Saturday, December 17
Kihei, Maui, HI
9 p.m. (MT)
Montana State University
vs
#11 LSU
Photo by: Kyle Cajero
Cats Head to Hawaii
12/14/2022 5:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State will compete in the Maui Jim Maui Classic hosted by Oregon State in Kihei, Hawai’i this weekend.
WHO: Montana State vs. No. 11/10 LSU
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 - 9 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Kihei, Hawai'i - South Maui Gym (1,000)
RECORDS: Montana State 6-4, LSU 9-0
SERIES: First Meeting
LAST MTG: First Meeting
WHO: Nevada vs. Montana State
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 - 7 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Kihei, Hawai'i - South Maui Gym (1,000)
RECORDS: Montana State 6-4, Nevada 3-6
SERIES: MSU leads all-time series 11-2 (Jan. 2, 1986)
LAST MTG: Dec. 2, 2017 - Nevada 67, Montana State 53
RADIO: MSU's games from the Maui Classic will air on 1450 KMMS AM beginning 15-minutes prior to tip with Daniel Salle
VIDEO: MSU's games from the Maui Classic will be streamed via Oregon State - pac-12.com/live/oregon-state-university
NEXT UP: Montana State will compete in the Maui Jim Maui Classic hosted by Oregon State in Kihei, Hawai'i this weekend. The Bobcats will face No. 11/10 LSU on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 9 p.m. (MT), before closing out the tournament against Nevada on Sunday at 7 p.m. (MT). Both games will be played at the South Maui Community Park Gymnasium. This weekend's tournament marks the second time MSU has played in the Maui Jim Classic. The Bobcats took part in the 2017 tournament where it defeated Utah State 64-52, before falling to Nevada 67-53. Following its games in Maui, the Bobcats will host Cal Poly on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena in its final pre-holiday match up. Montana State opens Big Sky Conference play at Idaho on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. (MT) and at Eastern Washington on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. (MT).
THE SCOUTING REPORT: No. 11/10 LSU is 9-0 on the season. The Tigers are averaging a whopping 96.8 points per game, while its defense has limited its opponents to 51.1 per contest. LSU has already recorded five games scoring 100 points or more. In all, five LSU players average double-figures led by Angel Reese, a 6-3 sophomore forward from Baltimore, Md. Reese is averaging 23.1 points per game, while shooting 62.1% from the field. She also leads the Tigers pulling down 14.2 rebounds per contest. As a team, LSU is shooting 52.6% from the field and averages 52.1 rebounds per game. The Tigers are under the direction of second-year head coach Kim Mulkey. The Bobcats are somewhat familiar with Mulkey having played her Baylor teams on three occasions. MSU defeated Baylor 75-66 in Bozeman on Nov. 30, 2002 - Mulkey's third season with the Bears. MSU faced Baylor on Dec. 29, 2004, in Waco and fell 92-47 to the #3 Bears that went on the win a national championship. The Cats also played #2 BU on Nov. 13, 2010 - a 93-56 setback.
DARIAN DOING DARIAN THINGS: Darian White, the preseason All-Big Sky Conference MVP selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (12.0 ppg), rebounding (5.8), assists (35), and free throws made (45). She has been in double figure scoring in six games, including a season-high 20 points in MSU's loss to Abilene Christian. In the Bobcats' victory over South Dakota State, she posted her usual stat line of 16 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals. On the season, she is shooting 38.7% from the field. White saw her free throw shooting percentage rise to 71.4% after two-of-two effort against Saint Mary's. Last season, White notched a career-high 29 points at Weber State on Dec. 30. She had a streak of 33 consecutive games in double digit scoring snapped in MSU's NCAA first-round tournament game at No. 2 Stanford. The reigning two-time Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds against Montana State Billings on Dec. 9, 2021. White has pulled down a season-best 10 rebounds at San Jose State on Nov. 22, 2022. Looking at the MSU Record Book, White has broken into several career MSU Top 10 statistical categories, including No. 3 in free throws made (407). She joins Kathleen McLaughlin Howard and Cass Bauer Bilodeau as the only MSU players to record over 400 free throw makes in a career. White is also listed No. 4 in steals (237), No. 7 in assists (373), No. 9 in points (1,394) and No. 26 in rebounding with 496 boards. Last Monday against Saint Mary's, White had seven points and five assists. White will be making her 100th start as a Bobcats against LSU on Saturday.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Senior Kola Bad Bear returned to the Bobcats starting line-up against Saint Mary's after missing four games with an injury. The Billings product notched six points and two steals in 18 minutes of action against the Gaels. On the season, Bad Bear is averaging 9.2 points and 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 41.7% from the field. She recorded a season-high 15 points and five rebounds in MSU's win over North Dakota on Nov. 18. Bad Bear will make her 61st start as a Bobcat on Saturday night against LSU. Last winter, Bad Bear, who was a 2022 All-Big Sky third-team pick, had a breakout performance at the BSC tournament, averaging 17 points, while shooting 61.3% from the field, en route to being name to the all-tournament team. Bad Bear notched a career-best 21 points against Weber State at last year's league tournament on March 8. She pulled down a career-high 17 boards against MSU Billings on Dec. 9, 2021, in Worthington Arena.
