Montana State University
BYU
Cats Open Season with BYU
11/6/2023 6:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State opens its 2023-24 season Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. when it hosts BYU in Worthington Arena.
NEXT UP: Montana State opens its 2023-24 season Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. when it hosts BYU in Worthington Arena. The contest serves as MSU's annual School Day game. An estimated 4,600 students from 24 schools coming on 52 buses will be in attendance. Following its contest against the Cougars, MSU plays at Arizona State on Friday night.
WHO: BYU at Montana State
WHEN: Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. – Worthington Arena (6,777)
RECORDS: MSU 0-0, 0-0 Big Sky; BYU 0-0, 0-0 Big 12
SERIES: BYU leads all-time series 13-6 (1978-79)
LAST MTG: Nov. 12, 2022 - Montana State 69, @ BYU 60
LIVE STREAMING: ESPN+ (subscription necessary to view)
LIVE RADIO: 1450 KMMS-AM – 15 minutes prior to tip with play-by-play man Daniel Salle
LIVE STATS: Can be found at msubobcats.com/women's basketball/schedule
SNEAK PEAK: Montana State returns eight letterwinners, including three starters from last year's squad that recorded a 20-11 overall mark and a 13-5 league ledger, en route to capturing a regular season Big Sky title. Returning starters include fifth-year Madison (Jackson) Hall, and seniors Lexi Deden and Katelynn Limardo. The Bobcats are under the direction of Tricia Binford, who enters her 19th season at the helm of the MSU program.
A LITTLE ABOUT BYU: BYU begins its inaugural season as a member of the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday against the Bobcats. The Cougars, who went 16-17 overall and 9-9 in West Coast Conference action last winter, were picked to finish 11th in the preseason Big 12 Coaches' poll. Texas was voted No. 1. BYU returns seven letterwinners, including all five starters. Leading the Cougars is Lauren Gustin, who averaged 16.1 points and 16.7 rebounds per game. This season, she is one of 20 players named to the Katrina McClain Power Forward Preseason Watch List. Also returning is the Cougars' top outside shooter Nani Falatea, who averaged 15.3 points per game, while connecting on 62 triples.
COMPETITIVE SLATE: Montana State faces eleven opponents that advanced to postseason play during the 2022-23 campaign, including seven programs the recorded 20-win seasons, as part of its 2023-24 schedule. The Bobcats host BYU in its first regular-season contest Nov. 7, which is slated as Montana State's annual School Day game. Following an away contest at Pac-12 opponent Arizona State, the Bobcats return to the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse for a game against San Jose State (Nov. 14). MSU then plays the first of three Summit League opponents when it travels to North Dakota, Nov. 19. Following its tilt with the Fighting Hawks, the Bobcats fly to Mexico to take part in the Cancun Challenge where it faces James Madison and New Mexico Nov. 23-24. The Bobcats open December with road games at Portland, Dec. 2, Washington, Dec. 5, and Saint Mary's, Dec. 8. Prior to the Christmas break, MSU hosts Wyoming, Dec. 17, and North Texas, Dec. 21. Following a seven-day hiatus the Bobcats open Big Sky play at home against Idaho State, Dec. 29, and Weber State, Dec. 31. MSU's final non-conference contests are part of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge. The Bobcats host North Dakota State, Jan. 3, before facing South Dakota State, Jan. 6 in Brookings. The annual Cat-Griz games are slated for Bozeman, Jan. 20, and Missoula, Feb. 17. The eleven opponents advancing to postseason play last winter include: NCAA- James Madison, Portland, South Dakota State, and Sacramento State; WNIT- BYU, New Mexico, Wyoming, North Dakota State, Northern Arizona, and Washington; WBI- North Dakota. MSU's best win last year was a 71-66 decision over South Dakota State in Worthington Arena. The Jackrabbits advanced to the second-round of the NCAA tournament and went 29-6 overall and 18-0 in Summit League action. SDSU's six losses came to MSU, #3 South Carolina, #4 Virginia Tech, #13 UCLA, Washington State and Creighton.
THE MORE YOU KNOW: The Montana State women's basketball team has won the Big Sky Conference regular season or tournament title – or both – in six of the most recent eight seasons. The Bobcats have posted five of the program's eight 20-win seasons in the last eight years, as well.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN: Tuesday's contest against BYU marks the fourth consecutive year the two teams have met on the hardwood. BYU holds a 2-1 advantage over that span, but it was the Bobcats that defeated the Cougars 69-60 last November in the Marriott Center. Senior Darian White paced MSU in the victory with 16 points and eight rebounds, while current Bobcat Madison (Jackson) Hall came off the bench to post 11 points and three steals. BYU was led by Nani Falatea with 17 points.
FINAL TUNE-UP: Montana State senior Katelynn Limardo led three Bobcat players in double-figures with a game-high 15 points as MSU recorded a 73-63 win over Carroll College in exhibition play at the CC PE Center on Saturday night as part of its 50 Years of Women's Basketball celebration. "It was definitely a highlight to be part of Carroll's 50th Anniversary celebration," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "The atmosphere was fantastic and loud, and they exposed a lot of things for us to get better at. I have great respect for Coach Sayers' program." Also, in double-digits for MSU were Lexi Deden 14, and Marah Dykstra 12. For the game, the Bobcats shot 49.2% from the field, including 64.3% in the opening quarter. The Bobcats held a 19-14 advantage after the opening quarter and built the margin to 33-24 at intermission following a pair of Taylor Janssen free throws with one-second left in the half. MSU took a 14-point lead early in the third stanza on a Deden three-point play, before the Saints whittled the margin to 42-39 following a Jamie Pickens free throw. The Bobcats closed out the final 3 ½ minutes of the quarter on a 13-3 run capped by Dylan Philip's layin at the buzzer. The Bobcats held a 16-point lead at the midway mark of the final frame and cruised to the win. "We have some things to clean up," Binford said. "We need to focus on rebounding, and our offensive game, but I loved how hard we played." MSU was led under the glass by Limardo with seven rebounds, while Deden added five. Philip finished with a team-best four assists and added three steals. The Bobcats open its regular season on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Worthington Arena when it hosts BYU in the annual School Day contest.
