Tuesday, December 21
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
#19 BYU
Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
Cats Host No. 19 BYU Tuesday Night
12/20/2021 4:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State hosts No. 19-ranked Brigham Young on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena to conclude its non-conference schedule before Big Sky Conference play starts up again on Dec. 30 at Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
WHO: #19 Brigham Young at Montana State
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena
RECORDS: Montana State 7-5, 2-0; BYU 9-1, 0-0 (WCC)
SERIES: BYU leads all-time series 12-5 (1978)
LAST MTG: Dec. 10, 2020 - @BYU 72, Montana State 58
RADIO: Montana State's game against BYU airs live 15 minutes prior to tip on 1450 KMMS AM - Mark Martello (P-B-P).
VIDEO: Montana State's game against Brigham Young will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription needed).
NEXT UP: Montana State hosts No. 19-ranked Brigham Young on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena to conclude its non-conference schedule before Big Sky Conference play starts up again on Dec. 30 at Weber State in Ogden, Utah. MSU is on a six-game win streak after dispatching Seattle U 74-49 on Saturday afternoon in Worthington Arena. BYU, who has been ranked as high as No. 16 this season, is 9-1 overall after defeating Washington State 71-53 in Provo, Utah on Saturday. The Cougars lone loss was a 99-91 overtime setback at Oklahoma. BYU is the highest ranked team to play in Worthington Arena since the Bobcats faced #18 Gonzaga on Dec. 5, 2019 - a 70-55 Zags victory.
BOBCAT BITES: Darian White was named Montana State's Player of the Week for her effort in leading the Bobcats to a 76-49 victory over Seattle U. The reigning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week posted a game-high 21 points, while pulling down three rebounds, dishing out four assists and adding six steals. White went 8 of 17 from the field and was 4 of 5 from the free throw line...Leia Beattie and Kola Bad Bear have each been named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week this season...MSU's two league POWs is its most since the 2016-17 campaign when Peyton Ferris earned the honor on three occasions, along with Riley Nordgaard...Ellen Kreighbaum Women's Head Basketball Coach Tricia Binford has posted 277 victories in her 17 seasons at Montana State. The mark is the most for an active coach in Big Sky play and tied for third all-time behind Montana's Robin Selvig (865), Weber State's Carla Taylor (308) and Eastern Washington's Wendy Schuller (277).
ABOUT BYU: Brigham Young is 9-1 overall after defeating Washington State (71-53) on Saturday in Provo. BYU's lone loss was a 99-91 overtime loss at Oklahoma. The Cougars have posted notable victories over Florida State and West Virginia. BYU was the preseason pick to win the West Coast Conference this season led by All-WCC preseason selections Shaylee Gonzales and Lauren Gustin. Gonzales, a 5-10 sophomore guard from Gilbert, Ariz., was the WCC Co-Player of the Year in 2020-21. This season, she's averaging a team-high 18.9 points per game. Also averaging in double digits for the Cougars are Paisley Harding (16.5 ppg), Tegan Graham (12.1 ppg) and Gustin (10.6 ppg). Gustin, a 6-1 sophomore forward from Salem, Utah guides BYU under the glass, pulling down 12.1 rebounds per contest. Jeff Judkins is in his 21st season at BYU, where he's notched a 439-201 overall record.
I DARE YA: Darian White, a preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (15.4 ppg), assists (55), steals (33), and free throws made (48). She has been in double figure scoring in all 12 games, including a season-best 22 points against MSU Billings on Dec. 9. Against Seattle U, the Boise, Idaho product tallied 21 points, three rebounds, four assists and six steals, while shooting 8 of 17 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. At North Dakota on Nov. 20, White recorded a career-high seven steals. The reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds against Montana State Billings on Dec. 9 in Worthington Arena. White is currently five steals shy of breaking into MSU's top 10 all-time steals chart. She is currently averaging 2.8 steals per game, which is second in the Big Sky, while her 4.6 assists per outing ranks fourth in the league.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Junior Kola Bad Bear has played in all 12 games, including ten starts. On the season, the 6-2 forward is averaging 9.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest. Bad Bear had a breakout weekend for the Bobcats at the Holiday Beach Classic in San Luis Obispo over Thanksgiving averaging 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, while shooting 61.1% from the field. Against Seattle U on Saturday, she posted her fourth straight double figure game with 11 points, while pulling down seven rebounds. Bad Bear was named Big Sky Player of the Week for her efforts against MSU Billings and Utah Valley. For the two games, she averaged 19 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 61.9% from the field and 84.6% from the line. Bad Bear pulled down a career-best 17 rebounds in MSU's win over MSU Billings. Her 13 offensive boards against the Yellowjackets are unofficially the highest total in NCAA Division 1 hoops this season. Bad Bear also notched a career-best 21 points in MSU's win over MSUB.
OUT ON A LIMB: Sophomore Katelynn Limardo has started the last eleven games for the Bobcats, after opening the season with 16 points and seven rebounds against Carroll College coming off the bench. 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 9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per outing. In addition, Limardo is shooting 41.2% from the field and a team-best 94.1% (16-17) from the line. Against Seattle U on Saturday, Limardo recorded her seventh double figure scoring game of the season with 12 points - all coming from beyond the arc. Additionally, she posted a career-high five assists and four steals against the Redhawks. Over Thanksgiving, Limardo's three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter against Cal Poly lifted MSU to the win. Last winter, she started in all 24 games and averaged 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. Limardo had her best game of the 2020-21 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.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie has played in all 12 games for the Bobcats, including ten starts. She currently is averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest. Beattie had a career outing in MSU's win over Sacramento State on Dec. 4 scoring 18 points, while pulling down eight rebounds. Coupled with her play against Northern Colorado to open the Big Sky, she garnered ROAR Organic #BigSkyWBB Player of the Week accolades after averaging 14.5 points. 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. 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. Last season, Beattie played in 23-of-24 games and averaged 3.7 points per game. Against Seattle U on Saturday, she tallied 13 points on 5 of 13 from the field, including three 3-pointers.
THE TALK: Senior Gabby Mocchi has played in nine games, including starts in the last two outings. The 6-1 senior from Champlin, Minn., recorded a season-high nine points and pulled down a season-best nine rebounds in MSU's win over Seattle U on Saturday afternoon. Mocchi is averaging 3.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Against the Redhawks, Mocchi went 5 of 5 from the free throw line. On the season, she is shooting 90.9% at the stripe. Mocchi recorded a career-best 18 points at Portland State last winter.
KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 sophomore forward from Missoula, is third on the Bobcats in rebounding averaging 3.8 boards per game. In addition, she is fifth on the squad averaging 5.9 points per contest. Deden had her best outing of the season at North Dakota on Nov. 20. Against the Fighting Hawks, she recorded her first collegiate double-double with 17 points and a career-best ten rebounds. For the game, she went four-of-nine from the field and was nine-of-ten at the charity stripe. Last Saturday against Seattle U, she saw five minutes of action and finished with two rebounds. 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. Last season, Deden recorded a career-high 22 points in MSU's win over No. Arizona on Jan. 23 when she connected on 10 of 14 from the field.
ASHLEY'S ACCOLADES: Senior Ashley Van Sickle has played in all 12 games this season and is averaging 3.2 points and 2.1 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. Against Seattle U on Saturday, Van Sickle played 18 minutes and notched three assists and three rebounds.
ALL JACKED UP: Junior Madison Jackson has played in five games, including starting the two contests in the Dakotas. Jackson had her best performance against North Dakota recording six points. She also had two steals, and an offensive board. Last season, the native of Parma, Idaho had her best game as the Bobcats defeated Idaho State in Worthington Arena. Against the Bengals, Jackson notched a career-high 20 points, including 13 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 in eight games, including three starts. The product of Woodinville, Wash., is averaging 2.8 points and2.93 rebounds per contest. She had her best outing of the season at North Dakota with seven points and six rebounds- all points came at the free throw line where she went seven-of-eight. Hughes is currently hitting at a 92.3% (12-13) clip from the line.
RANSON NOTE: Sophomore Ava Ranson has played in ten games and is averaging 2.4 points per contest. The 5-10 product of Boise, Idaho had her best game at South Dakota State. Against the Jackrabbits, Ranson recorded eight points on three-on-nine from the field, including a pair of three-pointers.
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 seven 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 57.1% from the field. She is averaging 4.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Sophomore Taylor Janssen has played in all 12 games and is averaging 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per outing. Against Seattle U, the 6-3 product of Rosemount, Minn., recorded seven points and pulled down a career-best seven rebounds. Janssen notched a season-best 8 points at North Dakota on Nov. 20.
