Cats Host Former Big Sky Foe North Dakota Saturday

Saturday, December 6

BOZEMAN

6 p.m.

Montana State University

North Dakota

Kadynce Couture, a 5-8 freshman from Missoula, elevates for a rebound over NDSU's 6-2 post player Avery Koenen.

Photo by: ZACHARY LUCY PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

12/4/2025 2:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

WBB NOTES - UND

Montana State hosts former Big Sky rival North Dakota at 6 p.m., in Worthington Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

WHO:..................... North Dakota at Montana State
WHEN:................... Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at 6 p.m. (MT)
WHERE:................. Bozeman, Mont. - Worthington Arena (6,777)
RECORDS:.............. MSU - 5-2, 0-0 BSC; UND 1-8, 0-0 SL
SERIES:.................. MSU leads series 14-7; 1st Meeting: 1976-77
LAST MTG:.............. Nov. 18, 2023 - Montana St., 60, @ UND 53 (W2)

LIVE STREAM:.......... ESPN+
LIVE AUDIO:............ 1450 KMMS AM or Varsity App
LIVE STATS:............. Click Here

NEXT UP: The Big Sky Conference/Summit League Challenge tipped off on Wednesday night and will feature another full slate this Saturday. Montana State hosts former Big Sky rival North Dakota at 6 p.m., in Worthington Arena. The Summit League holds a narrow 5-4 lead after the opening night of women's basketball action.

ABOUT THE BOBCATS: Montana State is 5-2 overall after suffering a 90-65 setback at North Dakota State on Wednesday night in Fargo, N.D. The Bison were on fire from the field hitting at a 55.5% clip, including a 61.1% (11-18) from beyond the three-point arc. Montana State had three players in double figures led by Issy Bunyan who recorded a career-points 22 points. The junior from Tonyrefail, Wales, also connected on a career-best six-of-nine from long distance. Sophomores Taylee Chirrick and Addison Harris reached double digits with 15 points, apiece. Chirrick also pulled down a team-high six rebounds to go along with five assists and five steals.

ABOUT THE FIGHTING HAWKS: North Dakota is 1-8 overall after dropping an 86-56 decision to Montana on Wednesday night in Grand Forks. Mackenzie Hughes and Skyler Volmer paced the Fighting Hawks with 15 and 12 points, respectively. As a team, UND shot 37.3% from the field and connected on six-of-23 from beyond the arc. North Dakota's only victory this season was a 65-45 victory over Wyoming on Nov. 21 in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. On the season, UND has been led by Hughes, a 5-5 guard from Thompson, N.D. She is averaging 12 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

DULY NOTED: MSU gave up a season-high 11 3-pointers to North Dakota State on Wednesday night.

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 and second in the nation averaging 18.1 steals per contest. Montana State opened the season with Carroll College (20) and added Portland (17), Minot State (19), UNLV (16), Troy (21), Colorado (15) and North Dakota State (19).
•     Two Bobcats rank among the nation's top 25 in steals just seven games into 2025-26 season. Sophomore Taylee Chirrick, who is the reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is currently averaging 4.57 steals per game, which is tops in the Big Sky and 3rd in the country. Freshman Jamison Philip is averaging 3.29 steals per game, which is third in the Big Sky Conference and 24th in the nation.
•     Taylee Chirrick is second in the Big Sky Conference and 63rd in the nation with a +2.25 assist/turnover ratio.
•     As a team, the Bobcats are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in turnovers forced per game with an eye-popping 28.00 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 47th in the country in offensive rebounds per game at 15.0.
•     Montana State is currently ranked No. 8 in the country in turnover margin at +10.57
•     Montana State is currently ranked No. 53 in scoring offense at 77.9 points per game.
•     The Bobcat bench is averaging 25.4 points per game, which is third best in the Big Sky and 84th in the nation.
•     Sophomore Addison Harris leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks 56th in the nation shooting 54.9% from the field through the first seven games of the season.
•     Sophomore Taylee Chirrick is second in the Big Sky Conference, averaging 19.1 points per game, which is 36th best in the nation. Sophomore Addison Harris is fourth in the Big Sky averaging 17.9 points per contest, which is 54th 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.