Thursday, January 5
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Northern Colorado
Lexi Deden (21)
Cats Host Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona
1/4/2023 4:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State opens its Big Sky home slate when it hosts Northern Colorado, Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
WHO: Northern Colorado at Montana State
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 - 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: Montana State 8-6, 1-1; No. Colorado 8-5, 1-1
SERIES: MSU leads series 18-16 - Current Streak - L1
LAST MTG: March 4, 2022 - @ No. Colorado 71, MSU 63
WHO: Northern Arizona at Montana State
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 - 1 p.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: Montana State 8-6, 1-1; No. Arizona 7-8, 1-1
SERIES: MSU leads series 54-22 - Current Streak W8
LAST MTG: March 11, 2022 - @BSCT - MSU 75, NAU 64
RADIO: MSU's games with UNC & NAU will air on My 103.5 FM beginning 15-minutes prior to tip with Daniel Salle
TV: NAU at MSU will air live on SWX Montana. Chris Byers, pxp, Jeff Riggs, color, Alex Eschelman, courtside.
VIDEO: MSU's games against UNC & NAU will be streamed live on ESPN+ (a subscription is necessary to view).
NEXT UP: Montana State opens its Big Sky home slate when it hosts Northern Colorado, Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The Bobcats close out the weekend against Northern Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. Please note the 1 p.m. start time, which is a departure from 2 p.m. tip in past seasons. All MSU women's games played this season on Saturday begin at 1 p.m., except for Cat-Griz at 2 p.m. on Feb. 18.
WIN 300: With MSU's 92-84 victory, head coach Tricia Binford became just the third coach in Big Sky Conference history to record 300 wins in the league, joining Montana's Robin Selvig (865, 38 years) and Weber State's Carla Taylor (308, 23 years). Binford is also MSU's winningest coach in either men's or women's basketball history. The 2022-23 season marks Binford's 18th with the Bobcat program.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Northern Colorado enters Thursday night's contest 8-5 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky Conference play. Last week, the Bears defeated Weber State 67-39, before dropping a 63-42 decision to Idaho State. Both games were played in Bank of Colorado Arena. In its win over Weber State, UNC had four players in double-digit scoring led by Aniah Hall with 14. For the game, the Bears shot 44.9% from the field and connected on 16-18 free throws. In its loss to Idaho State, UNC was paced by all-conference guard Hannah Simental with 10 points. On the season, Simental leads the Bears averaging 16.1 ppg, while Delaynie Byrne paces UNC under the glass averaging 7.4 rebounds per game. Northern Arizona plays at Montana on Thursday night before making the trek to Bozeman. The Lumberjacks are 7-8 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky play entering this week's action. NAU has four players averaging double-figures led by Montana Oltrogge, an Idaho State transfer, who averages 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
DARIAN DOING DARIAN THINGS: Darian White, the preseason All-Big Sky Conference MVP selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (12.0 ppg), rebounding (5.3), assists (54), and free throws made (56). She has been in double figure scoring in seven games, including a season-high 25 points in MSU's win over Eastern Washington, last Saturday. Against the Eagles, she added a typical Darian stat line adding five rebounds, five assists and three steals. On the season, she is shooting 39.7% from the field. White saw her free throw shooting percentage rise to 73.7% after hitting 25-of- 29 in the last seven games. 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 (418). 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. 3 in steals (241), No. 7 in assists (392), No. 6 in points (1,442) and No. 22 in rebounding with 512 boards. Last weekend at Idaho and Eastern Washington, White averaged 17 points, 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 50% from the field.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Senior Kola Bad Bear has started in 10 games for the Bobcats this season. The Billings product missed four games at the end of November due to injury. On the season, Bad Bear is averaging 8.8 points and 2.9 rebounds, while shooting 43.2% from the field. She matched a season-high 15 points at Eastern Washington, connecting on 6-of-11 from the field. Bad Bear also added six rebounds and assist in the victory. Bad Bear will make her 66th start as a Bobcat on Thursday night against Northern Colorado. Last winter, Bad Bear, who was a 2022 All-Big Sky third-team pick, had a breakout performance at the Big Sky 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. Last week, she averaged 13.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
OUT ON A LIMB: Junior Katelynn Limardo has started all 14 games for the Bobcats and is averaging 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Against Saint Mary's on Dec. 12, 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 33.8% from the field and 81% (17-21) from the line. Limardo is second on the team with 18 3-pointers. She is shooting 38% (18-47) from long distance.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, is second on the Bobcat squad averaging 10.3 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 13-of-14 games for the Bobcats this season and is shooting 42.1% from the field, 33.9% (21-62) from beyond the arc, and 81% (17-21) 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.
KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 junior from Missoula, is averaging 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Deden made her fifth start of the season against Eastern Washington on Saturday and posted 16 points and seven rebounds. She is averaging 19 minutes per contest. Deden notched a season-best 17 points in MSU's win over South Dakota State on Nov. 30. 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 vs. Northern Arizona.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has played in all 14 and received her first start of the year against Eastern Washington on Saturday. Against the Eagles, she notched a season-high 12 points to go along with a season-high five rebounds. The native of Parma, Idaho, averages 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Jackson recorded a career-high 20 points against Idaho State.
OH CANADA: True-freshman Marah (Mare-ah) Dykstra has started 10-of-14 games this season. The native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada is averaging 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 42.3% from the field and 90.5% (19-21) from the free throw line. Dykstra had her best outing of the season at Wyoming on Dec. 2, 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 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 14 games and is averaging 3.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per outing. Janssen notched a season-high eight points in MSU's victory over South Dakota State on Nov. 30, 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 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 Washington, has found a home in Bozeman. The native of Melbourne, Australia is averaging 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Beasley notched a season-best 17 points in MSU's season-opening win over Providence (MT). Recently, she was named to the Maui Jim Maui Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game against No. 11/10 LSU and Nevada. Beasely played two seasons at Midland (TX) College, before heading to Seattle. Against No. 11/10 LSU at the Maui Classic, she posted 15 points, including a three-of-four effort from long distance. Beasley also added four rebounds, three assists and two steals against the Tigers.
NOTABLES:
*For the second straight week the Montana State women's basketball team is listed in the 'others receiving votes' section of the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll with 2 points. MSU's best victory (71-66) of the season came over South Dakota State, who is ranked No. 4 in this week's poll. Gonzaga remains No. 1 in the poll, with Big Sky member Sacramento State broke into the Top 25 this week, ranked 24th with 69 points. Eastern Washington, who dropped two league games on its home court last week, garnered 20 points in the 'others receiving votes' category.
*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).
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 - 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: Montana State 8-6, 1-1; No. Colorado 8-5, 1-1
SERIES: MSU leads series 18-16 - Current Streak - L1
LAST MTG: March 4, 2022 - @ No. Colorado 71, MSU 63
WHO: Northern Arizona at Montana State
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 - 1 p.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS: Montana State 8-6, 1-1; No. Arizona 7-8, 1-1
SERIES: MSU leads series 54-22 - Current Streak W8
LAST MTG: March 11, 2022 - @BSCT - MSU 75, NAU 64
RADIO: MSU's games with UNC & NAU will air on My 103.5 FM beginning 15-minutes prior to tip with Daniel Salle
TV: NAU at MSU will air live on SWX Montana. Chris Byers, pxp, Jeff Riggs, color, Alex Eschelman, courtside.
VIDEO: MSU's games against UNC & NAU will be streamed live on ESPN+ (a subscription is necessary to view).
NEXT UP: Montana State opens its Big Sky home slate when it hosts Northern Colorado, Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena. The Bobcats close out the weekend against Northern Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. Please note the 1 p.m. start time, which is a departure from 2 p.m. tip in past seasons. All MSU women's games played this season on Saturday begin at 1 p.m., except for Cat-Griz at 2 p.m. on Feb. 18.
