Cat-Lady Griz, Part II

Saturday, February 18

BOZEMAN

2 p.m.

Montana State University

Montana

Photo by: Kyle Cajero

2/16/2023 6:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

WBB NOTES

Montana State will host rival Montana on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State will host rival Montana on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena. It will be MSU's only contest this week. The Bobcats will take its final regular season road trip to Sacramento State and Portland State next Thursday and Saturday, respectively, before closing out the season hosting Eastern Washington, Feb. 27.

WHO:               Montana at Montana State
WHEN:             Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 - 2 p.m.
WHERE:           Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,772)
RECORDS:        Montana St. 18-8, 11-3; Montana 13-12, 9-5
SERIES:             UM leads all-time series 79-35 (1974-75)
LAST MTG:      Jan. 21, 2023 - Montana St 72, @ Montana 63

RADIO:             MSU's game against Montana will air on 1450 KMMS AM, starting 15-minutes prior to tip with Daniel Salle
VIDEO:              MSU's game against Montana will be streamed live on ESPN+ - a subscription is necessary to view.
TV:                     Cat-Griz will air live on The CW channel. Tom Wylie, pbp; Krista Redpath, color; Ashley Washburn, courtside.

CAT-LADY GRIZ: Montana State and Montana will be meeting for the 115th time on Saturday with UM holding a 79-35 lead in the all-time series dating back to the 1974-75 season. On Jan. 21, 2023, the Bobcats defeated Montana 72-63 in Dahlberg Arena. MSU head coach Tricia Binford is 18-20 all-time against UM in her 18-years in Bozeman. The Bobcats 8-2 against its arch-rival in the last 10 meetings and have captured a 13-4 ledger since 2014. Montana State has won eight straight from the Lady Griz within the warm confines of Worthington Arena. UM's last win in Bozeman (72-65) came on March 3, 2014.

THE ONLY ONE IN BIG SKY HISTORY: Montana State senior point-guard Darian White recorded 19 points against Idaho State last Saturday. Her first basket of the game gave her 1,600 career points. With that milestone, the product of Boise, Idaho becomes the only player in Big Sky Conference history to ever record 1,600 points (1,618), 500 rebounds (580), 400 assists (430) and 200 steals (254) in her career. White has played and started in 115 games at MSU.

THE SCOUTING REPORT: Montana is 13-12 overall and 9-5 in Big Sky Conference action after dropping a 55-54 decision to Idaho State on Thursday night, before rebounding with a 65-48 victory over Weber State on Saturday afternoon. Since its 72-63 loss to the Bobcat on Jan. 21 in Missoula, the Lady Griz have gone 5-1 in Big Sky action, with its lone loss coming at the hands of ISU. Last Saturday, Montana christened Robin Selvig Court with a 65-48 victory over Weber State. UM was led in the win by Carmen Gfeller with 18 points, while Sammy Fatkin, Mack Konig and Gina Marxen added 15, 12, and 11 points, respectively. Helena product Dani Bartsch pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. On the season, four players average double-digit scoring led by Gfeller (13.5 ppg), Fatkin (12.2 ppg), Marxen (10.6 ppg) and Libby Stump (10.3 ppg). Bartsch leads UM under the glass averaging 7.1 rebounds per game, while Fatkin chips in 5.6. Montana's threat from deep begins with Marxen, who has connected for 38 triples. She is followed by Stump (33) and Konig (31). Montana State senior Darian White had a monster game in the first meeting between the two schools in January. White finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. Grace Beasley, who entered the contest averaging 7.2 points per game, registered 13 in the victory. MSU senior post player Kola Bad Bear posted double-figures with 13 points on 5-of-9 from the field. The Bobcats outscored the Lady Griz 25-14 in the third quarter, a deficit UM could never overcome. Montana was led by Stump (21) and Konig (20).

DARIAN DOING DARIAN THINGS: Darian White, the preseason All-Big Sky Conference MVP selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (13.2 ppg), rebounding (5.5), assists (92), and free throws made (103). She has been in double-figure scoring in 16 games, including a season-high matching 25 points in MSU's win at Northern Colorado on Feb. 4. Against the Bears, White connected on 12-19 from the field, and in typical Darian fashion, added eight rebounds and six assists. On the season, she is shooting 40.9% from the field. White has also connected for seven 3-pointers and is shooting 75.2% from the line. Last winter, White notched a career-high 32 points on the last day of the regular season at Northern Colorado. 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 pulled down a season-best 11 rebounds against Idaho Jan. 16. Looking at the MSU Record Book, White has broken into several career MSU Top 10 statistical categories, including No. 3 in free throws made (465). 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 (254), No. 4 in points (1,618), No. 5 in assists (430) and No. 18 in rebounding with 580 boards. In MSU's last three games, White's averaged 22.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 49% from the field and 81.8% at the line.

KUDOS TO KOLA: Senior Kola Bad Bear has played and started in 22 games for the Cats this season. The Billings product missed four games in November due to injury. On the season, she is averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds, while shooting 46.8% from the field. Last weekend, she averaged 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting 46.2% from the field. Bad Bear had her best game of the week against Idaho State recording 10 points, while adding three rebounds and a season-high four assists. On Saturday afternoon, Bad Bear makes her 77th start as a Bobcat. 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.

