Thursday, February 22
Portland, OR
7 p.m. (MT)
Montana State University
at
Portland State
Senior Katelynn Limardo drives to the basket at Montana.
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Bobcat Hoopsters Head West
2/21/2024 3:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State starts the stretch drive to the regular season with five games remaining on the schedule.
NEXT UP: Montana State starts the stretch drive to the regular season with five games remaining on the schedule. The Bobcats play a pair of Big Sky road contests this week beginning at Portland State, Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. (MT), and finishing at Sacramento State, Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. (MT).
A LITTLE ABOUT MONTANA STATE: Montana State is coming off a 72-50 setback at Montana on Saturday. The Bobcats were led in the game by sophomore Marah Dykstra, who posted a team-high 13 points and nine rebounds, while Taylor Janssen added ten points.
A LITTLE ABOUT PORTLAND STATE: After picking up its first Big Sky win of the season against Idaho State (59-53) on Feb. 10, the Vikings dropped a pair of league roads games last weekend at Northern Colorado (65-48) and Northern Arizona (89-73).
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Portland State enters Thursday's contest 6-20 overall and 1-13 in Big Sky play. The Vikings' lone league win came on Feb. 10 against Idaho State (59-53) as junior Alaya Fitzgerald led PSU with 19 points, including four triples. On the year, Esmeralda Morales- the preseason league MVP pick- is averaging a team-best 16.5 points per game and has connected on 75-of-223 from beyond the arc. MSU handed PSU a 71-50 setback on Jan. 27 in Bozeman.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Hall has started all 26 games and is averaging 10.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Last Saturday, she saw her streak of 15 consecutive games in double figures snapped as Montana held her to four points on two-of-eight from the field. Hall is averaging a team-best 13.3 points per game in Big Sky Conference play, while shooting 48.8% from the field and 84.3% from the line. She posted a season-best 19 points in Montana State's win over Northern Colorado, Feb. 8 in Bozeman. Against the Bears she went seven-of-10 from the field and four-of-five at the line. Last season, Hall (nèe Jackson) played in 29 games, including 16 starts. Over the summer she married Brayden Hall, a former MSU men's basketball manager. As a sophomore, Hall had a career-high 20 points against Idaho State.
OUT ON A LIMB: Katelynn 'KJ' Limardo has started 22 games for the Bobcats. She will make her 112th career start against Portland State on Thursday night. Limardo suffered a late-game injury against UM on Jan. 20 and missed three games before returning at Eastern Washington. She is averaging an overall team-best 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest. Limardo has been in double digits on 15 occasions, including a career-high 25 points against North Texas on Dec. 21, connecting on seven-of-11 from the field, five-of-nine from long distance and six-of-seven from the line. For her efforts, she was named Big Sky Player of the Week. At Portland on Dec. 2, she notched her first ever double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She's notched four double doubles this season, the last on Jan. 20 against Montana with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Last year, she played in all 31 games and averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Against Saint Mary's on Dec. 12, 2022, Limardo registered a career-high seven triples- which 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 34.7% from the field and 78.1% from the line. Limardo is first on the team with 36 3-pointers. She is currently sixth on MSU's all-time career three-point makes chart with 165 triples. Last Saturday at Montana, Limardo posted seven points, which included a pair of three-pointers. She also pulled down four rebounds in just under 30 minutes of action.