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena
RECORDS: Montana State 7-5, 2-0; BYU 9-1, 0-0 (WCC)
SERIES: BYU leads all-time series 12-5 (1978)
LAST MTG: Dec. 10, 2020 - @BYU 72, Montana State 58
RADIO: Montana State's game against BYU airs live 15 minutes prior to tip on 1450 KMMS AM - Mark Martello (P-B-P).
VIDEO: Montana State's game against Brigham Young will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription needed).
NEXT UP: Montana State hosts No. 19-ranked Brigham Young on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena to conclude its non-conference schedule before Big Sky Conference play starts up again on Dec. 30 at Weber State in Ogden, Utah. MSU is on a six-game win streak after dispatching Seattle U 74-49 on Saturday afternoon in Worthington Arena. BYU, who has been ranked as high as No. 16 this season, is 9-1 overall after defeating Washington State 71-53 in Provo, Utah on Saturday. The Cougars lone loss was a 99-91 overtime setback at Oklahoma. BYU is the highest ranked team to play in Worthington Arena since the Bobcats faced #18 Gonzaga on Dec. 5, 2019 - a 70-55 Zags victory.
BOBCAT BITES: Darian White was named Montana State's Player of the Week for her effort in leading the Bobcats to a 76-49 victory over Seattle U. The reigning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week posted a game-high 21 points, while pulling down three rebounds, dishing out four assists and adding six steals. White went 8 of 17 from the field and was 4 of 5 from the free throw line...Leia Beattie and Kola Bad Bear have each been named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week this season...MSU's two league POWs is its most since the 2016-17 campaign when Peyton Ferris earned the honor on three occasions, along with Riley Nordgaard...Ellen Kreighbaum Women's Head Basketball Coach Tricia Binford has posted 277 victories in her 17 seasons at Montana State. The mark is the most for an active coach in Big Sky play and tied for third all-time behind Montana's Robin Selvig (865), Weber State's Carla Taylor (308) and Eastern Washington's Wendy Schuller (277).
ABOUT BYU: Brigham Young is 9-1 overall after defeating Washington State (71-53) on Saturday in Provo. BYU's lone loss was a 99-91 overtime loss at Oklahoma. The Cougars have posted notable victories over Florida State and West Virginia. BYU was the preseason pick to win the West Coast Conference this season led by All-WCC preseason selections Shaylee Gonzales and Lauren Gustin. Gonzales, a 5-10 sophomore guard from Gilbert, Ariz., was the WCC Co-Player of the Year in 2020-21. This season, she's averaging a team-high 18.9 points per game. Also averaging in double digits for the Cougars are Paisley Harding (16.5 ppg), Tegan Graham (12.1 ppg) and Gustin (10.6 ppg). Gustin, a 6-1 sophomore forward from Salem, Utah guides BYU under the glass, pulling down 12.1 rebounds per contest. Jeff Judkins is in his 21st season at BYU, where he's notched a 439-201 overall record.
I DARE YA: Darian White, a preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (15.4 ppg), assists (55), steals (33), and free throws made (48). She has been in double figure scoring in all 12 games, including a season-best 22 points against MSU Billings on Dec. 9. Against Seattle U, the Boise, Idaho product tallied 21 points, three rebounds, four assists and six steals, while shooting 8 of 17 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. At North Dakota on Nov. 20, White recorded a career-high seven steals. The reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds against Montana State Billings on Dec. 9 in Worthington Arena. White is currently five steals shy of breaking into MSU's top 10 all-time steals chart. She is currently averaging 2.8 steals per game, which is second in the Big Sky, while her 4.6 assists per outing ranks fourth in the league.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Junior Kola Bad Bear has played in all 12 games, including ten starts. On the season, the 6-2 forward is averaging 9.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest. Bad Bear had a breakout weekend for the Bobcats at the Holiday Beach Classic in San Luis Obispo over Thanksgiving averaging 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, while shooting 61.1% from the field. Against Seattle U on Saturday, she posted her fourth straight double figure game with 11 points, while pulling down seven rebounds. Bad Bear was named Big Sky Player of the Week for her efforts against MSU Billings and Utah Valley. For the two games, she averaged 19 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 61.9% from the field and 84.6% from the line. Bad Bear pulled down a career-best 17 rebounds in MSU's win over MSU Billings. Her 13 offensive boards against the Yellowjackets are unofficially the highest total in NCAA Division 1 hoops this season. Bad Bear also notched a career-best 21 points in MSU's win over MSUB.
