martell on MSU's all-time list are Katie Bussey (254), Hannah Caudill (231), Oliana Squires (184) and Amy Meckling (174). Martell's career 35.6% shooting from beyond the arc ranks 10th all-time at Montana State. Martell's eight 3-pointers against North Dakota on Dec. 6, 2020 broke the MSU school-record of seven previously held by Amy Meckling (Jan. 2, 2000), Brandi Lewis (Feb. 13, 2003) and Hannah Caudill (Jan. 28, 2017). Martell's total is tied for third most in the nation this season.
DARE TO BE: Sophomore Darian White has picked up where she left off last season. The preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection leads the Bobcats and Big Sky Conference averaging 20.8 points per game. She's been over the 20+ point mark on three occasions, with a career-best 24 points in MSU's win at Portland on Thursday. White, a graduate of Mountain View High School in Boise, Idaho, also leads the team in steals (16) and assists (8).
ALL JACKED UP: Sophomore Madison Jackson had her best game of the season at BYU last Thursday. The Parma, Idaho product tallied 11 points, her first double-digit output since notching a career-best 15 points at Eastern Washington last January. Against the Cougars, Jackson did most of her work at the free throw line connecting on a career-best nine-of-nine. For the season, she is averaging 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Sophomore Kola Bad Bear has played and started in all four games to date. The 6-2 product of Billings Senior is averaging 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Bad Bear had one of her best outings of the season at Brigham Young on Dec. 10. Against the Cougars, she posted a career-high 10 points, connecting on three field-goals and a four-of-four effort from the free throw line. Bad Bear pulled down a season-best six rebounds at BYU, as well. In MSU's win at Portland on Thursday, Bad Bear matched her season high with 10 points on four-of-six shooting.
EASY PEASY: True-freshman Katelynn Limardo has started all four games for the Bobcats to date. The 6-2 product of Silver City, N.M. (a town where lawman Harvey Whitehall was the first to arrest Billy the Kid, known at the time under the alias Henry Antrim in 1875) is averaging 5.8 points per game. Limardo recorded her first double-digit output of the season against Utah on Dec. 11, scoring 10 points, on three field-goals, two 3-pointers and a 2-of-2 effort from the line. She is also averaging 4.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 83.3% from the free throw line. She currently has made nine consecutive free throws.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: True freshman Taylor Janssen has played in all four games to date and received her first collegiate start at Portland on Thursday. She is averaging 22.4 minutes per contest. The Rosemount, Minn., native is averaging 5.8 points per game, which is fourth best on the squad. Janssen posted a season-high 10 points in MSU's season-opening victory over North Dakota. Against the Fighting Hawks, Janssen recorded four baskets, including two from long distance. She also added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the victory.
LAUDING LEXI: True Freshman Lexi Deden has played in all four games in the early season, averaging 14.7 minutes per game. The 6-1 forward from Missoula is averaging 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Deden recorded a season-high nine points in MSU's season-opening victory over North Dakota. Against the Fighting Hawks, she connected on four-of-six from the field, including one 3-pointer. On the season, she is shooting 50% from the field. On Thursday against Portland, she pulled down a season-best seven rebounds. The Deden name is very familiar in Montana basketball circles. Deden's mother Dawn (Silliker) Deden played for the University of Montana from 1984-88. At UM, she was a 1,000-point scorer and was an All-Mountain West Conference selection. In addition, Lexi's aunt and head coach at Sentinel High School, Karen Deden, was a standout at Washington and is in the Husky Hall of Fame.
SKYE'S THE LIMIT: Skye Lindsay, who sat out last season after transferring from Pepperdine, has seen action in three games this season and is averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The Orem, Utah product posted a season-best 11 points in MSU's win at Portland, connecting on five-of-seven from the field. Lindsay also had five rebounds and two steals against the Pilots.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, posted her first collegiate points - a 3-pointer - at just the right time against Portland to spark a fourth quarter run by the Bobcats. The 5-9 guard finished with five points and a season-best three steals. Beattie also has Montana roots. Despite living in the Lone Star state, Beattie has a familiar Montana basketball pedigree. Her mother, Kelly (Pilcher) Beattie, was a two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection for the Lady Griz and is listed sixth all-time in assists at UM and her 15 assists against Boise State and Northern Arizona still rank first in single-game history for the Lady Griz. Beattie's aunt and coach at Midland Christian Academy, Carla (Beattie) Cunneen, is also a former Lady Griz standout. Cunneen was the 1996 Big Sky Sixth Player of the Year.
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 21, 2020 @ 12 p.m. (MST)
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: MSU: 2-2, 0-0; South Dakota State 4-2, 0-0
SERIES: South Dakota State leads series 2-0
LAST MTG: Nov. 21, 2019 at So. Dakota St. 60, MSU 50
RADIO: Live on 1450 KMMS AM with Mark Martello on the call; pregame begins 15-minutes prior to opening tip.
