Cats Survive and Advance Behind Strong Defensive Effort

Tuesday, March 9

Boise, ID (Idaho Central Arena)

8 p.m.

Montana State University

17-6,13-3Big Sky

Sacramento State

3-22,2-18Big Sky

Sacramento St.

Montana St.

Freshman Lexi Deden posted 13 points, five rebounds and five steals to guide the Bobcats to a 66-55 win over Sacramento State in quarterfinal action at the Big Sky Tournament in Boise, Idaho.

Photo by: Brooks Nuanez

3/9/2021 11:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

“I’m proud of this group for finding a way to win,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “Our defense found a way. And, we did what we needed at the right moments. We’ve said all season our depth is our strength and you never know who is going to step-up. Tonight, we had tremendous contributions from the bench.”

By: Tom Schulz

BOISE, Idaho – Once the opening tournament jitters settled down, the Montana State women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort, while receiving an offensive spark from its bench to post a 66-55 win over Sacramento State in quarterfinal action of the Big Sky Conference Tournament on Tuesday night in Idaho Central Arena.

Sacramento State (3-22) jumped out to an early 9-3 lead, before Montana State (17-6) rattled off a 14-3 run as five different players found the bottom of the net. Freshman Lexi Deden ignited the Bobcats with four points and a rebound, lifting MSU to a 17-12 advantage after the opening 10-minutes.

Following a three-pointer by the Hornets' Sarah Abney with 7-minutes, 45-seconds left in the first half, MSU went on a 7-0 run led by Tori Martell's five consecutive points to push the lead to 26-16. A Deden jumper with just over two-minutes remaining gave Montana State a 30-18 advantage. Sacramento State whittled the margin down to 30-26 heading into intermission.

After Abney hit a triple three-minutes into the third frame, the Bobcats responded with ten unanswered points on three consecutive 3-pointers by Katelynn Limardo, Martell, and Leia Beattie. A Martell free throw gave the Bobcats a 49-34 lead. MSU held a 51-38 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Montana State took its largest lead of the contest at the 6:48 mark of the fourth period on a Martell triple for a 60-40 advantage and cruised to the victory.

"I'm proud of this group for finding a way to win," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "Our defense found a way. And, we did what we needed at the right moments. We've said all season our depth is our strength and you never know who is going to step-up. Tonight, we had tremendous contributions from the bench."

Martell paced all Bobcat scorers with 18 points, while Deden came off the bench for 13 points, connecting on six-of-nine from the field. The Missoula native also added five rebounds and a career-high five steals. Also in double-figures was sophomore point-guard Darian White with 10.

"Lexi was fantastic," Binford said. "She was causing havoc and was everywhere defensively. I thought Ashley (Van Sickle) also came in and settled us down, and along with Lexi got our defense headed in the right direction."

Van Sickle also finished with a career-high five steals, while dishing out three assists and grabbing four rebounds.

For the game, MSU shot 38.5% from the field, and connected on just seven of 28 shots from long distance. Sacramento State outrebounded MSU 41-38. The Cats were led under the glass by Limardo and Gabby Mocchi with six rebounds, apiece.

The Bobcats defense held the Hornets to 33.3% shooting, including 27.3% (9-33) from long defense. MSU also forced 21 Sacramento State turnovers. Montana State held a 23-4 advantage in points scored off miscues.

Abney led Sacramento State with 12 points and five rebounds.

No.3 Montana State will face No. 2 Idaho in semifinal action on Wednesday night at 9 p.m.