OH CANADA: Marah (MARE-ah) Dykstra has started 34-of-53 games as a Bobcat and is currently averaging 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per outing, while dishing out a team-best 2.6 assists per game. Dykstra, who sat out games at Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado, returned to the line up on Jan. 20 against Montana, finishing with 12 points and five rebounds. Against Eastern Washington Feb. 1, Dykstra notched a career-high 21 points to guide MSU to the victory. For the game, she connected on seven-of-12 from the field and seven-of-eight at the line. Against Portland State on Jan. 27, Dykstra had 17 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds for her first career double-double. Last winter, the native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest, while shooting 38.2% from the field and 80.5% (33-41) from the free throw line. This summer she played for Team Canada at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup in Madrid, Spain, July 15-23. During the last offseason Dykstra navigated a year-long process and survived two rounds of cuts to make the final 12-player roster. Five players returned to the squad from the 2022 U18 Canadian team that competed in the Women's Americas Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of which Dykstra was a member. Team Canada cruised through pool play, defeating China 83-62, Czech Republic 66-61, Egypt 100-44, and Brazil 89-45. Dykstra averaged seven rebounds per game, the second-best mark of any athlete in opening round action. Dykstra finished World Cup play averaging 23.1 minutes, while chipping in 4.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Last Saturday, she paced MSU with a team-high 13 points and nine rebounds at Montana. Dykstra also chipped in two steals and a block in the 72-50 loss.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Taylor Janssen recorded 10 points, two rebounds and a blocked shot at Montana, last Saturday afternoon. On Feb. 8 against Northern Colorado, Janssen notched a career-high 17 points going five-of-seven from the field and hitting all five free throw attempts. The product of Rosemount, Minn., has started the last 20 games for the Bobcats following the season-ending injury to Lexi Deden. On the season, she's averaging 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.5% from the field. Janssen played in all 30 games and averaged 3.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per outing last season. She notched a season-high 11 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 7, 2023. Janssen pulled down a season-high seven rebounds against Providence (MT) in the season-opener. As a freshman, she connected on 20 straight free throws before missing a charity toss. Janssen came up short of the all-time Bobcat record of 25 set by Rebecca Mercer during the 2007-08 season. She is currently shooting 82% (41-50) from the stripe.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Freshman Natalie Picton, a 5-5 guard from Welland, Ontario, Canada has started all 26 games following the injury to sophomore point guard Dylan Philip. The freshman has filled the role admirably, averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. Picton has reached double figures in eight games, including a season-high 13 points at Northern Arizona. Last Saturday, the Niagara Prep grad registered seven points, two assists and a steal in MSU's 72-50 loss at Montana. In Big Sky action, Picton is averaging 8.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Currently, she leads the team shooting 83.7% from the charity stripe.
THE WONDER FROM WALES: Freshman Issy Bunyan has made an impact in her short time at MSU. The 6-0 guard from Tonyrefail, Wales, is averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. She has been in double figures scoring on five occasions, including a season-best 15 against BYU in the season opener. At Montana on Saturday, Bunyan recorded nine points, six rebounds, an assist, a blocked shot, and a steal in 22 minutes of action.
MADE IN MONTANA: Redshirt freshman Brooke Berry (Billings) came off the bench to make a big contribution in MSU's win over Wyoming on Dec. 17 registering 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting. At ISU on Jan. 22, she had seven points and three rebounds. Berry is the daughter of former MSU men's player Gale Berry, who was a Bobcat from 1988-90. She made one start against NAU.
MAKING THE MOST OF IT: True-freshman Ella Johnson was pulled off a redshirt season prior to Montana State's game at Portland on Dec. 2 due to numerous Bobcat injuries. Since that time, the 6-2 forward from Elk River, Minn., has made the most of her playing time, which has increased from two-minutes of action against North Texas to a season-high 31 minutes at Northern Colorado. Johnson is averaging 15.9 minutes per game and is chipping in 1.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-best eight points in MSU's win over Portland State on Jan. 27, and pulled down a season-high eight rebounds against the Vikings, as well. On the season, she is shooting 48.1% (13-27) from the field. In Big Sky action, Johnson is averaging 2.3 points and 3.6 boards per game.
DULY NOTED: With a Thursday start at Portland State, Madison Hall becomes MSU's all-time iron woman, playing in her history making 125th game for the Bobcats, one ahead of Blaire Braxton & Madeline Smith.