VIDEO: Montana State's game with South Dakota State can be streamed on Pluto TV Channel 1057.
TV: SWX will carry Monday's game with So. Dakota State. Check listings: Chris Byers (pxp), Alex Eschelman (color)
BACK TO THE BRICK: Montana State will be back in the warm confines of Worthington Arena in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Monday at 12 p.m., when it hosts South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits will play at No. 20 Missouri State on Saturday afternoon, before making the trek to Bozeman.
BOBCAT PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sophomore Darian White narrowly missed a triple-double in leading the Bobcats to an 80-67 victory over Portland on Thursday afternoon. The Boise, Idaho product scored a career-high 24 points, hauled down a career-best 11 rebounds and added nine assists and five steals. For the game she shot 53.3% (8-15) from the field and was 7-of-9 (77.8%) from the line.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Darian White almost became the first Bobcat in 16 years 9 months and 4 days to record a triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists at Portland. The last Bobcat to accomplish a triple-double was Sheila Hutchison with 14 points, 11 rebounds and a school-record 14 assists against Idaho State on March 12, 2004 at the Big Sky Conference Tournament. 'Hutch' was the first player in Big Sky history to ever record a triple-double at the league's postseason dance.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: South Dakota State - The Jackrabbits (4-2) will play at No. 2 Missouri State on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Bozeman for Monday's contest. SDSU is ranked No. 8 in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top 25 poll. The Jackrabbits also received four votes in this week's AP Top 25. SDSU has notched victories over No. 15/18 Iowa State, Creighton, No. 18 Gonzaga and Drake, while dropping two decisions to Kansas State and Northern Iowa. Last Tuesday in their 87-73 win over Drake, the Jackrabbits had five players in double-figures led by Myah Selland with 21 points and 11 rebounds. On the season, SDSU is paced by Selland, a 6-1 junior forward from Letcher, S.D., who averages 17.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest, while shooting 50% from the field, 40% from long distance and 66.7% at the line. Also averaging double-digits is Paiton Burckhard, a 6-foot junior forward from Aberdeen, S.D., who is chipping in 12 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. SDSU is coached by Aaron Johnston, who is in his 21st season in Brookings. SDSU handed MSU a 60-50 setback last season Nov. 21 as Fallyn Freije led MSU with 11 points.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Bobcats held the nation's second longest home court win streak (31) before it was snapped by Portland State on Jan. 11, 2018. Since losing to San Diego on Nov. 24, 2015, MSU has gone 56-11 (83.%) in The Brick.
THE STREAK: With its win over North Dakota on Dec. 6, the Bobcats ran its consecutive winning streak to a school-record 18 games. Montana State started the streak last season on Jan. 11, 2020 with a 73-62 victory at Portland State. MSU closed out the 2019-20 season with a 76-71 win over Northern Arizona in semifinal action at the Big Sky Tournament on March 11 in Boise, Idaho. The season was halted the next day due to COVID-19. MSU's 18-game win streak was snapped at BYU on Dec. 10 in Provo. The streak was the third longest in the nation at the time, behind only Oregon (24) and Princeton (22).
PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Montana State sophomore Darian White, who broke onto the women's basketball scene last winter, has been named to the preseason all-Big Sky Conference team voted on by BSC head coaches and media members. White, a product of Boise, Idaho, was the 2020 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, after helping the Bobcats to a 25-6 overall mark, a dominating 19-1 league ledger and a Big Sky title. In what was arguably one of the best inaugural campaigns in MSU history, White collected 394 points, 150 rebounds, 104 assists and 76 steals. She played and started in all 31 games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game. White, who recorded 25 games in double-digit scoring, including the last ten games, notched a season-high 23 points in MSU's win at Eastern Washington connecting on eight-of-15 from the field and six-of-six at the line. She finished 25th in the nation in steals and 31st in the country in steals per game. In MSU's two victories at the Big Sky Tournament, White was averaging 19 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game, before the championship game was called due to COVID-19. Northern Arizona's Khiarica Rasheed was tabbed the preseason MVP. Also named to the preseason all-conference squad were Gina Marxen, Idaho, Beyonce Bea, Idaho, Dora Goles, Idaho State and Alisha Davis, Northern Colorado.
