Sunday, March 5
Boise, ID
2:30 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
#7Portland State
Bobcats Enter Big Sky Tourney as No. 2 Seed: Face Winner of Portland State/Idaho State
3/2/2023 5:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State opens play at the 2023 Big Sky Conference Tournament on Sunday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. in Boise’s Idaho Central Arena.
Montana State opens play at the 2023 Big Sky Conference Tournament on Sunday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. in Boise's Idaho Central Arena. The Bobcats will face the winner of Sunday's contest between #7 Portland State/#8 Idaho State. For the second consecutive season, Montana State enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed.
WHO: #7 Portland St/#8 Idaho State vs. Montana St.
WHEN: Sunday, March 5, 2023 - 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Boise, Idaho. – Idaho Central Arena (5,300)
RECORDS: MSU 20-10; PSU 13-15; ISU 11-18
SERIES: MSU vs. PSU 43-28; MSU vs. ISU 50-39
LAST MTG: MSU def. @ PSU 63-34; @ MSU def. ISU 70-53
RADIO: MSU's games at the Big Sky Tourney will air on 1450 KMMS AM - starting 15-minutes prior to tip with Daniel Salle
VIDEO: MSU's game at the Big Sky Tournament will be streamed live on ESPN+ - a subscription is necessary to view.
ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES: Senior Darian White was a unanimous First Team All-Big Sky Conference selection for the third straight season, the conference office announced on Thursday morning. As a freshman, she was an honorable-mention all-league pick. The product of Boise, Idaho has also been a two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and was this season's preseason Big Sky MVP selection. Also joining White on the all-league squads were Kola Bad Bear, All-Second Team, and Leia Beattie, All-Big Sky Honorable Mention as well as Big Sky Top Reserve of the Year. MSU head coach Tricia Binford picked up her fourth career Big Sky Coach of the Year honors.
THE ONLY ONE IN BIG SKY HISTORY: Montana State senior point-guard Darian White continues to rewrite the Montana State and Big Sky Conference record books this season. This winter, the product of Boise, Idaho became the only player in Big Sky and MSU history to ever record 1,700 points (1,702), 600 rebounds (605), 400 assists (446) and 200 steals (259). White has played and started in 119 games at Montana State.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: No. 7 Portland State is 13-15 overall and 8-10 in Big Sky play. The Vikings face No. 8 Idaho State on Saturday. If they win, would meet the Bobcats on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Portland State and Idaho State split their season series, each winning on their homecourt. The Bobcats swept both the Vikings and Bengals this season. MSU defeated Portland State 64-52 in Bozeman and 63-34 in Portland. In its first meeting with MSU, the Vikings were led by Esmeralda Morales and Jada Lewis with 11 points, apiece. Kola Bad Bear had 17 points for the Bobcats. In their second encounter, PSU was led by Alaya Fitzgerald with 15, while Darian White had 12 for MSU. Morales leads PSU averaging 15.8 ppg. Idaho State is 11-18 overall and 6-12 in Big Sky play. MSU defeated Idaho State 60-57 in Pocatello and 70-53 in Bozeman. In its first meeting with MSU, the Bengals were led by Callie Bourne with 17 points. Lexi Deden had 16 points for the Bobcats. In their second encounter, ISU was led by Bourne with 19, while Darian White posted 19 for MSU. Bourne leads three ISU players averaging double-digits at 15.7 per contest. She is also second on the team averaging 6.8 rebounds per game.
DARIAN DOING DARIAN THINGS: Darian White, the preseason All-Big Sky Conference MVP selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounding (5.6), assists (108), and free throws made (127). In MSU's last seven games, she's averaged 21.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, while shooting 48.6% from the field and 79.2% at the line. White has been in double-figure scoring in 19 games, including a season-high matching 27 points against Eastern Washington in the final regular season game. Against the Eagles, White connected on 8-of-117 from the field and 11-of-13 from the line. She also pulled down seven rebounds. On the season, she is shooting 42.2% from the field. White has also connected for nine 3-pointers and is shooting 75.6% 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. 1 in free throws made (489). She joins Kathleen McLaughlin Howard and Cass Bauer Bilodeau as the only MSU players to record over 475 free throw makes in a career. White is also listed No. 2 in assists (446), No. 3 in steals (259), No. 3 in points (1,702), and No. 16 in rebounding with 605 boards.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Senior Kola Bad Bear has played and started in 26 games for the Cats this season. Two weeks ago, she was the Big Sky Player of the Week after posting 23 points on 9-of-11 in MSU's win over Montana on Feb. 18. The Billings product missed four games in November due to injury. On the season, she is averaging 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds, while shooting a team-best 46% from the field. 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 named to the all-tournament team. Bad Bear matched a career-best 23 points against Montana on Feb. 18. She had previously posted 23 points against Weber State at last year's league tournament on March 8. Bad Bear 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 30 games for the Bobcats and is averaging 5.8 points and 3.4 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 35.7% from the field and 81.8% (36-44) from the line. Limardo is second on the team with 37 3-pointers. She is shooting 39.4% (37-94) from long distance.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, is third on the Bobcat squad averaging 9.3 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-29 games and has come off the bench in the last 17 outings for the Bobcats. Beattie is shooting 42.2% from the field, 36.8% (49-133) from beyond the arc, and 88.2% (30-34) 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 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds at Sacramento State and Portland State and home versus Eastern Washington.