OUT ON A LIMB: Junior Katelynn Limardo has started all 10 games for the Bobcats and is averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Against Saint Mary's on Monday night, Limardo registered a career-high 21 points, all coming from beyond the three-point line. Her seven triples were the second most in a single game at Montana State, behind Tori Martell's 8 3-pointers against North Dakota on Dec. 6, 2020. 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 shooting 36.4% from the field and 84.2% (16-19) from the line. Limardo is second on the team with 16 3-pointers. She is shooting 43.2% (16-37) from long distance.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, is second on the Bobcat squad averaging 11.3 points per game. Beattie notched a career-high 27 points earlier this season at San Jose State, connecting on 10-of-19 from the field, including four 3-pointers. The 5-9 junior has started all 10 games for the Bobcats this season and is shooting 42.7% from the field, 38.5% (20-52) from beyond the arc, and 84.6% (11-13) at the line. Beattie pulled down a season-high seven rebounds against Arizona State of Nov. 15. 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.
OH CANADA: True-freshman Marah (Mare-ah) Dykstra has started the last seven contests for the Bobcats. The native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada has been on fire the last two games, averaging 14 points and five rebounds per game, while shooting 64.3% (9-14) from the field and 100% (8-8) from the free throw line. Dykstra had her best outing of the season at Wyoming, recording 16 points on six-of-eight shooting. Against the Cowgirls, she also went two-of-two from long distance and two-of-two at the line. Dykstra is second on the squad averaging 4.2 rebounds per game. She notched a career-high eight boards in MSU's win over North Dakota. Earlier this summer, Dykstra competed in the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina leading Team Canada to the silver medal. For the championship, she averaged a tournament best 11.0 rebounds per game, which included 15 rebounds against Brazil in pool play. In all, she hauled down 44 boards in four games. Team Canada captured Group A with victories over Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. The Canadians advanced to the title game, dropping an 82-77 decision to the United States. Against the USA squad, Dykstra poured in 11 points, pulled down five rebounds and dished out four assists. For the tournament, she averaged 8.5 points, 11 rebounds and 2.75 assists per contest.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Junior Taylor Janssen has played in all 10 games and is averaging 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per outing. Janssen notched a season-high eight points in MSU's victory over South Dakota State, connecting on three-of-four from the field, including a two-of-three effort from distance. Janssen pulled down a season-high 7 rebounds against Providence (MT) in the season-opener. Last winter, the 6-3 product of Rosemount, Minn., connected on 20 straight free throws before finally missing a charity toss against Weber State. Janssen came up just short of the all-time Bobcat record of 25 set by Rebecca Mercer during the 2007-08 season
AMAZING GRACE: Grace Beasley, a junior transfer from the University of Washington, has found a home in Bozeman. The native of Melbourne, Australia is averaging 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Beasley notched a season-high 16 points in MSU's win at San Jose State, which included a nine-of-11 effort from the free throw line. She has been in double-figures on four occasions, coming off the bench and averaging 14.9 minutes per game. Beasely played two seasons at Midland (TX) College, before heading to Seattle. Against Saint Mary's on Monday night, she recorded 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 junior forward from Missoula, is averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Coming off the bench, she averages 18.8 minutes per contest. She filled in as a starter when Kola Bad Bear was down with an injury. In those four games, Deden averaged 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds, including a season-best 17 points in MSU's win over South Dakota State. The Deden name is also familiar in Montana basketball circles. Her 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. As a freshman, Deden recorded a career-high 22 points in Montana State's win over Northern Arizona.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has played in all 10 games and is averaging 15.3 minutes of action coming off the Bobcat bench. The native of Parma, Idaho, averages 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Jackson has notched a season-high 11 points on two occasions this season coming against BYU and North Texas. As a sophomore, she recorded a career-high 20 points against Idaho State.