A LITTLE BIT OF TORI: When it comes to shooting the three-ball, Montana State senior Tori Martell is a Lamborghini, a Bobcat star. She's a spot-up shooter and a Big Sky hooper. She's the Big Sky Top Reserve, she sets the academic curve. She can make it rain, and you'll feel the pain. She's a little bit, she's a little bit, she's a little bit, she's a little bit T... La la la-la la la la, a little bit Tori. Martell, a product of Somerset, Wis., moved up the all-time Montana State three-point made chart last weekend, connecting on two triples. Martell has 156 career 3-pointers, which ranks fifth all-time. Ahead of Martell on MSU's all-time list are Katie Bussey (254), Hannah Caudill (231), Oliana Squires (184) and Amy Meckling (174). Martell's career 35.6% shooting from beyond the arc ranks 10th all-time at Montana State. Martell's eight 3-pointers against North Dakota on Dec. 6, 2020 broke the MSU school-record of seven previously held by Amy Meckling (Jan. 2, 2000), Brandi Lewis (Feb. 13, 2003) and Hannah Caudill (Jan. 28, 2017). Martell's total is tied for third most in the nation this season.
DARE TO BE: Sophomore Darian White has picked up where she left off last season. The preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection leads the Bobcats and Big Sky Conference averaging 20.8 points per game. She's been over the 20+ point mark on three occasions, with a career-best 24 points in MSU's win at Portland on Thursday. White, a graduate of Mountain View High School in Boise, Idaho, also leads the team in steals (16) and assists (8).
ALL JACKED UP: Sophomore Madison Jackson had her best game of the season at BYU last Thursday. The Parma, Idaho product tallied 11 points, her first double-digit output since notching a career-best 15 points at Eastern Washington last January. Against the Cougars, Jackson did most of her work at the free throw line connecting on a career-best nine-of-nine. For the season, she is averaging 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Sophomore Kola Bad Bear has played and started in all four games to date. The 6-2 product of Billings Senior is averaging 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Bad Bear had one of her best outings of the season at Brigham Young on Dec. 10. Against the Cougars, she posted a career-high 10 points, connecting on three field-goals and a four-of-four effort from the free throw line. Bad Bear pulled down a season-best six rebounds at BYU, as well. In MSU's win at Portland on Thursday, Bad Bear matched her season high with 10 points on four-of-six shooting.
EASY PEASY: True-freshman Katelynn Limardo has started all four games for the Bobcats to date. The 6-2 product of Silver City, N.M. (a town where lawman Harvey Whitehall was the first to arrest Billy the Kid, known at the time under the alias Henry Antrim in 1875) is averaging 5.8 points per game. Limardo recorded her first double-digit output of the season against Utah on Dec. 11, scoring 10 points, on three field-goals, two 3-pointers and a 2-of-2 effort from the line. She is also averaging 4.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 83.3% from the free throw line. She currently has made nine consecutive free throws.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: True freshman Taylor Janssen has played in all four games to date and received her first collegiate start at Portland on Thursday. She is averaging 22.4 minutes per contest. The Rosemount, Minn., native is averaging 5.8 points per game, which is fourth best on the squad. Janssen posted a season-high 10 points in MSU's season-opening victory over North Dakota. Against the Fighting Hawks, Janssen recorded four baskets, including two from long distance. She also added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the victory.
LAUDING LEXI: True Freshman Lexi Deden has played in all four games in the early season, averaging 14.7 minutes per game. The 6-1 forward from Missoula is averaging 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Deden recorded a season-high nine points in MSU's season-opening victory over North Dakota. Against the Fighting Hawks, she connected on four-of-six from the field, including one 3-pointer. On the season, she is shooting 50% from the field. On Thursday against Portland, she pulled down a season-best seven rebounds. The Deden name is very familiar in Montana basketball circles. Deden's mother Dawn (Silliker) Deden played for the University of Montana from 1984-88. At UM, she was a 1,000-point scorer and was an All-Mountain West Conference selection. In addition, Lexi's aunt and head coach at Sentinel High School, Karen Deden, was a standout at Washington and is in the Husky Hall of Fame.
SKYE'S THE LIMIT: Skye Lindsay, who sat out last season after transferring from Pepperdine, has seen action in three games this season and is averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The Orem, Utah product posted a season-best 11 points in MSU's win at Portland, connecting on five-of-seven from the field. Lindsay also had five rebounds and two steals against the Pilots.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, posted her first collegiate points - a 3-pointer - at just the right time against Portland to spark a fourth quarter run by the Bobcats. The 5-9 guard finished with five points and a season-best three steals. Beattie also has Montana roots. Despite living in the Lone Star state, Beattie has a familiar Montana basketball pedigree. Her mother, Kelly (Pilcher) Beattie, was a two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection for the Lady Griz and is listed sixth all-time in assists at UM and her 15 assists against Boise State and Northern Arizona still rank first in single-game history for the Lady Griz. Beattie's aunt and coach at Midland Christian Academy, Carla (Beattie) Cunneen, is also a former Lady Griz standout. Cunneen was the 1996 Big Sky Sixth Player of the Year.
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