Photo by: Garrett Becker
White and Bad Bear Tabbed MVPs at Bobcat Basketball Awards Banquet
5/18/2022 5:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State juniors Darian White and Kola Bad Bear were named co-Most Valuable Players at the Bobcat women’s basketball annual senior/awards banquet held prior to MSU commencement, last Thursday
Montana State juniors Darian White and Kola Bad Bear were named co-Most Valuable Players at the Bobcat women's basketball annual senior/awards banquet held prior to MSU commencement, last Thursday.
White, who was a first-team all-Big Sky Conference performer and Big Sky Tournament MVP, led the Bobcats in scoring averaging 15.6 points per game. In addition, she also led the team in free throws made (152), assists (143) and steals (84). White was second on the team averaging 4.9 rebounds per contest.
Bad Bear received the MVP nod after leading the Bobcats in rebounding at 5.0 per game, while chipping in 10.9 points per outing. The Billings Senior graduate garnered third-team all-Big Sky kudos and earned Big Sky All-Tournament honors after averaging 17 points and three rebounds per game, while shooting 61.3% from the field, 80% from long distance and 69.2% at the line as the Bobcats won its third Big Sky title, advancing to the NCAA First-Round where it faced No. 2-ranked Stanford.
"The fact that we had two MVPs shows the respect from their teammates and how difficult it was for our opponents to face a guard/post combo like Darian and Kola," said Ellen Kreighbaum Women's Head Basketball Coach Tricia Binford. "It also speaks volumes of their consistency."
Bad Bear was also awarded the Pulfrey Brick award given to the player, and voted by her teammates, for best day-in, and day-out effort on the practice floor.
Sophomore Taylor Janssen was named the team's most improved player after averaging 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. The 6-4 forward from Rosemount, Minn., shot 39% from the field and 78.6% from the free throw line. In addition, Janssen was third on the team with 33 three-point makes, shooting 35% from beyond the arc. As a freshman, she averaged 4.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
"Taylor's growth was very important to our overall success this season," Binford said. "She played with a great level of confidence and she's going to become one of those upperclassmen next year that will be an integral piece on both ends of the floor."
White and Katelynn Limardo were named co-Defensive Players of the Year, for their efforts in guiding one of the strongest defensive units in the Big Sky Conference.
White, who was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, led the league in steals and steals per game. In addition, her 84 steals were the 15th highest total at the NCAA Division I level, while her 2.47 spg ranked 22nd overall.
Limardo finished first on the team with 18 blocks and was third with 45 steals. The Silver City N.M. product also pulled down 3.8 rebounds per contest, including a career-high nine rebounds against Idaho.
"It's nice to have someone like Darian that the Big Sky Conference recognizes as its outstanding defensive player, but then to have a second kid on our team recognized by her peers shows you the tenacity we have on the defensive end," Binford said. "A lot of KJ's recognition comes from doing things the right way and is an example of how to protect a teammate. These two individuals really created havoc, were super attack-minded and it just elevated the rest of the team."
Senior Gabby Mocchi was named recipient of the Dr. Ginny Hunt Bobcat Pride award given to the player the best exemplifies Bobcat basketball. Mocchi played in 32 games, including 25 starts. She finished the season averaging 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
"When you talk about what it means to be a Bobcat basketball player from a culture standpoint, Gabby always hit on our core values," Binford said. "She's always been that amazing teammate and did whatever was needed. Gabby was very reliable and was a selfless standard for what it means to be a great teammate."
Senior Ashley Van Sickle was named Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year, while Ginny Hunt was the recipient of the Ellen Kreighbaum award given to the person that has dedicated themselves to the women's basketball program above and beyond the ordinary.
"For Ashley, getting the honor shows her commitment off the court to having herself prepared for having the best season of her Bobcat career," Binford stated. "She had almost every obstacle and adversity thrown her way from overcoming her injuries to student teaching, yet still being able to play at an elite level this season.
"Ginny Hunt has been a leader and a pioneer in women's athletics, not only at Montana State, but in the nation, as well," Binford added. "She has also been a key figure in our Fast Break Club, and she's had a very hands-on piece with the growth of our program. We are very fortunate to have women like Ginny and Ellen Kreighbaum who have continued to give so much back to the program and University, and who are exemplary mentors for all female athletes."
