Wednesday, December 3
Fargo, ND
6 p.m. (MT)
Montana State University
at
North Dakota State
Photo by: Ray Bahner
Cats Open Big Sky/Summit League Challenge at NDSU
12/2/2025 12:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Big Sky Conference/Summit League challenge tips off this week as Montana State travels to North Dakota State, Wednesday, Dec. 3.
WHO:................ Montana State at North Dakota State
WHEN:.............. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. (MT)
WHERE:............. Fargo, N.D. - Scheels Center (5,460)
RECORDS:......... MSU - 5-1, 0-0 BSC; No. Dakota St. 5-2, 0-0 SL
SERIES:............. NDSU leads series 4-2; 1st Meeting: 1976-77
LAST MTG:......... Jan. 3, 2024 - @ Montana St., 65, NDSU 45 (W1)
LIVE STREAM:.... CBS SPORTS NETWORK
LIVE AUDIO:...... KMMS 1450 AM – Varsity Sports App
LIVE STATS:....... Click Here
NEXT UP: The Big Sky Conference/Summit League challenge tips off this week as Montana State travels to North Dakota State, Wednesday, Dec. 3. The game will tip at 6 p.m. (MT) from the Scheels Center in Fargo, N.D. Following Wednesday night's contest, the Bobcats will make a quick turnaround and host North Dakota, Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS: Montana State is 5-1 overall after posting one of the biggest wins in head coach Tricia Binford's 21-year tenure in the Blue and Gold - a 71-70 victory at Big 12 member Colorado on Sunday afternoon in the CU Events Center. MSU sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick's layup with 1.7 seconds remaining proved to be the game winner. Chirrick finished with 21 points, while Addison Harris added 17, and Issy Bunyan and Heidi Smith 10, apiece.
ABOUT THE BISON: North Dakota State is 5-2 on the season after winning a pair of games at the Osprey Thanksgiving Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., over the weekend. The Bison defeated Campbell (71-49) and Bethune-Cookman (85-36). NDSU has also defeated Northern Iowa, Concordia-Moorhead and Tulane this fall, with its two losses coming to Gonzaga (81-66) and Nebraska (82-70.) NDSU is led by preseason Summit League First-Team selections Avery Koenen and Jocelyn Schiller. Koenen, a 6-3 junior forward, averages 17.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while Schiller chips in 10.7 points and 2.9 boards. Marisa Frost, a 5-8 sophomore guard and a preseason second team pick, is averaging 12.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest.
DULY NOTED: MSU is ranked #2 in the country in steals per game (18.0) & turnovers forced (28.83).
BOBCAT NOTEBOOK:
• For the second consecutive week, Bobcat sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick has been named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Chirrick, a product of Roberts, scored the game winner at Colorado with 1.7 seconds left on Sunday afternoon. She finished the contest with 21 points (7-7 FT), six rebounds, four steals and three assists.
• 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 second 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, 19 against Minot State, 16 against UNLV, 21 at Troy, and 15 at Colorado.
• Two Bobcats rank among the nation's top 35 in steals just a month into 2025-26 season. Sophomore Taylee Chirrick, who is the reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is currently averaging 4.50 steals per game, which is tops in the Big Sky and 3rd in the country. Freshman Jamison Philip is averaging 3.17 steals per game, which is third in the Big Sky Conference and 35th in the nation.
• Taylee Chirrick is second in the Big Sky Conference and 33rd in the nation with a +2.75 assist/turnover ratio.
• As a team, the Bobcats are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in turnovers forced per game with an eye-popping 28.83 per outing. MSU turned Carroll College, Portland and Troy over 37, 33, and 31 times, respectively.
• MSU is third in the Big Sky Conference and 35th in the country in offensive rebounds per game at 15.8.
• Montana State is currently ranked No. 5 in the country in turnover margin at +11.67
• Montana State is currently ranked No. 38 in scoring offense at 80 points per game.
• The Bobcat bench is averaging 27.7 points per game, which is third best in the Big Sky and 59th in the nation.
• Sophomore Addison Harris leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks 46th in the nation shooting 56.4% from the field through the first five games of the season.
• Sophomore Taylee Chirrick is second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 19.8 points per game, which is 28th best in the nation. Sophomore Addison Harris is third in the Big Sky averaging 18.3 points per contest, which is 43rd 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.