NOTABLE:
*For the third straight week Montana State is out of the 'others receiving votes' section of the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll despite its victory (71-66) over South Dakota State, who is ranked No. 6 in this week's poll. Gonzaga remains No. 1 in the poll, with Big Sky members Eastern Washington (26) and Sacramento State (20) listed in 'others receiving votes.' Saint Mary's, who the Bobcats defeated by 35-points on Monday night, received three votes.
*Over the past seven seasons, the Bobcats have claimed three Big Sky regular season titles 2016, 2017, 2020; two Big Sky Conference Tournament titles 2017, 2022; made two NCAA appearances 2017, 2022; and one WNIT appearance 2016.
*In the last three seasons, no Big Sky Conference team has more league games than the Bobcats. Montana State has racked-up 46 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. The Bobcats are followed by Idaho State (45) and Idaho (40).
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Over the past 10 seasons the Bobcats have thrived in the warm confines of Worthington Arena. Since the 2012-13 season, Montana State has gone an impressive 107-31 (77.5%) overall and 73-22 (76.6%) in Big Sky Conference play on its home court. During that span - from the start of the 2015-16 Big Sky season to the beginning of the 2017-18 league play- MSU rattled off a 19-game home court win streak in Big Sky action. Overall, in her 18 seasons at Montana State, Binford is 155-71 (68.4%) and 102-47 (68.6%) in Big Sky play in Worthington Arena.
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 - 9 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Kihei, Hawai'i - South Maui Gym (1,000)
RECORDS: Montana State 6-4, LSU 9-0
SERIES: First Meeting
LAST MTG: First Meeting
WHO: Nevada vs. Montana State
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 - 7 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Kihei, Hawai'i - South Maui Gym (1,000)
RECORDS: Montana State 6-4, Nevada 3-6
SERIES: MSU leads all-time series 11-2 (Jan. 2, 1986)
LAST MTG: Dec. 2, 2017 - Nevada 67, Montana State 53
RADIO: MSU's games from the Maui Classic will air on 1450 KMMS AM beginning 15-minutes prior to tip with Daniel Salle
VIDEO: MSU's games from the Maui Classic will be streamed via Oregon State - pac-12.com/live/oregon-state-university
NEXT UP: Montana State will compete in the Maui Jim Maui Classic hosted by Oregon State in Kihei, Hawai'i this weekend. The Bobcats will face No. 11/10 LSU on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 9 p.m. (MT), before closing out the tournament against Nevada on Sunday at 7 p.m. (MT). Both games will be played at the South Maui Community Park Gymnasium. This weekend's tournament marks the second time MSU has played in the Maui Jim Classic. The Bobcats took part in the 2017 tournament where it defeated Utah State 64-52, before falling to Nevada 67-53. Following its games in Maui, the Bobcats will host Cal Poly on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena in its final pre-holiday match up. Montana State opens Big Sky Conference play at Idaho on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. (MT) and at Eastern Washington on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. (MT).