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 21st start of the season against Eastern Washington on Monday and posted four points and seven rebounds. Deden had a season-high 17 points, twice, in MSU's wins over South Dakota State and Montana. 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 against NAU.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has played in 29 games, including 16 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 5.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Jackson had a career-high 20 points against Idaho State. Last week, she averaged 9.0 ppg against SAC, PSU, and EWU.
OH CANADA: Marah Dykstra has started 10-of-28 games this season. The native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada is averaging 3.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest, while shooting 38.2% 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 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 30 games and is averaging 3.8 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 7.1 points and 3.5 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. 4 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 Monday, she posted two points, two rebounds, two assists and steal against Eastern Washington.
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 114-33 (77.6%) overall and 80-24 (76.9%) 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 162-73 (68.9%) overall and 109-49 (69%) in Big Sky play in Worthington Arena.
WIN 300: With its 75-60 win over Weber State on Feb. 9, 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 197 victories. Binford is MSU's winningest coach - men/women. This season marks Binford's 18th with the Bobcat program. She is currently 312-232 overall and 197-119 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 12th in the nation shooting 78.5% from the line. Lehigh ranks No. 1 shooting 80.6% 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 Murray State and Iowa State have shot the ball from the line better than the Bobcats.
A FEW MORE NOTES:
*Another head-scratching week with the 2022-23 CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll. A month ago, MSU received 12 votes. Last weekend, the Cats, along with No. Arizona and Sacramento State were crowned tri-champions of the Big Sky. Yet despite its efforts, the Bobcats didn't receive votes this week, while Sac State notched 17, and NAU, making its first appearance, with 2 votes. It should be noted NAU swept both Sac St. and MSU. MSU posted the best win in the Big Sky defeating South Dakota State, who again is this week's #1 team in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25. SDSU owns an impressive NET-ranking of #38 this week as well. 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 59 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. Idaho State (51) and Idaho (49) follow the Bobcats.
WHO: #7 Portland St/#8 Idaho State vs. Montana St.
WHEN: Sunday, March 5, 2023 - 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Boise, Idaho. – Idaho Central Arena (5,300)
RECORDS: MSU 20-10; PSU 13-15; ISU 11-18
SERIES: MSU vs. PSU 43-28; MSU vs. ISU 50-39
LAST MTG: MSU def. @ PSU 63-34; @ MSU def. ISU 70-53
RADIO: MSU's games at the Big Sky Tourney will air on 1450 KMMS AM - starting 15-minutes prior to tip with Daniel Salle
VIDEO: MSU's game at the Big Sky Tournament will be streamed live on ESPN+ - a subscription is necessary to view.
ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES: Senior Darian White was a unanimous First Team All-Big Sky Conference selection for the third straight season, the conference office announced on Thursday morning. As a freshman, she was an honorable-mention all-league pick. The product of Boise, Idaho has also been a two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and was this season's preseason Big Sky MVP selection. Also joining White on the all-league squads were Kola Bad Bear, All-Second Team, and Leia Beattie, All-Big Sky Honorable Mention as well as Big Sky Top Reserve of the Year. MSU head coach Tricia Binford picked up her fourth career Big Sky Coach of the Year honors.
THE ONLY ONE IN BIG SKY HISTORY: Montana State senior point-guard Darian White continues to rewrite the Montana State and Big Sky Conference record books this season. This winter, the product of Boise, Idaho became the only player in Big Sky and MSU history to ever record 1,700 points (1,702), 600 rebounds (605), 400 assists (446) and 200 steals (259). White has played and started in 119 games at Montana State.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: No. 7 Portland State is 13-15 overall and 8-10 in Big Sky play. The Vikings face No. 8 Idaho State on Saturday. If they win, would meet the Bobcats on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Portland State and Idaho State split their season series, each winning on their homecourt. The Bobcats swept both the Vikings and Bengals this season. MSU defeated Portland State 64-52 in Bozeman and 63-34 in Portland. In its first meeting with MSU, the Vikings were led by Esmeralda Morales and Jada Lewis with 11 points, apiece. Kola Bad Bear had 17 points for the Bobcats. In their second encounter, PSU was led by Alaya Fitzgerald with 15, while Darian White had 12 for MSU. Morales leads PSU averaging 15.8 ppg. Idaho State is 11-18 overall and 6-12 in Big Sky play. MSU defeated Idaho State 60-57 in Pocatello and 70-53 in Bozeman. In its first meeting with MSU, the Bengals were led by Callie Bourne with 17 points. Lexi Deden had 16 points for the Bobcats. In their second encounter, ISU was led by Bourne with 19, while Darian White posted 19 for MSU. Bourne leads three ISU players averaging double-digits at 15.7 per contest. She is also second on the team averaging 6.8 rebounds per game.
