Bobcat Women Host UNLV

WHO:	UNLV at Montana State
WHEN:	Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m.
WHERE:	Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,777)
RECORDS:	MSU - 3-0, 0-0 BSC; UNLV - 2-1, 0-0 MWC
SERIES:	UNLV leads all-time series 3-0 (Dec. 6, 1985)
LAST MTG:	Nov. 13, 2021 - @ UNLV 80, Montana St. 42 (L3)

NEXT UP: After an eight-day hiatus, the Montana State women's basketball team takes to the hardwood hosting UNLV, Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., in Worthington Arena. The game against the Rebels kicks off a string of eight demanding games to complete the Bobcat non-conference schedule. Over the course of the next five weeks MSU plays at Troy, at Colorado, and at North Dakota State, before hosting North Dakota on Dec. 6. The Cats finish out the non-conference slate at Oregon, before meeting Oregon State and Hawaii in the Maui Classic, Dec. 19-20.

ABOUT THE BOBCATS: Montana State is off to a 3-0 start, which includes a hard-fought 86-72 victory at Portland on Nov. 7 in the Rose City. In its victory over the Pilots, MSU was led by sophomore Taylee Chirrick with a career-high 23 points and seven assists. Also hitting double digits were Addison Harris 18, Brooke Fatupaito 14, and Brianne Bailey 10.

ABOUT THE REBELS: UNLV enters Tuesday's contest 2-1, after dropping a 62-54 decision to No. 7 Baylor on Friday night in Las Vegas. The Rebels held a six-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter, before being outscored by the Bears 19-5 in the final 10 minutes. UNLV was led in the loss by Jasmyn Lott and Meadow Roland with 18 and 13 points, respectively. Roland, a 6-2 sophomore forward, who was the Mountain West Freshman of the Year as well as the Sixth Player of the Year last winter, pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds.

DULY NOTED: Montana State, who led the nation averaging 14.4 steals per game, last season is currently ranked fourth in the country averaging 18.7 per contest.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Over the past 11 seasons the Bobcats have thrived in the warm confines of Worthington Arena. Since the 2014-15 season, Montana State has gone an impressive 116-28 (80.6%) overall and 82-19 (81.2%) in Big Sky Conference play on its home court. 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 21 seasons at Montana State, Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford is 186-77 (70.7%) overall and 124-52 (70.6%) in Big Sky play in Worthington Arena.

SO MUCH WINNING: In the last five seasons, no Big Sky Conference team has won more league games than the Bobcats. Montana State has racked-up 84 Big Sky wins since the 2019-20 campaign. They are followed in the top five by Northern Arizona (76), Idaho (67), Montana (64), and Idaho State (64).

300 CLUB: With MSU's 75-60 win over Weber State on Feb. 9, 2023, Tricia Binford notched her 309th career win moving her past former Weber State coach Carla Taylor (308 -23 years). With MSU's 92-84 victory at E. Wash. on Dec. 31, 2022, Binford became the third coach in Big Sky history to record 300 wins. Binford is second all-time to Montana's Robin Selvig (865, 38 years). In Big Sky play, Binford is second to Selvig (358) with 224 victories. Binford is MSU's winningest coach - men or women. This season marks her 20th with the Bobcat program. She is currently 362-253 overall and 224-128 in Big Sky action.

COLLEGEINSIDER.COM MID MAJOR TOP 25: For the second consecutive week, the Montana State women's basketball team is ranked in the Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Top 25. The Bobcats moved from 15th to No. 11, following its win at Portland on Nov. 7. Last season, MSU was ranked in the top 25 for 12 straight weeks, finishing the 2024-25 campaign at No. 11. The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Coastal Athletic, Conference USA, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast, Western Athletic. Former Pac-12 schools Oregon State and Washington State are not eligible for the poll.

BOBCAT NOTEBOOK:

Last year, Montana State ranked 1st in the nation averaging 14.4 steals per game. The Cats have picked up right where it left off this season and are currently first in the Big Sky Conference and fourth in the nation averaging 18.7 steals per contest. Montana State opened the season with 20 steals against Carroll College and totaled 17 at Portland and 19 against Minot State.
Two Bobcats rank among the nation's top 25 in steals just two weeks into 2025-26 season. Freshman Jamison Philip is averaging 4.33 steals per game, which is tops in the Big Sky Conference and seventh in the nation. Sophomore Taylee Chirrick, who is the reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is currently averaging 3.67 steals per game, which is third in the Big Sky and 24th in the country.
As a team, the Bobcats are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in turnovers forced per game with an eye-popping 32.33 per outing. MSU turned Carroll College and Portland over 37 and 33 times, respectively.
Montana State is currently ranked No. 8 in the country in turnover margin at +14.33
Last winter, Taylee Chirrick recorded a rare double-double at Eastern Washington on Jan. 20 with 12 points and a school record 11 steals. The 11 steals matched the Big Sky single game record.
Montana State is currently ranked No. 19 in scoring margin at +35.0 points.
Last season, Montana State was 29-0 when leading after the third quarter
Montana State was 29-0 last season when holding its opponents under 70 points.
MSU's 30 wins during the 2024-25 campaign were the most in Montana State and Big Sky women's basketball history.
For the first time in its history, Montana State led the Big Sky Conference in attendance averaging 2,349 fans per game in Worthington Arena. The Bobcats are currently averaging 3,297 fans per game, which included 4,877 for its annual School Day game on Nov. 10.
Montana State sisters Courtney and Heidi Smith and Jamison and Dylan Philip are just two sets of siblings playing on the same team at the NCAA Division I level this year. The other duo is at Green Bay: Kamy and Kallie Peppler and Julianna and Kristina Ouimette
MSU doesn't have to worry about Senior Night this season. The Bobcat roster consists of four juniors, three sophomores, and six freshmen. Average age of the team is 19.5.

Schedule

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brianne Bailey

Taylee Chirrick

Brooke Fatupaito

Addison Harris

Dylan Philip

Jamison Philip

Heidi Smith

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Montana State University

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus UNLV on Nov. 18, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Troy on Nov. 24, 2025 at 5 p.m. (MT)

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Colorado on Nov. 30, 2025 at 1 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at North Dakota State on Dec. 3, 2025 at 6 p.m. (MT)

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus North Dakota on Dec. 6, 2025 at TBA