A FEW MORE NOTES: 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 six seasons, no Big Sky Conference team has won more league games than the Bobcats. Montana State has racked up 76 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. The Bobcats are followed by Idaho State (70) and Idaho (68)…Montana State is 13-3 when holding the opponent under 60 points. The Bobcats are 11-1 on the season when limiting its opponent to 39% shooting from the field or less.
A LITTLE ABOUT MONTANA STATE: Montana State is coming off a 72-50 setback at Montana on Saturday. The Bobcats were led in the game by sophomore Marah Dykstra, who posted a team-high 13 points and nine rebounds, while Taylor Janssen added ten points.
A LITTLE ABOUT PORTLAND STATE: After picking up its first Big Sky win of the season against Idaho State (59-53) on Feb. 10, the Vikings dropped a pair of league roads games last weekend at Northern Colorado (65-48) and Northern Arizona (89-73).
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Portland State enters Thursday's contest 6-20 overall and 1-13 in Big Sky play. The Vikings' lone league win came on Feb. 10 against Idaho State (59-53) as junior Alaya Fitzgerald led PSU with 19 points, including four triples. On the year, Esmeralda Morales- the preseason league MVP pick- is averaging a team-best 16.5 points per game and has connected on 75-of-223 from beyond the arc. MSU handed PSU a 71-50 setback on Jan. 27 in Bozeman.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Hall has started all 26 games and is averaging 10.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Last Saturday, she saw her streak of 15 consecutive games in double figures snapped as Montana held her to four points on two-of-eight from the field. Hall is averaging a team-best 13.3 points per game in Big Sky Conference play, while shooting 48.8% from the field and 84.3% from the line. She posted a season-best 19 points in Montana State's win over Northern Colorado, Feb. 8 in Bozeman. Against the Bears she went seven-of-10 from the field and four-of-five at the line. Last season, Hall (nèe Jackson) played in 29 games, including 16 starts. Over the summer she married Brayden Hall, a former MSU men's basketball manager. As a sophomore, Hall had a career-high 20 points against Idaho State.
OUT ON A LIMB: Katelynn 'KJ' Limardo has started 22 games for the Bobcats. She will make her 112th career start against Portland State on Thursday night. Limardo suffered a late-game injury against UM on Jan. 20 and missed three games before returning at Eastern Washington. She is averaging an overall team-best 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest. Limardo has been in double digits on 15 occasions, including a career-high 25 points against North Texas on Dec. 21, connecting on seven-of-11 from the field, five-of-nine from long distance and six-of-seven from the line. For her efforts, she was named Big Sky Player of the Week. At Portland on Dec. 2, she notched her first ever double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She's notched four double doubles this season, the last on Jan. 20 against Montana with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Last year, she played in all 31 games and averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Against Saint Mary's on Dec. 12, 2022, Limardo registered a career-high seven triples- which 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 34.7% from the field and 78.1% from the line. Limardo is first on the team with 36 3-pointers. She is currently sixth on MSU's all-time career three-point makes chart with 165 triples. Last Saturday at Montana, Limardo posted seven points, which included a pair of three-pointers. She also pulled down four rebounds in just under 30 minutes of action.