WIN 300: With MSU's 92-84 victory, head coach Tricia Binford became just the third coach in Big Sky Conference history to record 300 wins in the league, joining Montana's Robin Selvig (865, 38 years) and Weber State's Carla Taylor (308, 23 years). Binford is also MSU's winningest coach in either men's or women's basketball history. The 2022-23 season marks Binford's 18th with the Bobcat program.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Northern Colorado enters Thursday night's contest 8-5 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky Conference play. Last week, the Bears defeated Weber State 67-39, before dropping a 63-42 decision to Idaho State. Both games were played in Bank of Colorado Arena. In its win over Weber State, UNC had four players in double-digit scoring led by Aniah Hall with 14. For the game, the Bears shot 44.9% from the field and connected on 16-18 free throws. In its loss to Idaho State, UNC was paced by all-conference guard Hannah Simental with 10 points. On the season, Simental leads the Bears averaging 16.1 ppg, while Delaynie Byrne paces UNC under the glass averaging 7.4 rebounds per game. Northern Arizona plays at Montana on Thursday night before making the trek to Bozeman. The Lumberjacks are 7-8 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky play entering this week's action. NAU has four players averaging double-figures led by Montana Oltrogge, an Idaho State transfer, who averages 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
DARIAN DOING DARIAN THINGS: Darian White, the preseason All-Big Sky Conference MVP selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (12.0 ppg), rebounding (5.3), assists (54), and free throws made (56). She has been in double figure scoring in seven games, including a season-high 25 points in MSU's win over Eastern Washington, last Saturday. Against the Eagles, she added a typical Darian stat line adding five rebounds, five assists and three steals. On the season, she is shooting 39.7% from the field. White saw her free throw shooting percentage rise to 73.7% after hitting 25-of- 29 in the last seven games. 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 (418). 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. 3 in steals (241), No. 7 in assists (392), No. 6 in points (1,442) and No. 22 in rebounding with 512 boards. Last weekend at Idaho and Eastern Washington, White averaged 17 points, 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 50% from the field.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Senior Kola Bad Bear has started in 10 games for the Bobcats this season. The Billings product missed four games at the end of November due to injury. On the season, Bad Bear is averaging 8.8 points and 2.9 rebounds, while shooting 43.2% from the field. She matched a season-high 15 points at Eastern Washington, connecting on 6-of-11 from the field. Bad Bear also added six rebounds and assist in the victory. Bad Bear will make her 66th start as a Bobcat on Thursday night against Northern Colorado. Last winter, Bad Bear, who was a 2022 All-Big Sky third-team pick, had a breakout performance at the Big Sky 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. Last week, she averaged 13.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
OUT ON A LIMB: Junior Katelynn Limardo has started all 14 games for the Bobcats and is averaging 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Against Saint Mary's on Dec. 12, 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 33.8% from the field and 81% (17-21) from the line. Limardo is second on the team with 18 3-pointers. She is shooting 38% (18-47) from long distance.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, is second on the Bobcat squad averaging 10.3 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 13-of-14 games for the Bobcats this season and is shooting 42.1% from the field, 33.9% (21-62) from beyond the arc, and 81% (17-21) 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.
KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 junior from Missoula, is averaging 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Deden made her fifth start of the season against Eastern Washington on Saturday and posted 16 points and seven rebounds. She is averaging 19 minutes per contest. Deden notched a season-best 17 points in MSU's win over South Dakota State on Nov. 30. 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 vs. Northern Arizona.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has played in all 14 and received her first start of the year against Eastern Washington on Saturday. Against the Eagles, she notched a season-high 12 points to go along with a season-high five rebounds. The native of Parma, Idaho, averages 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Jackson recorded a career-high 20 points against Idaho State.
OH CANADA: True-freshman Marah (Mare-ah) Dykstra has started 10-of-14 games this season. The native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada is averaging 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 42.3% from the field and 90.5% (19-21) from the free throw line. Dykstra had her best outing of the season at Wyoming on Dec. 2, 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 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 14 games and is averaging 3.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per outing. Janssen notched a season-high eight points in MSU's victory over South Dakota State on Nov. 30, 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 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 Washington, has found a home in Bozeman. The native of Melbourne, Australia is averaging 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Beasley notched a season-best 17 points in MSU's season-opening win over Providence (MT). Recently, she was named to the Maui Jim Maui Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game against No. 11/10 LSU and Nevada. Beasely played two seasons at Midland (TX) College, before heading to Seattle. Against No. 11/10 LSU at the Maui Classic, she posted 15 points, including a three-of-four effort from long distance. Beasley also added four rebounds, three assists and two steals against the Tigers.
NOTABLES:
*For the second straight week the Montana State women's basketball team is listed in the 'others receiving votes' section of the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll with 2 points. MSU's best victory (71-66) of the season came over South Dakota State, who is ranked No. 4 in this week's poll. Gonzaga remains No. 1 in the poll, with Big Sky member Sacramento State broke into the Top 25 this week, ranked 24th with 69 points. Eastern Washington, who dropped two league games on its home court last week, garnered 20 points in the 'others receiving votes' category.
*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).
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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