Montana State finished the 2021-22 season 22-13 overall and 14-6 in Big Sky Conference en route to the program's third Big Sky Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance.
White, who was a first-team all-Big Sky Conference performer and Big Sky Tournament MVP, led the Bobcats in scoring averaging 15.6 points per game. In addition, she also led the team in free throws made (152), assists (143) and steals (84). White was second on the team averaging 4.9 rebounds per contest.
Bad Bear received the MVP nod after leading the Bobcats in rebounding at 5.0 per game, while chipping in 10.9 points per outing. The Billings Senior graduate garnered third-team all-Big Sky kudos and earned Big Sky All-Tournament honors after averaging 17 points and three rebounds per game, while shooting 61.3% from the field, 80% from long distance and 69.2% at the line as the Bobcats won its third Big Sky title, advancing to the NCAA First-Round where it faced No. 2-ranked Stanford.
"The fact that we had two MVPs shows the respect from their teammates and how difficult it was for our opponents to face a guard/post combo like Darian and Kola," said Ellen Kreighbaum Women's Head Basketball Coach Tricia Binford. "It also speaks volumes of their consistency."
Bad Bear was also awarded the Pulfrey Brick award given to the player, and voted by her teammates, for best day-in, and day-out effort on the practice floor.
Sophomore Taylor Janssen was named the team's most improved player after averaging 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. The 6-4 forward from Rosemount, Minn., shot 39% from the field and 78.6% from the free throw line. In addition, Janssen was third on the team with 33 three-point makes, shooting 35% from beyond the arc. As a freshman, she averaged 4.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
"Taylor's growth was very important to our overall success this season," Binford said. "She played with a great level of confidence and she's going to become one of those upperclassmen next year that will be an integral piece on both ends of the floor."
White and Katelynn Limardo were named co-Defensive Players of the Year, for their efforts in guiding one of the strongest defensive units in the Big Sky Conference.
White, who was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, led the league in steals and steals per game. In addition, her 84 steals were the 15th highest total at the NCAA Division I level, while her 2.47 spg ranked 22nd overall.
Limardo finished first on the team with 18 blocks and was third with 45 steals. The Silver City N.M. product also pulled down 3.8 rebounds per contest, including a career-high nine rebounds against Idaho.
"It's nice to have someone like Darian that the Big Sky Conference recognizes as its outstanding defensive player, but then to have a second kid on our team recognized by her peers shows you the tenacity we have on the defensive end," Binford said. "A lot of KJ's recognition comes from doing things the right way and is an example of how to protect a teammate. These two individuals really created havoc, were super attack-minded and it just elevated the rest of the team."
Senior Gabby Mocchi was named recipient of the Dr. Ginny Hunt Bobcat Pride award given to the player the best exemplifies Bobcat basketball. Mocchi played in 32 games, including 25 starts. She finished the season averaging 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
"When you talk about what it means to be a Bobcat basketball player from a culture standpoint, Gabby always hit on our core values," Binford said. "She's always been that amazing teammate and did whatever was needed. Gabby was very reliable and was a selfless standard for what it means to be a great teammate."
Senior Ashley Van Sickle was named Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year, while Ginny Hunt was the recipient of the Ellen Kreighbaum award given to the person that has dedicated themselves to the women's basketball program above and beyond the ordinary.
"For Ashley, getting the honor shows her commitment off the court to having herself prepared for having the best season of her Bobcat career," Binford stated. "She had almost every obstacle and adversity thrown her way from overcoming her injuries to student teaching, yet still being able to play at an elite level this season.
"Ginny Hunt has been a leader and a pioneer in women's athletics, not only at Montana State, but in the nation, as well," Binford added. "She has also been a key figure in our Fast Break Club, and she's had a very hands-on piece with the growth of our program. We are very fortunate to have women like Ginny and Ellen Kreighbaum who have continued to give so much back to the program and University, and who are exemplary mentors for all female athletes."
Montana State finished the 2021-22 season 22-13 overall and 14-6 in Big Sky Conference en route to the program's third Big Sky Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance.
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