
Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
Cats Head to Dakotas
11/17/2021 4:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State will head to the Dakotas for a pair of non-conference games, beginning Thursday, Nov. 18 at South Dakota State in Brookings. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. (MT) in Frost Arena.
WHO: Montana State at South Dakota State
WHEN: Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 5 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Brookings, S.D. - Frost Arena
RECORDS: Montana State 1-2, 0-0; SDSU 1-2, 0-0
SERIES: South Dakota State leads series 3-0 (2018)
LAST MTG: Dec. 21, 2020 - So. Dakota State 82, @ MSU 67
WHO: Montana State at North Dakota
WHEN: Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 1 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Grand Forks N.D. - Betty Engelstad Sioux Center
RECORDS: Montana State 1-2, 0-0; North Dakota 0-2, 0-0
SERIES: Montana State leads all-time series 12-6 (1977)
LAST MTG: Dec. 8, 2020 - @Montana State 84, No. Dakota 72
VIDEO: Montana State's game at SDSU can be seen on ESPN+ and at North Dakota at Fightinghawks.com
RADIO: Live on 1450 KMMS AM with Mark Martello at SDSU; and on Varsity Network App on Saturday at No. Dakota.
STATS: Live statistics can be accessed at msubobcats.com; running play-by-play and boxscore are available
UP NEXT: Montana State will head to the Dakotas for a pair of non-conference games, beginning Thursday, Nov. 18 at South Dakota State in Brookings. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. (MT) in Frost Arena. Following its contest with the Jackrabbits, the Bobcats will head north to face former Big sky Conference foe North Dakota on Saturday at 1 p.m. (MT) in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The road swing will mark the middle of MSU's six-game schedule away from the warm confines of Worthington Arena. The Bobcats next home game is slated for Thursday, Dec. 2 when it opens Big Sky Conference action against Northern Colorado.
BOBCAT BITES: The Cats played both North Dakota and South Dakota State at home last season. MSU defeated UND 84-72 in its season-opener as Tori Martell and Darian White posted 26 and 22 points, respectively. The Cats dropped an 82-67 decision to SDSU, who had received top 25 votes. White and Leia Beattie had 14 and 12 points in the loss.
ABOUT SDSU: South Dakota State is 1-2 overall. The Jackrabbits defeated Green Bay (70-49) in its opener, before falling to Mississippi State (76-71) and 14/16 Iowa State (75-56) on Monday. South Dakota State has been led in the early season by Paige Meyer and Tylee Irwin, who are averaging 12.0 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Paiton Burckhard leads the team in rebounding at 5.3 boards per game, while averaging 9.3 points per contest. The Jackrabbits have been without standout Myah Selland, who is nearing a return to the hardwood after suffering in knee injury last February. Selland made her fourth straight appearance on the preseason all-Summit League team in addition to being tabbed as the Summit preseason Player of the Year. On the national level, she was named to watch lists for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year, as well as the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year, an award for which she was a semifinalist last season.
ABOUT UND: North Dakota is 0-2 on the season after dropping a pair of road games at Weber State (72-57) and UTEP (89-69). The Fighting Hawks play Montana on Thursday night before meeting the Bobcats. In its game at Weber State, UND was paced by Claire Orth with 15 points, while DJ Davis added 10 points and Jodie Anderson 11 points and nine rebounds. In its game in El Paso, Texas on Saturday, Orth again led UND with 17 points, while Maggie Manson chipped in 15 and Sammiyah Hoskin 10. UND played both contests without the services of three starters who were unavailable to play. North Dakota is under the direction of Mallory Bernhard, who was named head coach on March 11, 2020. She had previously served seven seasons as an assistant for the Fighting Hawks.
I DARE YA: Darian White, a preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (12.7 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg), three-pointers (1.0/g), assists (8) and steals (4). She has been in double figure scoring in all three games, including a season-best 15 points at Gonzaga. The reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year pulled down a season-high eight rebounds against the Zags and registered three steals in the season-opener against Carroll College.
ASHLEY'S ACCOLADES: Senior Ashley Van Sickle has played in all three games this season and is averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. The Arvada, Colo., product posted a season-best eight points in MSU's season-opening victory over Carroll College. She also recorded three rebounds, an assist and steal against the Saints. Van Sickle is shooting 46.5% from the field.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie has started all three games for the Bobcats this season and is averaging 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest. She had her best outing in the season-opener against Carroll College with six points, connecting on two-of-four from beyond the arc. Last season, Beattie played in 23-of-24 games and averaged 3.7 points per game. She notched a career-high 14 points against Northern Arizona last January. Beattie comes to Montana State with a familiar Treasure State pedigree. Her mother, Kelly (Pilcher) was a two-time All-Big Sky selection at Montana and is sixth all-time in assists. In addition, her 15 assists versus Boise State and Northern Arizona still rank first in single-game history. Beattie's aunt/coach at Midland Christian Academy, Carla (Beattie) Cunneen, is also a former Lady Griz and was the 1996 Big Sky Sixth Player of the Year.
