Third Quarter Onslaught Tames Wildcats

Thursday, February 13

Ogden, UT

6 p.m.

Montana State University

23-2,13-0Big Sky

Weber State

9-13,6-6Big Sky

Montana St.

Weber St.

Taylee Chirrick recorded five points, four rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block against Weber State on Thursday night.

Photo by: Abigail Triplett

2/13/2025 8:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MSU outscored WSU 24-8 in the third frame, shooting 58.8% from the floor.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State opened the second half on a 14-0 run thawing out from an icy first twenty minutes to record its 16^th straight win, posting a 63-45 victory over Weber State, Thursday night in the Dee Events Center.

Montana State (23-2, 13-0) led 25-21 at intermission after shooting just 21.9% from the field, including a cool three-of-17 performance from long distance. Behind strong free throw shooting and its always reliable defense, the Bobcats forced Weber State (9-13, 6-6) into 13 turnovers, resulting in eight points for MSU.

"I was happy with our first five minutes of the game," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "We were creating extra possessions, but the shots just weren't falling."

MSU opened the second half with fourteen straight points, highlighted by Marah Dykstra's three-pointer giving the Bobcats a 37-21 advantage with 6:29 left in the period.

Weber State whittled the margin to 11 points, but back-to-back steals by Hannah Robbins and Esmeralda Morales and consecutive layups via Ella Johnson- in the span of nine seconds- blew the game open.

"We had a great third quarter and the two steals gave us control," Binford said. "The other three quarters we were forcing things, over dribbling, and trying to go for the home run, when we want things simple."

MSU outscored WSU 24-8 in the third frame, shooting 58.8% from the floor.

The Bobcats grabbed its largest lead at 62-38 on a Natalie Picton layup with 4:52 remaining.

Dykstra was the only player to notch double figures recording 14 points on five-of-12 from the field, including a pair of triples. Katelynn Martin and Picton added nine points, apiece.

Martin paced the Bobcats with six rebounds as MSU held a narrow 38-35 edge under the boards.

A stalwart defense forced 28 turnovers by the Wildcats, and for the third time this season, the Bobcats recorded twenty steals, led by Dylan Philip with four. Montana State also held an opponent under 50 points for the fourth time in Big Sky play.

Montana State faces Idaho State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Reed Gym.