Bobcats Hold Off Northern Colorado as Freshman Darian White Leads the Way

Tuesday, March 10

Boise, ID

12 p.m.

Montana State University

24-6,19-1Big Sky

Northern Colorado

13-18,8-12Big Sky

Northern Colo.

Montana St.

Darian White

Photo by: Jack Murrey

Bobcats Hold Off Northern Colorado as Freshman Darian White Leads the Way

3/10/2020 2:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Montana State ratcheted up the defense in the fourth quarter to advance to the Big Sky Semifinals

By: Bill Lamberty

BOISE, Idaho – All things considered, Tuesday proved to be quite a homecoming for Darian White.

Montana State's sensational point guard scored 19 points, nailing three of her four free throws in the closing seconds to lead the Bobcats to a 67-62 Big Sky Tournament Second Round win over Northern Colorado in her hometown of Boise, Idaho. The 5-6 guard also grabbed six rebounds and added three assists and two steals.

"All I can say is that I'm glad she's on our team," said Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford. "She's a heck of a competitor. This kid is a winner, and the ball's in her hands for a reason. Also, our defense starts with her. This kid makes plays, she finds ways. She's truly special."

The Big Sky Freshman of the Year wasn't the only Bobcat to turn in a special performance Tuesday. Big Sky Player of the Year Fallyn Freije scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while senior guard Oliana Squires added 13 points. Senior forward Blaire Braxton chipped in nine points off the bench.

The game was a hotly contest throughout, with the Bobcats leading for more than 32 minutes but never by more than seven points. Montana State hit 23 of its 29 free throws to offset 36 percent shooting from the floor and a four-of-12 three-point effort. The Bears shot 34 percent from the floor, making six three pointers (out of 22) adding a 16-for-20 effort from the charity stripe.

Montana State turned the ball over 18 times, including 10 in the second half, but turned UNC's 21 turnovers into 22 points. Senior guard Oliana Squires added four steals, while freshman guard Madison Jackson, from nearby Parma, Idaho, added three. The Bobcats recorded 12 pilfers.

Binford was pleased with her team's performance down the stretch. "

Northern Colorado turned an early seven-point deficit into a 20-18 lead after the first quarter on the strength of a 15-6 run to close the period. The Bobcats out-scored UND 19-14 in the second quarter and never trailed again. "You have to turn up the heat and the pressure," she said of MSU's defensive effort in the fourth quarter, when it held UNC to 25 percent shooting and just one three-pointer. "We're trying to be who we are, as well, but those stops mattered. We tried to change what our look was defensively to finish them off. Once we got into that situation, time and score, this team feels pretty confident."

Montana State advances to the Big Sky Conference Semifinals on Wednesday, facing the winner of the Montana-Northern Arizona game.