OUT ON A LIMB: Sophomore Katelynn Limardo has started the past two games for the Bobcats, after opening the season with 16 points and seven rebounds against Carroll College. The 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 6.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per outing. In addition, Limardo is shooting 46.2% from the field. Last winter, she started in all 24 games and averaged 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. Limardo had her best game of the season at Eastern Washington on Feb. 13, scoring a team-high 17 points. Against EWU, she connected on 6-6 from the field and was 5-5 from long distance.
KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 sophomore forward from Missoula, is fourth on the squad averaging 5.7 points per contest. She is also pulling down 4.3 boards per contest. Deden had her best outing in the season opener against Carroll College with eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes of action. Last season, Deden recorded a career-high 22 points in MSU's win over Northern Arizona on Jan. 23 when she connected on 10-14 from the field. The Deden name is also familiar in Montana basketball circles. Deden's mother Dawn (Silliker) played at Montana from 1984-88. At UM, Silliker was a 1,000-point scorer and was an all-Mountain West pick. In addition, Lexi's aunt/and former head coach at Sentinel High, Karen Deden, was a standout at Washington and is in the Husky Hall of Fame.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Junior Kola Bad Bear has played in all three games, with one start. On the season, the 6-2 forward is averaging 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest. Bad Bear had her best outing of the season at UNLV last Saturday, posting six points and six rebounds, while shooting 42.9% from the field. Last winter, Bad Bear had her best outing at Portland State on Jan. 14 posting a career-high 16 points.
ALL JACKED UP: After being held scoreless in the season-opener against Carroll College, Madison Jackson has averaged 4.5 points and two rebounds in MSU's last two outings. The native of Parma, Idaho had her best game of the season at Gonzaga with five points and two rebounds. last season, Jackson notched a career-high 20 points in MSU overtime win against Idaho State on Feb. 20, including 13 points in the first half. For the game, she connected on 6-of-9 from the field, including three 3-pointers.
MENTIONING MIA: Freshman Mia Hughes has played and started all three games for the Bobcats. The product of Woodinville, Wash., is averaging 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest. Hughes had her best outing of the season at UNLV last Saturday, recording six points, two rebounds and a steal. In the season-opener against Carroll College, she collected a season-high six rebounds in the Bobcat victory.
RARE AIR: Freshman Lindsey Hein is the tallest (6-6) player to ever wear the Blue and Gold. The Forsyth, Mont., native has played in all three games, including two starts. In the season-opener against Carroll College, she came off the bench to score a game-high 16 points, while pulling down seven rebounds. Hein is first on the team shooting 58.3% from the field. She is averaging 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
WHEN: Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 5 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Brookings, S.D. - Frost Arena
RECORDS: Montana State 1-2, 0-0; SDSU 1-2, 0-0
SERIES: South Dakota State leads series 3-0 (2018)
LAST MTG: Dec. 21, 2020 - So. Dakota State 82, @ MSU 67
WHO: Montana State at North Dakota
WHEN: Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 1 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Grand Forks N.D. - Betty Engelstad Sioux Center
RECORDS: Montana State 1-2, 0-0; North Dakota 0-2, 0-0
SERIES: Montana State leads all-time series 12-6 (1977)
LAST MTG: Dec. 8, 2020 - @Montana State 84, No. Dakota 72
VIDEO: Montana State's game at SDSU can be seen on ESPN+ and at North Dakota at Fightinghawks.com
RADIO: Live on 1450 KMMS AM with Mark Martello at SDSU; and on Varsity Network App on Saturday at No. Dakota.
STATS: Live statistics can be accessed at msubobcats.com; running play-by-play and boxscore are available
UP NEXT: Montana State will head to the Dakotas for a pair of non-conference games, beginning Thursday, Nov. 18 at South Dakota State in Brookings. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. (MT) in Frost Arena. Following its contest with the Jackrabbits, the Bobcats will head north to face former Big sky Conference foe North Dakota on Saturday at 1 p.m. (MT) in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The road swing will mark the middle of MSU's six-game schedule away from the warm confines of Worthington Arena. The Bobcats next home game is slated for Thursday, Dec. 2 when it opens Big Sky Conference action against Northern Colorado.
BOBCAT BITES: The Cats played both North Dakota and South Dakota State at home last season. MSU defeated UND 84-72 in its season-opener as Tori Martell and Darian White posted 26 and 22 points, respectively. The Cats dropped an 82-67 decision to SDSU, who had received top 25 votes. White and Leia Beattie had 14 and 12 points in the loss.
ABOUT SDSU: South Dakota State is 1-2 overall. The Jackrabbits defeated Green Bay (70-49) in its opener, before falling to Mississippi State (76-71) and 14/16 Iowa State (75-56) on Monday. South Dakota State has been led in the early season by Paige Meyer and Tylee Irwin, who are averaging 12.0 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Paiton Burckhard leads the team in rebounding at 5.3 boards per game, while averaging 9.3 points per contest. The Jackrabbits have been without standout Myah Selland, who is nearing a return to the hardwood after suffering in knee injury last February. Selland made her fourth straight appearance on the preseason all-Summit League team in addition to being tabbed as the Summit preseason Player of the Year. On the national level, she was named to watch lists for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year, as well as the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year, an award for which she was a semifinalist last season.
