Cats Take Down Mountain West Top Dog

Tuesday, November 18

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

4-0,0-0Big Sky

UNLV

2-2,0-0Mountain West

UNLV

Montana St.

Addison Harris scored to of her game-high 26 points to lead MSU past UNLV 94-81 on Tuesday night in Worthington Arena.

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

11/18/2025 10:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

“We have kids like Teagan Erickson coming in and giving us great lifts,” Binford said. “I think it just takes everybody for what we do. Our style is very different. It takes a lot of energy and effort on the defensive end to do that, but the kids are willing and they protect each other with it.”

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State received a game-high 26 points from Addison Harris and double-doubles by Taylee Chirrick and Teagan Erickson to knock off four-time defending Mountain West Conference regular season champions UNLV, 94-81, on Tuesday night in Worthington Arena to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Montana State jumped out early, scoring the game's first seven points. The two teams traded leads midway through the frame, before Harris' reverse layin with four seconds left gave MSU a 20-17 cushion. Seven different Bobcats scored in the opening ten minutes.

"I think a big positive was coming out and being attack-minded right from the gate," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "I felt like we set the tone with our defense from the start."

Chirrick and Harris exploded for nine and seven points, respectively, in the second quarter as MSU connected on five-of-ten from long distance. And after being out-rebounded by UNLV (2-2) 15-8 in the first period, the Bobcats flipped the switch in the second, out-rebounding the Rebels by five.

Montana State entered intermission with a 47-37 advantage.

"We were shot ready, tonight," Binford said. "We didn't shoot the ball particularly great against Minot State, so it was nice to see us shooting better, sharing the ball and having great balance."

UNLV outscored MSU 29-26 in the third quarter and closed the lead to four on two occasions. But every time the Rebels knocked on the door, the Bobcats answered. Harris, who connected on a career-best 5 three-pointers, put MSU up by seven with just over a minute remaining in the period. MSU freshman Kadynce Couture followed with a triple of her own with 25-seconds left and the Bobcats held a 73-66 lead heading into the final quarter.

Trailing by double digits following an Issy Bunyan three-pointer in the fourth, UNLV made one last run closing to within four points. Again, MSU responded, this time with ten unanswered points to secure the victory.

"When you can go to your bench and not lose a beat, that's a sign of having sustainability," Binford said. "We have a great rotation with the point guards. You got Jamison (Philip), you got Taylee, and you got Brianne Bailey. Those three are doing incredible things, but we can go with somebody like Kaydence (Couture) that can play multiple positions and can come in and knock down shots. That's a tough thing for other teams to manage."

Harris finished connecting on 10-of-16 from the field. She also pulled down six rebounds. Chirrick ended with 16 points and ten rebounds. She also added three assists and seven steals. Sophomore Teagan Erickson came in off the bench and recorded a career-high 13 points and ten rebounds.

"We have kids like Teagan Erickson coming in and giving us great lifts," Binford said. "I think it just takes everybody for what we do. Our style is very different. It takes a lot of energy and effort on the defensive end to do that, but the kids are willing and they protect each other with it."

UNLV turned the ball over 24 times, as the Bobcats posted 17 steals. MSU outscored the Rebels 21-14 in points off turnovers. UNLV held a 51-42 advantage under the boards.

The Rebels had four players in double figures led by former Eastern Washington standout Aaliyah Alexander with 18 points.

Montana State travels to Alabama, Nov. 24, to face Troy University at 5 p.m. (MT).