Bobcats Set for Blue-Gold Scrimmage
10/26/2022 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
For the Montana State women’s basketball team, the final step before it faces its first contest of the 2022-23 season is its annual Blue-Gold scrimmage, Thursday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The scrimmage is free and open to the public.
The daily grind of basketball gets real in late October. The weather changes, teams are deep into building up their practice times and players are ready to compete against anyone other than a current teammate.
For the Montana State women's basketball team, the final step before it faces its first contest of the 2022-23 season is its annual Blue-Gold scrimmage, Thursday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The scrimmage is free and open to the public.
"We've had a lot of basketball, a lot of learning over the past month," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who is entering her 18th season with the Bobcats. "We're putting the pieces together and becoming a well-oiled machine as we head into the season.
"The kids are looking forward to a game experience rather than the drill work," Binford added. "We have a couple of goals for the Blue-Gold scrimmage, and they are getting our position responsibilities and transition defense shored-up."
Binford will get a good game-speed look at the team as it plays a full four quarters on Thursday night. And as the case has been during her tenure on The Campus Hill, Binford's top pillar is defense, especially in transition. On offense, the Bobcats will look to push the ball, another mainstay in the Binford playbook.
"I would love to see some transition defensive principles with a great effort and focus regardless of our rotation and line-up," Binford said. "On the offensive end, I liked to see great floor spacing and if we have something good in the first 8-seconds, that we're attack-minded. Otherwise, I'd like to see us get into offense and keep it simple."
The Bobcats, who went 22-13 overall and 14-6 in league play last season, return seniors Darian White, Kola Bad Bear and Madison Jackson. White and Bad Bear 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. Jackson led the team in three-point field-goal percentage shooting 45.2% from beyond the arc
Other returning starters include Katelynn Limardo and Leia Beattie, who both played majors roles leading MSU to its first-round NCAA contest at Stanford.
"Our fans will be able to identify the Darian Whites, the Kola Bad Bears, who look as good as ever," Binford said. "Then you look at the Leia Beatties, the Katelynn Limardos, the Taylor Janssens, the Lexi Dedens, a lot of that junior class that has really had a year to show that level of consistency and take it up a notch are also really jumping out.
"And then you have newcomers like Grace Beasley that brings us a complementary look at the combo position," Binford continued. "And the freshmen, Marah Dykstra, Dylan Philip, Mattie Olson, are high IQ kids that have come in and complemented what we have from the veterans, so a lot of different standouts. And the final piece is getting Lindsey Hein at 6-6 back on the floor and into the rotation."
Needless to say, the Bobcats who were the preseason pick to win the Big Sky Conference by the league coaches and media, have high expectations for the 2022-23 season.
MSU hosts South Dakota Mines in exhibition action on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena, before opening the regular season against Providence on Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. in the annual Kids' Day game.
Season tickets for MSU women's basketball are available by calling 406-994-CATS or visiting msubobcats.com.
For the Montana State women's basketball team, the final step before it faces its first contest of the 2022-23 season is its annual Blue-Gold scrimmage, Thursday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The scrimmage is free and open to the public.
"We've had a lot of basketball, a lot of learning over the past month," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who is entering her 18th season with the Bobcats. "We're putting the pieces together and becoming a well-oiled machine as we head into the season.
"The kids are looking forward to a game experience rather than the drill work," Binford added. "We have a couple of goals for the Blue-Gold scrimmage, and they are getting our position responsibilities and transition defense shored-up."
Binford will get a good game-speed look at the team as it plays a full four quarters on Thursday night. And as the case has been during her tenure on The Campus Hill, Binford's top pillar is defense, especially in transition. On offense, the Bobcats will look to push the ball, another mainstay in the Binford playbook.
"I would love to see some transition defensive principles with a great effort and focus regardless of our rotation and line-up," Binford said. "On the offensive end, I liked to see great floor spacing and if we have something good in the first 8-seconds, that we're attack-minded. Otherwise, I'd like to see us get into offense and keep it simple."
The Bobcats, who went 22-13 overall and 14-6 in league play last season, return seniors Darian White, Kola Bad Bear and Madison Jackson. White and Bad Bear 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. Jackson led the team in three-point field-goal percentage shooting 45.2% from beyond the arc
Other returning starters include Katelynn Limardo and Leia Beattie, who both played majors roles leading MSU to its first-round NCAA contest at Stanford.
"Our fans will be able to identify the Darian Whites, the Kola Bad Bears, who look as good as ever," Binford said. "Then you look at the Leia Beatties, the Katelynn Limardos, the Taylor Janssens, the Lexi Dedens, a lot of that junior class that has really had a year to show that level of consistency and take it up a notch are also really jumping out.
"And then you have newcomers like Grace Beasley that brings us a complementary look at the combo position," Binford continued. "And the freshmen, Marah Dykstra, Dylan Philip, Mattie Olson, are high IQ kids that have come in and complemented what we have from the veterans, so a lot of different standouts. And the final piece is getting Lindsey Hein at 6-6 back on the floor and into the rotation."
Needless to say, the Bobcats who were the preseason pick to win the Big Sky Conference by the league coaches and media, have high expectations for the 2022-23 season.
MSU hosts South Dakota Mines in exhibition action on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena, before opening the regular season against Providence on Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. in the annual Kids' Day game.
Season tickets for MSU women's basketball are available by calling 406-994-CATS or visiting msubobcats.com.
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