ABOUT UND: North Dakota is 0-2 on the season after dropping a pair of road games at Weber State (72-57) and UTEP (89-69). The Fighting Hawks play Montana on Thursday night before meeting the Bobcats. In its game at Weber State, UND was paced by Claire Orth with 15 points, while DJ Davis added 10 points and Jodie Anderson 11 points and nine rebounds. In its game in El Paso, Texas on Saturday, Orth again led UND with 17 points, while Maggie Manson chipped in 15 and Sammiyah Hoskin 10. UND played both contests without the services of three starters who were unavailable to play. North Dakota is under the direction of Mallory Bernhard, who was named head coach on March 11, 2020. She had previously served seven seasons as an assistant for the Fighting Hawks.
I DARE YA: Darian White, a preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (12.7 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg), three-pointers (1.0/g), assists (8) and steals (4). She has been in double figure scoring in all three games, including a season-best 15 points at Gonzaga. The reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year pulled down a season-high eight rebounds against the Zags and registered three steals in the season-opener against Carroll College.
ASHLEY'S ACCOLADES: Senior Ashley Van Sickle has played in all three games this season and is averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. The Arvada, Colo., product posted a season-best eight points in MSU's season-opening victory over Carroll College. She also recorded three rebounds, an assist and steal against the Saints. Van Sickle is shooting 46.5% from the field.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie has started all three games for the Bobcats this season and is averaging 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest. She had her best outing in the season-opener against Carroll College with six points, connecting on two-of-four from beyond the arc. Last season, Beattie played in 23-of-24 games and averaged 3.7 points per game. She notched a career-high 14 points against Northern Arizona last January. Beattie comes to Montana State with a familiar Treasure State pedigree. Her mother, Kelly (Pilcher) was a two-time All-Big Sky selection at Montana and is sixth all-time in assists. In addition, her 15 assists versus Boise State and Northern Arizona still rank first in single-game history. Beattie's aunt/coach at Midland Christian Academy, Carla (Beattie) Cunneen, is also a former Lady Griz and was the 1996 Big Sky Sixth Player of the Year.
OUT ON A LIMB: Sophomore Katelynn Limardo has started the past two games for the Bobcats, after opening the season with 16 points and seven rebounds against Carroll College. The 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 6.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per outing. In addition, Limardo is shooting 46.2% from the field. Last winter, she started in all 24 games and averaged 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. Limardo had her best game of the season at Eastern Washington on Feb. 13, scoring a team-high 17 points. Against EWU, she connected on 6-6 from the field and was 5-5 from long distance.
KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 sophomore forward from Missoula, is fourth on the squad averaging 5.7 points per contest. She is also pulling down 4.3 boards per contest. Deden had her best outing in the season opener against Carroll College with eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes of action. Last season, Deden recorded a career-high 22 points in MSU's win over Northern Arizona on Jan. 23 when she connected on 10-14 from the field. The Deden name is also familiar in Montana basketball circles. Deden's mother Dawn (Silliker) played at Montana from 1984-88. At UM, Silliker was a 1,000-point scorer and was an all-Mountain West pick. In addition, Lexi's aunt/and former head coach at Sentinel High, Karen Deden, was a standout at Washington and is in the Husky Hall of Fame.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Junior Kola Bad Bear has played in all three games, with one start. On the season, the 6-2 forward is averaging 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest. Bad Bear had her best outing of the season at UNLV last Saturday, posting six points and six rebounds, while shooting 42.9% from the field. Last winter, Bad Bear had her best outing at Portland State on Jan. 14 posting a career-high 16 points.
ALL JACKED UP: After being held scoreless in the season-opener against Carroll College, Madison Jackson has averaged 4.5 points and two rebounds in MSU's last two outings. The native of Parma, Idaho had her best game of the season at Gonzaga with five points and two rebounds. last season, Jackson notched a career-high 20 points in MSU overtime win against Idaho State on Feb. 20, including 13 points in the first half. For the game, she connected on 6-of-9 from the field, including three 3-pointers.
MENTIONING MIA: Freshman Mia Hughes has played and started all three games for the Bobcats. The product of Woodinville, Wash., is averaging 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest. Hughes had her best outing of the season at UNLV last Saturday, recording six points, two rebounds and a steal. In the season-opener against Carroll College, she collected a season-high six rebounds in the Bobcat victory.
RARE AIR: Freshman Lindsey Hein is the tallest (6-6) player to ever wear the Blue and Gold. The Forsyth, Mont., native has played in all three games, including two starts. In the season-opener against Carroll College, she came off the bench to score a game-high 16 points, while pulling down seven rebounds. Hein is first on the team shooting 58.3% from the field. She is averaging 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Players Mentioned
Bobcat Insider TV Show
Wednesday, January 26
vs. Seattle (Live Stream Video)
Saturday, December 18
Inside The Brick (Lexi Deden)
Thursday, November 04
Inside The Brick (Leia Beattie)
Tuesday, November 02