First Half Surge Pushes Cats to Win over Mustangs

Tuesday, November 12

BOZEMAN

11 a.m.

Montana State University

3-0,0-0Big Sky

Cal Poly

1-2,0-0Big West

Cal Poly

Montana St.

Dylan Philip drives by a Cal Poly defender on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

11/12/2024 2:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

“That kid (Philip) is reliable on both ends of the floor,” Binford added. “She makes a lot of right decisions and is super steady and is a hard kid to take off the floor. She continues to get better and better.”

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State closed out the first quarter on Addison Harris' old fashion three-point play and opened the second period with seven unanswered points to gain a double-digit lead – a lead it wouldn't relinquish- en route to a 75-57 win over Cal Poly on MSU's annual School Day that welcomed 4,117 high-spirited students to Worthington Arena.

Bobcat fifth-year senior Esmeralda Morales poured in 15 of her game-high 21 points in the opening twenty-minutes as MSU entered intermission with a 39-20 advantage. Montana State (3-0) forced Cal Poly (1-2) into 17 turnovers and parlayed the miscues into 12 points. The Bobcats were also able to get off 14 more shots than the Mustangs.

"If we can get extra possessions on turnovers, taking care of the ball, getting a couple of extra on the rebounds, then that gives you a lot more opportunities," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "Our defense is where our identity starts, and it creates those extra possession."

MSU shot 42.9% in the first half, while holding Cal Poly to 33.3%, including just one of six from beyond the three-point arc.

The Bobcats built its largest lead of the contest at 42-20 just seconds into the second half following a Dylan Philip three-pointer. Philip, who missed last season with an injury, scored seven points in the third frame, helping MSU maintain its comfortable margin.

"We want to get out and run, and I thought at times we were able to separate," Binford said.

"That kid (Philip) is reliable on both ends of the floor," Binford added. "She makes a lot of right decisions and is super steady and is a hard kid to take off the floor. She continues to get better and better."

Philip finished with a career-high 11 points, while also adding three assists and two steals. Katelynn Martin hit double figures as well with 12 points, to go along with a team-high six rebounds.

Aside from her offensive output, Morales also added four rebounds, four assists and a game-high six steals.

Annika Shah and Mary Carter paced Cal Poly with 13 points apiece.

Montana State hosts UC Davis, Sunday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena.