Cats Swarm Hornets

Wednesday, March 2

Sacramento, CA

8 p.m. (MT)

Montana State University

19-11,14-5Big Sky

Sacramento State

14-14,10-9Big Sky

Montana St.

Sacramento St.

Leia Beattie (15) recorded nine points, four rebounds and four steals against Sacramento State on Wednesday night in The Nest.

Photo by: Courtesy Sacramento State Sports Information

3/2/2022 11:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

While the Bobcats won in Sacramento, Southern Utah earned a home win over Idaho State. Those results combined to provide the Cats an opportunity to win a share of the Big Sky Championship with a victory at Northern Colorado on Friday.

By: Bill Lamberty

Good things came in twos for Montana State in a 65-52 Big Sky women's basketball win at Sacramento State on Thursday.

Montana State's post players Kola Bad Bear (game-high 20 points) and Gabby Mocchi combined to win a ferocious battle in the paint. "I'm really proud of how Kola responded at halftime," said Bobcat coach Tricia Binford. "Kola's defense and the adjustments Gabby made were fantastic. To out-rebound them and hold them to seven offensive rebounds was a fantastic effort."

While the Bobcats won in Sacramento, Southern Utah earned a home win over Idaho State. Those results combined to provide the Cats an opportunity to win a share of the Big Sky Championship with a victory at Northern Colorado on Friday.

"This is obviously a great opportunity," Binford said. "But I'm happy we showed focus and resolve tonight and beat a very good Sacramento State team on the road."

The teams played on even terms for most of the first half, fighting to a 14-14 tie at the end of the first quarter and deadlocked at 25 just less than two minutes before halftime. But MSU forward Taylor Janssen hit a layup with 1:22 left and then Katelynn Limardo drained a pair of free throws with four seconds left to push MSU to a 29-25 lead at the intermission.

While it wasn't apparent at the time, that juncture proved crucial. Bad Bear hit a jumper to open the second half, then knocked down two free throws, then Leia Beattie hit a running jumper and hit a hook shot, and the Bobcats used that 12-0 run to take a double-digit lead into the final four minutes of the third quarter.

"Our bench was tremendously huge," Binford said. Janssen provided nine points while Lexi Deden scored six points and snared six boards.

Montana State shot just 36% from the floor, but Binford said the team's commitment at the other end of the court was crucial. "Our defense kept us going during times when the offense struggled," she said. "We were relentless, and I thought the extra effort plays, the hustle plays, were critical."

A critical component of Montana State's defensive effort was the team's ability to double-team 6-5 Hornet center Isnelle Natabou, the Big Sky's leading rebounder, with either Mocchi or Bad Bear and an off-side guard. "The execution of the game plan was really good," Binford said.

The expected showdown between Big Sky MVP candidates Darian White and Sacramento State's Lianna Tillman didn't emerge for much of the night, largely because both suffered from early foul trouble. Tillman scored two points.

At winning time, though, White was crucial. She made eight of her 12 free throws and finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists without a turnover.

Montana State's 14-5 league mark gives the team a chance to grab a share of the Big Sky title on Friday, when MSU meets the UNC Bears at 6 pm in Greeley.