White and Bad Bear Earn Big Sky Conference Preseason Honors
10/27/2022 12:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
“We have certainly known the talent of Darian White and Kola Bad Bear,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “It’s nice to see them recognized by the conference for the level of talent that they are. And they are extremely consistent at what they do.”
Montana State seniors Darian White and Kola Bad Bear each earned preseason Big Sky All-Conference team recognition, announced by the league office on Thursday. White was named preseason MVP and was one of two players unanimously selected to the team, while Bad Bear gained all-league accolades, as well.
"We have certainly known the talent of Darian White and Kola Bad Bear," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "It's nice to see them recognized by the conference for the level of talent that they are. And they are extremely consistent at what they do."
White, a product of Boise, Idaho, was the 2022 Big Sky Conference Tournament MVP after averaging 18.3 points, 5.0 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals over the course of MSU's three-game run to guide the program to its third trip to the NCAA tournament.
On the season, the two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, led the Bobcats in scoring averaging 15.6 points per game, while also chipping in 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.5 steals. She is the only player in MSU history to record over 1,225 points, 425 rebounds, 325 assists and 225 steals in a career.
"The impact that Darian makes in every facet of the game, both offensively and defensively, and the 94-feet that she guards every single day, is unmatched in the Big Sky Conference," Binford said. "I think the preseason honor is a tremendous compliment. Now she's got to earn it, and back it up."
Bad Bear, who was a 2022 All-Big Sky Third Team pick, had a breakout performance at last year's Big Sky tournament, averaging 17 points per game, while shooting 61.3% from the field, en route to being name to the all-tournament team.
The Billings Senior grad was second on the team in scoring averaging 10.9 points and led MSU under the glass averaging 5.0 rebounds per contest.
"Kola Bad Bear has turned into the dominate presence that we needed and that she's capable of being as seen a last year's Big Sky tournament," Binford said. "And now we want her to take a step up from that, and along with Darian, lead this team into another great season."
MSU plays its annual Blue-Gold scrimmage tonight in Worthington Arena at 6:30 p.m. The scrimmage is free and open to the public. MSU hosts South Dakota Mines on Nov. 5 in exhibition play, before opening its season with Providence in its annual Kids' Day game on Nov. 7 at 11 a.m.
"We have certainly known the talent of Darian White and Kola Bad Bear," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "It's nice to see them recognized by the conference for the level of talent that they are. And they are extremely consistent at what they do."
White, a product of Boise, Idaho, was the 2022 Big Sky Conference Tournament MVP after averaging 18.3 points, 5.0 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals over the course of MSU's three-game run to guide the program to its third trip to the NCAA tournament.
On the season, the two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, led the Bobcats in scoring averaging 15.6 points per game, while also chipping in 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.5 steals. She is the only player in MSU history to record over 1,225 points, 425 rebounds, 325 assists and 225 steals in a career.
"The impact that Darian makes in every facet of the game, both offensively and defensively, and the 94-feet that she guards every single day, is unmatched in the Big Sky Conference," Binford said. "I think the preseason honor is a tremendous compliment. Now she's got to earn it, and back it up."
Bad Bear, who was a 2022 All-Big Sky Third Team pick, had a breakout performance at last year's Big Sky tournament, averaging 17 points per game, while shooting 61.3% from the field, en route to being name to the all-tournament team.
The Billings Senior grad was second on the team in scoring averaging 10.9 points and led MSU under the glass averaging 5.0 rebounds per contest.
"Kola Bad Bear has turned into the dominate presence that we needed and that she's capable of being as seen a last year's Big Sky tournament," Binford said. "And now we want her to take a step up from that, and along with Darian, lead this team into another great season."
MSU plays its annual Blue-Gold scrimmage tonight in Worthington Arena at 6:30 p.m. The scrimmage is free and open to the public. MSU hosts South Dakota Mines on Nov. 5 in exhibition play, before opening its season with Providence in its annual Kids' Day game on Nov. 7 at 11 a.m.
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