• Montana State head coach Tricia Binford is one of 20 coaches listed on the 2026 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year award watchlist. The award, in its second season, is presented by Her Hoop Stats and named after the legendary former Harvard head coach. Richmond's Aaron Rousell was named the award's second winner in 2025. This year's watchlist includes coaches from 13 conferences.
• 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.
WHEN:.............. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. (MT)
WHERE:............. Fargo, N.D. - Scheels Center (5,460)
RECORDS:......... MSU - 5-1, 0-0 BSC; No. Dakota St. 5-2, 0-0 SL
SERIES:............. NDSU leads series 4-2; 1st Meeting: 1976-77
LAST MTG:......... Jan. 3, 2024 - @ Montana St., 65, NDSU 45 (W1)
LIVE STREAM:.... CBS SPORTS NETWORK
LIVE AUDIO:...... KMMS 1450 AM – Varsity Sports App
LIVE STATS:....... Click Here
NEXT UP: The Big Sky Conference/Summit League challenge tips off this week as Montana State travels to North Dakota State, Wednesday, Dec. 3. The game will tip at 6 p.m. (MT) from the Scheels Center in Fargo, N.D. Following Wednesday night's contest, the Bobcats will make a quick turnaround and host North Dakota, Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS: Montana State is 5-1 overall after posting one of the biggest wins in head coach Tricia Binford's 21-year tenure in the Blue and Gold - a 71-70 victory at Big 12 member Colorado on Sunday afternoon in the CU Events Center. MSU sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick's layup with 1.7 seconds remaining proved to be the game winner. Chirrick finished with 21 points, while Addison Harris added 17, and Issy Bunyan and Heidi Smith 10, apiece.
ABOUT THE BISON: North Dakota State is 5-2 on the season after winning a pair of games at the Osprey Thanksgiving Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., over the weekend. The Bison defeated Campbell (71-49) and Bethune-Cookman (85-36). NDSU has also defeated Northern Iowa, Concordia-Moorhead and Tulane this fall, with its two losses coming to Gonzaga (81-66) and Nebraska (82-70.) NDSU is led by preseason Summit League First-Team selections Avery Koenen and Jocelyn Schiller. Koenen, a 6-3 junior forward, averages 17.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while Schiller chips in 10.7 points and 2.9 boards. Marisa Frost, a 5-8 sophomore guard and a preseason second team pick, is averaging 12.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest.
DULY NOTED: MSU is ranked #2 in the country in steals per game (18.0) & turnovers forced (28.83).
BOBCAT NOTEBOOK:
• For the second consecutive week, Bobcat sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick has been named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Chirrick, a product of Roberts, scored the game winner at Colorado with 1.7 seconds left on Sunday afternoon. She finished the contest with 21 points (7-7 FT), six rebounds, four steals and three assists.
• 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 second 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, 19 against Minot State, 16 against UNLV, 21 at Troy, and 15 at Colorado.
• Two Bobcats rank among the nation's top 35 in steals just a month into 2025-26 season. Sophomore Taylee Chirrick, who is the reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is currently averaging 4.50 steals per game, which is tops in the Big Sky and 3rd in the country. Freshman Jamison Philip is averaging 3.17 steals per game, which is third in the Big Sky Conference and 35th in the nation.
• Taylee Chirrick is second in the Big Sky Conference and 33rd in the nation with a +2.75 assist/turnover ratio.
• As a team, the Bobcats are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in turnovers forced per game with an eye-popping 28.83 per outing. MSU turned Carroll College, Portland and Troy over 37, 33, and 31 times, respectively.
• MSU is third in the Big Sky Conference and 35th in the country in offensive rebounds per game at 15.8.
• Montana State is currently ranked No. 5 in the country in turnover margin at +11.67
• Montana State is currently ranked No. 38 in scoring offense at 80 points per game.
• The Bobcat bench is averaging 27.7 points per game, which is third best in the Big Sky and 59th in the nation.
• Sophomore Addison Harris leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks 46th in the nation shooting 56.4% from the field through the first five games of the season.
• Sophomore Taylee Chirrick is second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 19.8 points per game, which is 28th best in the nation. Sophomore Addison Harris is third in the Big Sky averaging 18.3 points per contest, which is 43rd 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.
• Montana State head coach Tricia Binford is one of 20 coaches listed on the 2026 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year award watchlist. The award, in its second season, is presented by Her Hoop Stats and named after the legendary former Harvard head coach. Richmond's Aaron Rousell was named the award's second winner in 2025. This year's watchlist includes coaches from 13 conferences.
• 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.
Players Mentioned
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