OUT ON A LIMB: Sophomore Katelynn Limardo has started the last eleven games for the Bobcats, after opening the season with 16 points and seven rebounds against Carroll College coming off the bench. 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 9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per outing. In addition, Limardo is shooting 41.2% from the field and a team-best 94.1% (16-17) from the line. Against Seattle U on Saturday, Limardo recorded her seventh double figure scoring game of the season with 12 points - all coming from beyond the arc. Additionally, she posted a career-high five assists and four steals against the Redhawks. Over Thanksgiving, Limardo's three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter against Cal Poly lifted MSU to the win. Last winter, she started in all 24 games and averaged 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. Limardo had her best game of the 2020-21 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.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie has played in all 12 games for the Bobcats, including ten starts. She currently is averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest. Beattie had a career outing in MSU's win over Sacramento State on Dec. 4 scoring 18 points, while pulling down eight rebounds. Coupled with her play against Northern Colorado to open the Big Sky, she garnered ROAR Organic #BigSkyWBB Player of the Week accolades after averaging 14.5 points. 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. 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. Last season, Beattie played in 23-of-24 games and averaged 3.7 points per game. Against Seattle U on Saturday, she tallied 13 points on 5 of 13 from the field, including three 3-pointers.
THE TALK: Senior Gabby Mocchi has played in nine games, including starts in the last two outings. The 6-1 senior from Champlin, Minn., recorded a season-high nine points and pulled down a season-best nine rebounds in MSU's win over Seattle U on Saturday afternoon. Mocchi is averaging 3.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Against the Redhawks, Mocchi went 5 of 5 from the free throw line. On the season, she is shooting 90.9% at the stripe. Mocchi recorded a career-best 18 points at Portland State last winter.
KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 sophomore forward from Missoula, is third on the Bobcats in rebounding averaging 3.8 boards per game. In addition, she is fifth on the squad averaging 5.9 points per contest. Deden had her best outing of the season at North Dakota on Nov. 20. Against the Fighting Hawks, she recorded her first collegiate double-double with 17 points and a career-best ten rebounds. For the game, she went four-of-nine from the field and was nine-of-ten at the charity stripe. Last Saturday against Seattle U, she saw five minutes of action and finished with two rebounds. 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. Last season, Deden recorded a career-high 22 points in MSU's win over No. Arizona on Jan. 23 when she connected on 10 of 14 from the field.
ASHLEY'S ACCOLADES: Senior Ashley Van Sickle has played in all 12 games this season and is averaging 3.2 points and 2.1 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. Against Seattle U on Saturday, Van Sickle played 18 minutes and notched three assists and three rebounds.
ALL JACKED UP: Junior Madison Jackson has played in five games, including starting the two contests in the Dakotas. Jackson had her best performance against North Dakota recording six points. She also had two steals, and an offensive board. Last season, the native of Parma, Idaho had her best game as the Bobcats defeated Idaho State in Worthington Arena. Against the Bengals, Jackson notched a career-high 20 points, including 13 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 in eight games, including three starts. The product of Woodinville, Wash., is averaging 2.8 points and2.93 rebounds per contest. She had her best outing of the season at North Dakota with seven points and six rebounds- all points came at the free throw line where she went seven-of-eight. Hughes is currently hitting at a 92.3% (12-13) clip from the line.
RANSON NOTE: Sophomore Ava Ranson has played in ten games and is averaging 2.4 points per contest. The 5-10 product of Boise, Idaho had her best game at South Dakota State. Against the Jackrabbits, Ranson recorded eight points on three-on-nine from the field, including a pair of three-pointers.
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 seven 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 57.1% from the field. She is averaging 4.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Sophomore Taylor Janssen has played in all 12 games and is averaging 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per outing. Against Seattle U, the 6-3 product of Rosemount, Minn., recorded seven points and pulled down a career-best seven rebounds. Janssen notched a season-best 8 points at North Dakota on Nov. 20.
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Saturday, December 18
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Thursday, November 04
Inside The Brick (Leia Beattie)
Tuesday, November 02