OH CANADA: Marah (MARE-ah) Dykstra has started 34-of-53 games as a Bobcat and is currently averaging 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per outing, while dishing out a team-best 2.6 assists per game. Dykstra, who sat out games at Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado, returned to the line up on Jan. 20 against Montana, finishing with 12 points and five rebounds. Against Eastern Washington Feb. 1, Dykstra notched a career-high 21 points to guide MSU to the victory. For the game, she connected on seven-of-12 from the field and seven-of-eight at the line. Against Portland State on Jan. 27, Dykstra had 17 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds for her first career double-double. Last winter, the native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest, while shooting 38.2% from the field and 80.5% (33-41) from the free throw line. This summer she played for Team Canada at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup in Madrid, Spain, July 15-23. During the last offseason Dykstra navigated a year-long process and survived two rounds of cuts to make the final 12-player roster. Five players returned to the squad from the 2022 U18 Canadian team that competed in the Women's Americas Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of which Dykstra was a member. Team Canada cruised through pool play, defeating China 83-62, Czech Republic 66-61, Egypt 100-44, and Brazil 89-45. Dykstra averaged seven rebounds per game, the second-best mark of any athlete in opening round action. Dykstra finished World Cup play averaging 23.1 minutes, while chipping in 4.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Last Saturday, she paced MSU with a team-high 13 points and nine rebounds at Montana. Dykstra also chipped in two steals and a block in the 72-50 loss.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Taylor Janssen recorded 10 points, two rebounds and a blocked shot at Montana, last Saturday afternoon. On Feb. 8 against Northern Colorado, Janssen notched a career-high 17 points going five-of-seven from the field and hitting all five free throw attempts. The product of Rosemount, Minn., has started the last 20 games for the Bobcats following the season-ending injury to Lexi Deden. On the season, she's averaging 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.5% from the field. Janssen played in all 30 games and averaged 3.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per outing last season. She notched a season-high 11 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 7, 2023. Janssen pulled down a season-high seven rebounds against Providence (MT) in the season-opener. As a freshman, she connected on 20 straight free throws before missing a charity toss. Janssen came up short of the all-time Bobcat record of 25 set by Rebecca Mercer during the 2007-08 season. She is currently shooting 82% (41-50) from the stripe.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Freshman Natalie Picton, a 5-5 guard from Welland, Ontario, Canada has started all 26 games following the injury to sophomore point guard Dylan Philip. The freshman has filled the role admirably, averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. Picton has reached double figures in eight games, including a season-high 13 points at Northern Arizona. Last Saturday, the Niagara Prep grad registered seven points, two assists and a steal in MSU's 72-50 loss at Montana. In Big Sky action, Picton is averaging 8.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Currently, she leads the team shooting 83.7% from the charity stripe.
THE WONDER FROM WALES: Freshman Issy Bunyan has made an impact in her short time at MSU. The 6-0 guard from Tonyrefail, Wales, is averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. She has been in double figures scoring on five occasions, including a season-best 15 against BYU in the season opener. At Montana on Saturday, Bunyan recorded nine points, six rebounds, an assist, a blocked shot, and a steal in 22 minutes of action.
MADE IN MONTANA: Redshirt freshman Brooke Berry (Billings) came off the bench to make a big contribution in MSU's win over Wyoming on Dec. 17 registering 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting. At ISU on Jan. 22, she had seven points and three rebounds. Berry is the daughter of former MSU men's player Gale Berry, who was a Bobcat from 1988-90. She made one start against NAU.
MAKING THE MOST OF IT: True-freshman Ella Johnson was pulled off a redshirt season prior to Montana State's game at Portland on Dec. 2 due to numerous Bobcat injuries. Since that time, the 6-2 forward from Elk River, Minn., has made the most of her playing time, which has increased from two-minutes of action against North Texas to a season-high 31 minutes at Northern Colorado. Johnson is averaging 15.9 minutes per game and is chipping in 1.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-best eight points in MSU's win over Portland State on Jan. 27, and pulled down a season-high eight rebounds against the Vikings, as well. On the season, she is shooting 48.1% (13-27) from the field. In Big Sky action, Johnson is averaging 2.3 points and 3.6 boards per game.
DULY NOTED: With a Thursday start at Portland State, Madison Hall becomes MSU's all-time iron woman, playing in her history making 125th game for the Bobcats, one ahead of Blaire Braxton & Madeline Smith.
A FEW MORE NOTES: 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 six seasons, no Big Sky Conference team has won more league games than the Bobcats. Montana State has racked up 76 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. The Bobcats are followed by Idaho State (70) and Idaho (68)…Montana State is 13-3 when holding the opponent under 60 points. The Bobcats are 11-1 on the season when limiting its opponent to 39% shooting from the field or less.
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