DARIAN DOING DARIAN THINGS: Darian White, the preseason All-Big Sky Conference MVP selection, leads the Bobcats in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounding (5.6), assists (108), and free throws made (127). In MSU's last seven games, she's averaged 21.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, while shooting 48.6% from the field and 79.2% at the line. White has been in double-figure scoring in 19 games, including a season-high matching 27 points against Eastern Washington in the final regular season game. Against the Eagles, White connected on 8-of-117 from the field and 11-of-13 from the line. She also pulled down seven rebounds. On the season, she is shooting 42.2% from the field. White has also connected for nine 3-pointers and is shooting 75.6% 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. 1 in free throws made (489). She joins Kathleen McLaughlin Howard and Cass Bauer Bilodeau as the only MSU players to record over 475 free throw makes in a career. White is also listed No. 2 in assists (446), No. 3 in steals (259), No. 3 in points (1,702), and No. 16 in rebounding with 605 boards.
KUDOS TO KOLA: Senior Kola Bad Bear has played and started in 26 games for the Cats this season. Two weeks ago, she was the Big Sky Player of the Week after posting 23 points on 9-of-11 in MSU's win over Montana on Feb. 18. The Billings product missed four games in November due to injury. On the season, she is averaging 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds, while shooting a team-best 46% from the field. 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 named to the all-tournament team. Bad Bear matched a career-best 23 points against Montana on Feb. 18. She had previously posted 23 points against Weber State at last year's league tournament on March 8. Bad Bear 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 30 games for the Bobcats and is averaging 5.8 points and 3.4 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 35.7% from the field and 81.8% (36-44) from the line. Limardo is second on the team with 37 3-pointers. She is shooting 39.4% (37-94) from long distance.
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS: Leia Beattie, a product of Midland, Texas, is third on the Bobcat squad averaging 9.3 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-29 games and has come off the bench in the last 17 outings for the Bobcats. Beattie is shooting 42.2% from the field, 36.8% (49-133) from beyond the arc, and 88.2% (30-34) 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 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds at Sacramento State and Portland State and home versus Eastern Washington.
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 21st start of the season against Eastern Washington on Monday and posted four points and seven rebounds. Deden had a season-high 17 points, twice, in MSU's wins over South Dakota State and Montana. 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 against NAU.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Jackson has played in 29 games, including 16 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 5.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Jackson had a career-high 20 points against Idaho State. Last week, she averaged 9.0 ppg against SAC, PSU, and EWU.
OH CANADA: Marah Dykstra has started 10-of-28 games this season. The native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada is averaging 3.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest, while shooting 38.2% 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 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 30 games and is averaging 3.8 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 7.1 points and 3.5 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. 4 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 Monday, she posted two points, two rebounds, two assists and steal against Eastern Washington.
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 114-33 (77.6%) overall and 80-24 (76.9%) 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 162-73 (68.9%) overall and 109-49 (69%) in Big Sky play in Worthington Arena.
WIN 300: With its 75-60 win over Weber State on Feb. 9, 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 197 victories. Binford is MSU's winningest coach - men/women. This season marks Binford's 18th with the Bobcat program. She is currently 312-232 overall and 197-119 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 12th in the nation shooting 78.5% from the line. Lehigh ranks No. 1 shooting 80.6% 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 Murray State and Iowa State have shot the ball from the line better than the Bobcats.
A FEW MORE NOTES:
*Another head-scratching week with the 2022-23 CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll. A month ago, MSU received 12 votes. Last weekend, the Cats, along with No. Arizona and Sacramento State were crowned tri-champions of the Big Sky. Yet despite its efforts, the Bobcats didn't receive votes this week, while Sac State notched 17, and NAU, making its first appearance, with 2 votes. It should be noted NAU swept both Sac St. and MSU. MSU posted the best win in the Big Sky defeating South Dakota State, who again is this week's #1 team in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25. SDSU owns an impressive NET-ranking of #38 this week as well. 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 59 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. Idaho State (51) and Idaho (49) follow the Bobcats.
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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