THE SCOUTING REPORT: No. 11/10 LSU is 9-0 on the season. The Tigers are averaging a whopping 96.8 points per game, while its defense has limited its opponents to 51.1 per contest. LSU has already recorded five games scoring 100 points or more. In all, five LSU players average double-figures led by Angel Reese, a 6-3 sophomore forward from Baltimore, Md. Reese is averaging 23.1 points per game, while shooting 62.1% from the field. She also leads the Tigers pulling down 14.2 rebounds per contest. As a team, LSU is shooting 52.6% from the field and averages 52.1 rebounds per game. The Tigers are under the direction of second-year head coach Kim Mulkey. The Bobcats are somewhat familiar with Mulkey having played her Baylor teams on three occasions. MSU defeated Baylor 75-66 in Bozeman on Nov. 30, 2002 - Mulkey's third season with the Bears. MSU faced Baylor on Dec. 29, 2004, in Waco and fell 92-47 to the #3 Bears that went on the win a national championship. The Cats also played #2 BU on Nov. 13, 2010 - a 93-56 setback.
DARIAN DOING DARIAN THINGS: Darian White, the preseason All-Big Sky Conference MVP selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (12.0 ppg), rebounding (5.8), assists (35), and free throws made (45). She has been in double figure scoring in six games, including a season-high 20 points in MSU's loss to Abilene Christian. In the Bobcats' victory over South Dakota State, she posted her usual stat line of 16 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals. On the season, she is shooting 38.7% from the field. White saw her free throw shooting percentage rise to 71.4% after two-of-two effort against Saint Mary's. Last season, White notched a career-high 29 points at Weber State on Dec. 30. She had a streak of 33 consecutive games in double digit scoring snapped in MSU's NCAA first-round tournament game at No. 2 Stanford. The reigning two-time Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds against Montana State Billings on Dec. 9, 2021. White has pulled down a season-best 10 rebounds at San Jose State on Nov. 22, 2022. Looking at the MSU Record Book, White has broken into several career MSU Top 10 statistical categories, including No. 3 in free throws made (407). She joins Kathleen McLaughlin Howard and Cass Bauer Bilodeau as the only MSU players to record over 400 free throw makes in a career. White is also listed No. 4 in steals (237), No. 7 in assists (373), No. 9 in points (1,394) and No. 26 in rebounding with 496 boards. Last Monday against Saint Mary's, White had seven points and five assists. White will be making her 100th start as a Bobcats against LSU on Saturday.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Senior Kola Bad Bear returned to the Bobcats starting line-up against Saint Mary's after missing four games with an injury. The Billings product notched six points and two steals in 18 minutes of action against the Gaels. On the season, Bad Bear is averaging 9.2 points and 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 41.7% from the field. She recorded a season-high 15 points and five rebounds in MSU's win over North Dakota on Nov. 18. Bad Bear will make her 61st start as a Bobcat on Saturday night against LSU. Last winter, Bad Bear, who was a 2022 All-Big Sky third-team pick, had a breakout performance at the BSC tournament, averaging 17 points, while shooting 61.3% from the field, en route to being name to the all-tournament team. Bad Bear notched a career-best 21 points against Weber State at last year's league tournament on March 8. She pulled down a career-high 17 boards against MSU Billings on Dec. 9, 2021, in Worthington Arena.
OUT ON A LIMB: Junior Katelynn Limardo has started all 10 games for the Bobcats and is averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Against Saint Mary's on Monday night, Limardo registered a career-high 21 points, all coming from beyond the three-point line. Her seven triples were the second most in a single game at Montana State, behind Tori Martell's 8 3-pointers against North Dakota on Dec. 6, 2020. 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 shooting 36.4% from the field and 84.2% (16-19) from the line. Limardo is second on the team with 16 3-pointers. She is shooting 43.2% (16-37) from long distance.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, is second on the Bobcat squad averaging 11.3 points per game. Beattie notched a career-high 27 points earlier this season at San Jose State, connecting on 10-of-19 from the field, including four 3-pointers. The 5-9 junior has started all 10 games for the Bobcats this season and is shooting 42.7% from the field, 38.5% (20-52) from beyond the arc, and 84.6% (11-13) at the line. Beattie pulled down a season-high seven rebounds against Arizona State of Nov. 15. 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.
