Cats Take on Troy

NEXT UP: Montana State travels to Troy, Ala., Monday, Nov. 24 to begin three consecutive games away from Worthington Arena. The Bobcats and Trojans tip at 5 p.m., in Trojan Arena. This is MSU's first trip to Troy. The two schools have met twice. MSU handed Troy a 73-63 setback on Nov. 7, 2024, in Worthington Arena, as Ella Johnson and Marah Dykstra went for 14 points, each.

ABOUT THE BOBCATS: Montana State is off to a 4-0 start, which matches MSU's beginning to the 2024-25 campaign that saw the Bobcats go 30-4 overall and 17-1 in Big Sky action. Montana State is coming off a solid 94-81 win over UNLV on Nov. 18 in Worthington Arena.

ABOUT THE TROJANS: Troy is 4-1 in the early season recording victories over Toledo (88-51), Mississippi Valley State (95-50), Chattanooga (73-56), and Missouri (100-82). The lone loss came at Kansas State (81-59) on Nov. 18. Troy has been paced this season by Fortuna Ngnawo (14.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Zay Dyer (12.6 ppg., 12.0 rpg)

DULY NOTED: Last season, Montana State led the nation averaging 14.4 steals per game...after four games this year, the Bobcats are averaging 18.0 steals per contest...the Bobcats had 20 steals in the season-opener against Carroll College...the Cats are currently ranked fourth in the country in turnover forced per game (29.75) and steals per game (18.0)...MSU's 13.25 turnover margin is fifth best at the NCAA Division I level...Addison Harris is shooting 66% from the field, which is tops in the Big Sky Conference and 14th best in the country...sophomore Taylee Chirrick is averaging 4.25 steals per game which leads the Big Sky and ranks eighth in the country.

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 18.0 steals per contest. Montana State opened the season with 20 steals against Carroll College and totaled 17 at Portland and 19 against Minot State and 16 against UNLV.
Two Bobcats rank among the nation's top 20 in steals just three weeks into 2025-26 season. Sophomore Taylee Chirrick, who is the reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is currently averaging 4.25 steals per game, which is tops in the Big Sky and 8th in the country. Freshman Jamison Philip is averaging 3.75 steals per game, which is third in the Big Sky Conference and 20th in the nation.
As a team, the Bobcats are currently ranked No. 4 in the nation in turnovers forced per game with an eye-popping 29.75 per outing. MSU turned Carroll College and Portland over 37 and 33 times, respectively.
Montana State is currently ranked No. 5 in the country in turnover margin at +13.25
Montana State is currently ranked No. 23 in scoring margin at +29.5 points.
Sophomore Addison Harris leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks 11th in the nation shooting 66% from the field through the first four games of the season.
Sophomore Addison Harris is second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 21.3 points per game, which is 16th best in the nation. Sophomore Taylee Chirrick is third in the Big Sky averaging 19.3 points per contest, which is 39th in the country.
Addison Harris is shooting 52.6% (10-19) from beyond the three-point arc, which is tops in the Big Sky Conference and 21st in the country.
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 active roster consists of four juniors, three sophomores, and six freshmen. Average age of the team is 19.5.
MSU's 30 wins last winter 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 in attendance averaging 2,349 fans per game in Worthington Arena, last season. The Bobcats are currently averaging 2,790 fans per game, which includes 4,877 for its annual School Day game on Nov. 10.
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.
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.

Schedule

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Players Mentioned

Taylee Chirrick

Marah Dykstra

Addison Harris

Ella Johnson

Dylan Philip

Jamison Philip

Heidi Smith

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Upcoming Events

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

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