Bobcat Women Picked First in Coaches and Media Preseason Polls
10/26/2022 11:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Bobcats, who went 22-13 overall and 14-6 in league play last season, received all nine first-place votes by the Big Sky coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. In the media poll, MSU captured 24 of the 26 votes cast by the league’s pundits.
Coming off its 2021-22 Big Sky Conference tournament championship and with four starters returning to its line-up, the Montana State women's basketball team was a unanimous preseason selection to win the league in both the coaches and media polls, released by the Big Sky Conference on Wednesday.
The Bobcats, who went 22-13 overall and 14-6 in league play last season, received all nine first-place votes by the Big Sky coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. In the media poll, MSU captured 24 of the 26 votes cast by the league's pundits.
Montana State returns seniors Darian White and Kola Bad Bear, who dominated the Big Sky Tournament, last March in Boise, Idaho. White was named tournament MVP, while Bad Bear was selected to the all-tournament squad as the tandem guided the Bobcats to its third NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.
Other returning starters include Katelynn Limardo and Leia Beattie, who both played majors roles leading MSU to its first-round NCAA contest at Stanford.
Over the past seven seasons, Binford has led the Bobcats to four regular season or tournament titles, four 20-win campaigns as the program have averaged 20.2 victories per year.
"It's nice to be recognized for the championship culture we've built at Montana State," said head coach Tricia Binford, who is entering her 18th season at the helm of the Bobcat program. "I think our biggest opponent is who we see in the mirror, every day. We've got to look in that mirror and be better today than we were yesterday. We know that this conference – every single year - has great teams and great coaches that step-up and can beat anyone on any given night.
"We have to respect every single opponent," Binford added. "But the biggest competition for us is that we have to be our best identity when we show up."
Aside from four returning starters, the Bobcats welcome nine veterans, a redshirt freshman, a junior transfer from Washington and three freshmen to its 2022-23 roster.
2022-23 Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll Results
1. Montana State – 81 Points (9)
2. Montana – 65 Points
3. Idaho – 62 Points (1)
4. Northern Arizona – 60 Points
5. Sacramento State – 46 Points
6. Eastern Washington – 37 Points
7. Weber State – 31 Points
8. Idaho State – 30 Points
9. Northern Colorado – 28 Points
10. Portland State – 10 Points
2022-23 Women's Basketball Media Poll Results
1. Montana State – 257 Points (24)
2. Montana – 204 Points (1)
3. Northern Arizona – 189 Points
4. Idaho – 187 Points
5. Sacramento State – 146 Points (1)
6. Idaho State – 132 Points
7. Northern Colorado – 102 Points
8. Eastern Washington – 98 Points
9. Weber State – 87 Points
10. Portland State – 28 Points
The Bobcats, who went 22-13 overall and 14-6 in league play last season, received all nine first-place votes by the Big Sky coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. In the media poll, MSU captured 24 of the 26 votes cast by the league's pundits.
Montana State returns seniors Darian White and Kola Bad Bear, who dominated the Big Sky Tournament, last March in Boise, Idaho. White was named tournament MVP, while Bad Bear was selected to the all-tournament squad as the tandem guided the Bobcats to its third NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.
Other returning starters include Katelynn Limardo and Leia Beattie, who both played majors roles leading MSU to its first-round NCAA contest at Stanford.
Over the past seven seasons, Binford has led the Bobcats to four regular season or tournament titles, four 20-win campaigns as the program have averaged 20.2 victories per year.
"It's nice to be recognized for the championship culture we've built at Montana State," said head coach Tricia Binford, who is entering her 18th season at the helm of the Bobcat program. "I think our biggest opponent is who we see in the mirror, every day. We've got to look in that mirror and be better today than we were yesterday. We know that this conference – every single year - has great teams and great coaches that step-up and can beat anyone on any given night.
"We have to respect every single opponent," Binford added. "But the biggest competition for us is that we have to be our best identity when we show up."
Aside from four returning starters, the Bobcats welcome nine veterans, a redshirt freshman, a junior transfer from Washington and three freshmen to its 2022-23 roster.
2022-23 Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll Results
1. Montana State – 81 Points (9)
2. Montana – 65 Points
3. Idaho – 62 Points (1)
4. Northern Arizona – 60 Points
5. Sacramento State – 46 Points
6. Eastern Washington – 37 Points
7. Weber State – 31 Points
8. Idaho State – 30 Points
9. Northern Colorado – 28 Points
10. Portland State – 10 Points
2022-23 Women's Basketball Media Poll Results
1. Montana State – 257 Points (24)
2. Montana – 204 Points (1)
3. Northern Arizona – 189 Points
4. Idaho – 187 Points
5. Sacramento State – 146 Points (1)
6. Idaho State – 132 Points
7. Northern Colorado – 102 Points
8. Eastern Washington – 98 Points
9. Weber State – 87 Points
10. Portland State – 28 Points
Players Mentioned
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