When Darian White Needed Her the Most, Fallyn Freije Proved a Calming Influence

BOISE, Idaho – The thought was creeping in late in Montana State's Big Sky Conference Quarterfinal game against Northern Colorado on Tuesday. Veteran Bobcat coach Tricia Binford could sense it.

"It felt like we were starting to tighten up a little bit," she said of her team thinking, "'Oh yeah, we could lose here.'" But with the season on the line, as it is every game for as long as the 2019-20 Big Sky Regular Season Champion Bobcats keep playing, the team found calmness. It found poise. It found those things in the form of fiery 5-foot-6 guard Darian White, playing her first conference tournament game.

When things got tight in the final minutes, as the Bears made one last charge, White found herself toeing the free throw line with the game in the balance. And that's when she found her calm, her poise, in a familiar source.

"I try to just remember in practice the reps I've been doing, and try not to think about (the pressure) too much," she said of her approach to the six free throws she shot in the game's final 75 seconds. "And I have (senior forward Fallyn Freije) in my ear the entire time telling me how special I am, how confident I need to be, and to shoot how I normally shoot. And they went in."

The sight of Freije and White together on the court is one Bobcat fans have grown familiar with this season, the first for White as a Bobcat. Freijeis playing her only varsity season in the Blue and Gold as a transfer from North Dakota after redshirting at MSU a season ago.

It's one of those odd and wonderful relationships that happen so frequently in sports, and seemingly less and less frequently in other aspects of 21^st century life. Their only season as teammates has been one everyone associated with the program will remember. Freije earned Big Sky Player of the Year honors this year, while Big Sky coaches honored White as the Freshman of the Year.

"She's always talking to me and encouraging me" during games, White said of Freije. "She tells me she has confidence in me, that the whole team and the coaches do, and that I'm here for a reason."

Binford said the optics of the relationship, White looking up at the 6-foot tall, physical post player, who invariably has her arm draped around the point guard's shoulders, sending her off with a pat, belies the natural relationship that basketball breeds. "Post players tend to take care of their point guards," said Binford, herself one of the Big Sky Conference's all-time best point guards. "They protect them."

But there's something more to the bond between the thoughtful, expressive senior from North Dakota and the mercurial, quick-to-smile guard from Boise. "They really enjoy being around each other," Binford said, indicating the relationship goes beyond the basketball floor. "I've seen Fallyn giving Darian piggy-back rides after practices. They're both fun people, and they have so much fun together."

Just as each of the two infused something different into Montana State's brilliant 24-6 (so far) season, Freije has aided in White's development as a force in the Big Sky so early in her career. "Darian really looks up to Fallyn," Binford said, "and she's a quick study. Fallyn really takes her preparation seriously, and Darian sees that. It's been really positive and fun for coaches to watch."

So when Freije shared reassurances with White in the most important moments of Tuesday's game, they took hold. White calmly made five of the six free throws, sealing Montana State's 67-62 win over UNC. And for at least one more day, extending a sight Bobcat fans have grown to love, Freije and White together on the basketball court, calmly carrying the Bobcats to victory.

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Schedule

When Darian White Needed Her the Most, Fallyn Freije Proved a Calming Influence

Players Mentioned

Fallyn Freije

Darian White

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