Thursday, February 29
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
15-14,9-7Big Sky
53
vs
58
Idaho
14-14,7-9Big Sky
1
2
3
4
F
Idaho
16
7
20
15
58
Montana St.
16
14
10
13
53
Marah Dykstra swats one of MSU's ten blocks against Idaho.
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Vandals Second Half Surge Too Much for Cats
2/29/2024 10:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
“When we are disruptive, we’re successful,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford.
Idaho used an 11-2 run to open the second half and kept its foot on the gas to outdistance Montana State down the stretch to post a 58-53 win over Bobcats on Thursday night in Worthington Arena.
Montana State (15-14, 9-7) had things under control in the first half, building a 30-23 cushion at halftime as freshman point-guard Natalie Picton sparked the Bobcats with 11 points, including a three-of-five performance from beyond the arc.
Idaho (14-14, 7-9) took its first lead of the third quarter at the 5:56 mark on an offensive putback by Asha Phillips. The Vandals held a three-point advantage heading into the final frame.
Montana State tied the contest twice in the early going of the fourth quarter, but the Vandals never gave the Bobcats the lead. Holding a 51-50 advantage following a layup by MSU Katelynn Limardo with 2:20 left, Idaho rattled off seven unanswered points to secure the win.
"When we are disruptive, we're successful," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "We didn't force them into too many mistakes. They were the stronger, tougher team and mentally we looked tired in the second half."
Montana State outrebounded Idaho 22-17 in the opening half. The Bobcats also shot 37.9% from the field, while holding the Vandals to 28%. Idaho turned the table in the second stanza shooting 51.7% from the floor while outrebounding MSU 19-11.
"Offensively, we weren't very efficient," Binford said.
MSU had four players in double figures led by Marah Dykstra with 16 points. Picton finished with a season-best 14 points, and Limardo and Taylor Janssen added 10 points apiece.
Limardo and Dykstra led MSU under the glass hauling down nine and seven rebounds, respectively.
Kennedy Johnson, who was Idaho's leading scorer entering the contest, was hampered by foul trouble, and recorded one point in the opening half. She finished the game with 15 points and seven rebounds.
MSU hosts Eastern Washington in its final home game of the season on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
Montana State (15-14, 9-7) had things under control in the first half, building a 30-23 cushion at halftime as freshman point-guard Natalie Picton sparked the Bobcats with 11 points, including a three-of-five performance from beyond the arc.
Idaho (14-14, 7-9) took its first lead of the third quarter at the 5:56 mark on an offensive putback by Asha Phillips. The Vandals held a three-point advantage heading into the final frame.
Montana State tied the contest twice in the early going of the fourth quarter, but the Vandals never gave the Bobcats the lead. Holding a 51-50 advantage following a layup by MSU Katelynn Limardo with 2:20 left, Idaho rattled off seven unanswered points to secure the win.
"When we are disruptive, we're successful," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "We didn't force them into too many mistakes. They were the stronger, tougher team and mentally we looked tired in the second half."
Montana State outrebounded Idaho 22-17 in the opening half. The Bobcats also shot 37.9% from the field, while holding the Vandals to 28%. Idaho turned the table in the second stanza shooting 51.7% from the floor while outrebounding MSU 19-11.
"Offensively, we weren't very efficient," Binford said.
MSU had four players in double figures led by Marah Dykstra with 16 points. Picton finished with a season-best 14 points, and Limardo and Taylor Janssen added 10 points apiece.
Limardo and Dykstra led MSU under the glass hauling down nine and seven rebounds, respectively.
Kennedy Johnson, who was Idaho's leading scorer entering the contest, was hampered by foul trouble, and recorded one point in the opening half. She finished the game with 15 points and seven rebounds.
MSU hosts Eastern Washington in its final home game of the season on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
Team Stats
UI
MSU
FG%
.407
.373
3FG%
.294
.348
FT%
.750
.700
RB
36
33
TO
14
15
STL
12
6
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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