OUT ON A LIMB: Junior Katelynn Limardo has started all 26 games for the Bobcats and is averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 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 35.2% from the field and 82.9% (29-35) from the line. Limardo is second on the team with 33 3-pointers. She is shooting 38.8% (33-85) from long distance.

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, is second on the Bobcat squad averaging 9.8 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-26 games and has come off the bench in the last 13 outings for the Bobcats. Beattie is shooting 44.2% from the field, 39.1% (45-115) from beyond the arc, and 87.1% (27-31) at the line. She 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 UM history. Beattie's aunt/coach at Midland Christian, Carla (Beattie) Cunneen, is also a former Lady Griz and was the 1996 Big Sky Sixth Player of the Year. Last weekend, Beattie averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and one assist per game.

KEEP FEEDIN' DEDEN: Lexi Deden, a 6-1 junior from Missoula, is averaging 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Deden made her 17th start of the season against Idaho State on Saturday and posted six points and four rebounds. 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 had a career-high 22 points vs. NAU.

ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has played in 25 games, including 12 starts. She has tallied a season-best 12 points on two occasions, the last coming against Northern Colorado on Jan. 5. Against the Bears, Jackson connected on 5-6 from the field, with two triples. She is averaging 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Jackson had a career-high 20 points against Idaho State. Last weekend, Jackson averaged 3.0 points and rebounds per game.

OH CANADA: Marah Dykstra has started 10-of-26 games this season. The native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada is averaging 4.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 39.1% from the field and 80.5% (33-41) from the free throw line. Dykstra had her best outing of the season at Wyoming on Dec. 2, recording 16 points on 6-8 shooting. Against the Cowgirls, she also went 2-2 from long distance and 2-2 at the line. Dykstra notched a career-high eight boards in MSU's win over North Dakota. Last summer, she 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 rebounds per game, which included 15 against Brazil. In all, she hauled down 44 boards in four games. Team Canada captured Group A with wins over Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. The Canadians advanced to the title game, dropping an 82-77 decision to the United State. Against the USA, she had 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. Last week, she averaged 6.5 ppg and 3.0 rpg.

THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Taylor Janssen has played in all 26 games and is averaging 4.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per outing. Janssen notched a season-high 11 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 7. Against the Lumberjacks, she went 3-of-6 from the field, hit one 3-pointer and was 4-of-4 at the line. Janssen pulled down a season-high seven 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 senior transfer from Washington, has found a home in Bozeman. The native of Melbourne, Australia is averaging 7.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Beasley had a season-best 17 points in MSU's over Providence (MT). She was named to the Maui Jim Maui Classic All-Tournament team in December after averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game. Against LSU, currently ranked No. 5 in the nation, Beasley 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. Beasely played two seasons at Midland (TX) College, before heading to Seattle. Last weekend, she averaged 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game off the bench.

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 113-32 (77.9%) overall and 79-23 (77.5%) 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 2017-18 in league play- MSU rattled off a 19-game home court win streak. In her 18 seasons at Montana State, Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford is 161-72 (69.1%) overall and 108-48 (69.2%) in Big Sky play in Worthington Arena.

WIN 300: With its 75-60 win over Weber State on Thursday night, MSU head coach Tricia Binford notched her 309th career win, moving her past former Weber State bench boss Carla Taylor (308 -23 years). With MSU's 92-84 victory at Eastern Washington on Dec. 31, 2022, Binford became just the third coach in Big Sky history to record 300 wins- all coming as a member of the league. Binford is second to Montana's Robin Selvig (865, 38 years). In Big Sky play, Binford is second to Selvig (358) with 195 victories. Binford is MSU's winningest coach - men/women. This season marks Binford's 18th with the Bobcat program. She is currently 310-230 overall and 195-117 in league.

CHARITY WORK: Once again the Bobcats are one of the top free throw shooting teams in the country. This week, Montana State ranks 11th in the nation shooting 78.9% from the line. Lehigh ranks No. 1 shooting 80.8% percent. Last season, the Bobcats set a school record converting at a 78% clip from the charity stripe to finish 14th in the country. Over the past two seasons, only Iowa State, Seton Hall and Murray State have shot the ball from the line better than the Bobcats.

A FEW MORE NOTES:
*And still yet another head-scratching week with the 2022-23 CollegeInsider.com Mid Major poll. Two weeks ago, MSU received 12 votes in the poll. Last weekend the Bobcats went 2-0 at home and opened a 2-game lead over NAU and UM, and a 2.5 lead on SAC. Yet despite its efforts, the Bobcats received two votes this week, while Sacramento State tallied six votes. Hmm... And let's not forget MSU has posted arguably the best win in the Big Sky defeating South Dakota State, who this week is #1 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major top 25. Go figure...

*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 four seasons, no Big Sky Conference team has won more league games than the Bobcats. Montana State has racked up 57 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. Idaho State (50) and Idaho (46) follow the Bobcats.