OH CANADA: True-freshman Marah (Mare-ah) Dykstra has started the last seven contests for the Bobcats. The native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada has been on fire the last two games, averaging 14 points and five rebounds per game, while shooting 64.3% (9-14) from the field and 100% (8-8) from the free throw line. Dykstra had her best outing of the season at Wyoming, recording 16 points on six-of-eight shooting. Against the Cowgirls, she also went two-of-two from long distance and two-of-two at the line. Dykstra is second on the squad averaging 4.2 rebounds per game. She notched a career-high eight boards in MSU's win over North Dakota. Earlier this summer, Dykstra competed in the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina leading Team Canada to the silver medal. For the championship, she averaged a tournament best 11.0 rebounds per game, which included 15 rebounds against Brazil in pool play. In all, she hauled down 44 boards in four games. Team Canada captured Group A with victories over Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. The Canadians advanced to the title game, dropping an 82-77 decision to the United States. Against the USA squad, Dykstra poured in 11 points, pulled down five rebounds and dished out four assists. For the tournament, she averaged 8.5 points, 11 rebounds and 2.75 assists per contest.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Junior Taylor Janssen has played in all 10 games and is averaging 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per outing. Janssen notched a season-high eight points in MSU's victory over South Dakota State, connecting on three-of-four from the field, including a two-of-three effort from distance. Janssen pulled down a season-high 7 rebounds against Providence (MT) in the season-opener. Last winter, the 6-3 product of Rosemount, Minn., connected on 20 straight free throws before finally missing a charity toss against Weber State. Janssen came up just short of the all-time Bobcat record of 25 set by Rebecca Mercer during the 2007-08 season
AMAZING GRACE: Grace Beasley, a junior transfer from the University of Washington, has found a home in Bozeman. The native of Melbourne, Australia is averaging 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Beasley notched a season-high 16 points in MSU's win at San Jose State, which included a nine-of-11 effort from the free throw line. She has been in double-figures on four occasions, coming off the bench and averaging 14.9 minutes per game. Beasely played two seasons at Midland (TX) College, before heading to Seattle. Against Saint Mary's on Monday night, she recorded 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 junior forward from Missoula, is averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Coming off the bench, she averages 18.8 minutes per contest. She filled in as a starter when Kola Bad Bear was down with an injury. In those four games, Deden averaged 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds, including a season-best 17 points in MSU's win over South Dakota State. The Deden name is also familiar in Montana basketball circles. Her 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. As a freshman, Deden recorded a career-high 22 points in Montana State's win over Northern Arizona.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has played in all 10 games and is averaging 15.3 minutes of action coming off the Bobcat bench. The native of Parma, Idaho, averages 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Jackson has notched a season-high 11 points on two occasions this season coming against BYU and North Texas. As a sophomore, she recorded a career-high 20 points against Idaho State.
NOTABLE:
*For the third straight week Montana State is out of the 'others receiving votes' section of the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll despite its victory (71-66) over South Dakota State, who is ranked No. 6 in this week's poll. Gonzaga remains No. 1 in the poll, with Big Sky members Eastern Washington (26) and Sacramento State (20) listed in 'others receiving votes.' Saint Mary's, who the Bobcats defeated by 35-points on Monday night, received three votes.
*Over the past seven seasons, the Bobcats have claimed three Big Sky regular season titles 2016, 2017, 2020; two Big Sky Conference Tournament titles 2017, 2022; made two NCAA appearances 2017, 2022; and one WNIT appearance 2016.
*In the last three seasons, no Big Sky Conference team has more league games than the Bobcats. Montana State has racked-up 46 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. The Bobcats are followed by Idaho State (45) and Idaho (40).
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Over the past 10 seasons the Bobcats have thrived in the warm confines of Worthington Arena. Since the 2012-13 season, Montana State has gone an impressive 107-31 (77.5%) overall and 73-22 (76.6%) in Big Sky Conference play on its home court. During that span - from the start of the 2015-16 Big Sky season to the beginning of the 2017-18 league play- MSU rattled off a 19-game home court win streak in Big Sky action. Overall, in her 18 seasons at Montana State, Binford is 155-71 (68.4%) and 102-47 (68.6%) in Big Sky play in Worthington Arena.
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/ Women's BasketballBobcat Insider TV Show
Wednesday, January 26
vs. Seattle (Live Stream Video)
Saturday, December 18
Inside The Brick (Lexi Deden)
Thursday, November 04
Inside The Brick (Leia Beattie)
Tuesday, November 02
