Esmeralda Morales
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Bobcats Ride Gold Wave to 98-66 Win Over Lady Griz on Saturday
2/23/2025 7:57:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MSU women's team rolls over rivals
BOZEMAN, Montana – There was a moment late in Montana State's 98-66 decimation of Montana on Saturday when Bobcat women's head coach Tricia Binford took time to enjoy the scene in at Bozeman's Worthington Arena.
"I was looking up at the crowd, looking at the Gold Rush," Binford said of the 4,580 fans that painted Worthington Arena in yellow. "Then I thought about my first Cat-Griz rivalry (game) compared to what our crowd looked like (Saturday). We've always had tremendous support but this year it's been at another level."
Less than 3,000 fans looked on as Montana destroyed Binford's first Bobcat team 79-54 on Jan. 13, 2006. MSU fans raised their level Saturday, often to cacophonous effect, but the team surpassed that effort. Montana State won its 18th straight game to match the school record, the most consecutive games wins in a single season by the Cats, and scored the most points ever against the Lady Griz. The 32-point margin was MSU's largest against their ancient rivals.
"It's one of our four rings, one of our goals, to get both of these wins (against the Lady Griz)," said Bobcat freshman Taylee Chirrick. "We just did that, so that's obviously going to be super exciting for this team."
MSU started the game at a blistering offensive pace. The Cats hit five of their first six field goal attempts and converted a pair of free throws in that stretch, eventually shooting 62 percent in the first half and 52 percent for the game. "I feel offensively we just let the game come to us and really played through each other and found quality shots," Binford said.
The Cats never trailed. A Dylan Phillip layup opened the scoring, then two Marah Dykstra free throws and a short Addison Harris jumper gave Monana State led 6-0. After UM drew within one point at 8-7, the Cats scored 15 straight points. Short jumpers by Esmeralda Morales began and ended that run, and in between four players scored using a variety of shots from a variety of places on the floor to establish MSU's ability to get the shots it wanted.
Binford said that production stemmed from efficiency and energy. "When you keep it simple – Coach Devin (Perez) likes to use the baseball analogy of singles are great, we don't need home runs – and we find a quality shot, this team is certainly capable (of scoring bursts). But I do think that there was a contagious spirit around the energy we get from the Brick and playing off the crowd. When this team gets going it's hard to stop them. We saw that today."
Any doubt about the game's outcome disappeared as the second quarter began. MSU's 26-14 lead, built by shooting 61 percent, quickly blossomed to 20 points. Natalie Picton terminated a fast break with a three-pointer, then Lexi Deden drained a short jumper, and Morales hit a triple to give MSU a 34-14 lead.
While Montana State's offense thrived, Montana wilted under MSU's defensive pressure. Montana shot just 28 percent in the first half and turned the ball over five times, with all five resulting in Bobcat steals. Those live-ball turnovers led to six of MSU's 26 points. UM's three-point shooting helped the Lady Griz stay close in the Cats' one-point January win in Missoula, but a 2-12 start from deep doomed the visitors on this day.
UM's Tyler McCliment-Call said that Montana State's ability to defend inside while pressuring the perimeter makes the Bobcat defense difficult to attack. "It's pretty clogged up in there and it's hard when you can't really (draw) a foul," she said. "It's clogged up and they speed up the pace and make it messy, that's what's difficult about it."
The Bobcats closed the first half with a flurry that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Holding a 51-30 lead in the second quarter's final minute, Morales juked a defender, stepped back, and hit a triple with 22 seconds remaining. "I just saw a mismatch," Morales said, "and coach says when you have a mismatch, go."
Moments later Katelynn Martin intercepted a Mack Konig pass, sprinted to a spot 25 feet from the basket, and rather than race the clock to the paint she gathered herself and calmly drained a three-pointer to boost her team's halftime lead to 57-30. "It was awesome," she said of the brief celebration that punctuated the day's joy. "It made it feel like all the work we put in is worth it. I was really happy and all my teammates were there to celebrate with me. It was awesome."
"It was a smart decision," Binford said of Martin pulling up behind the arc rather than lunging "for a layup from the free throw line," and Martin's teammates reveled in the game's last dramatic moment with her, a stark contrast to last year's Brawl of the Wild showdown, when Martin left on a stretcher after a brutal intentional foul knocked her out of action for two weeks.
A pair of first half injuries dampened MSU's mood and forced Binford to tap her deep, talented pool of reserves in the second half. Starters Marah Dykstra and Dylan Phillip each left the game with lower leg injuries, and didn't return. "You never want to see injuries happen on either (team)," Binford said, "and our thoughts are out to both of them. At the same time, we do have a team that's going to step up. The thing I'm most proud of is how they stepped up when it's really emotional and can go either way."
Morales said compartmentalizing the loss of two players so important to the team's success was key. "It sucks to see that, but as a leader, as a point guard, I have to continue. I have to praise them and say, 'Hey, we can't have those emotions right now, especially with this type of environment and type of game. Just continue to lead them, and we're doing it for them."
Montana's Avery Waddington opened the second half with a three-pointer to pull the Lady Griz within 24 points, 57-33, but half the third quarter elapsed before UM scored again. That allowed the Bobcats to score 14 straight points. Martin made pair of free throws, then Chirrick took over. The brilliant freshman turned one of her three steals into a fast break layup, then made an up-and-under layup, then drained a three-pointer, then turned a steal by Martin into a conventional three-point play off a fast break.
A few moments later, after the teams traded baskets, Morales made a pair of free throws to push MSU's lead to its high-water mark of 40 points at 78-38 with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter. By the time the presumptive Big Sky MVP checked out of the game for good with 28 points early in the fourth quarter to the delight of the crowd, her final tally included five rebounds and five assists without a turnover, and three steals.
Morales' presence has transformed the Bobcats from an emerging team that fought to a 10-8 Big Sky record a year ago into a historically dominant force in 2024-25. The Portland State transfer credited mindset MSU's ability to churn through another blowout win on Saturday. "It's just the mentality of (starting every possession like the score is) 0-0, and it's adjustments," she said. "It's 0-0, how can we continue to push the pedal, how can we be good, how can we attack, how can we be consistent? But the mindset's just 0-0."
Long after the score was actually 0-0 on Saturday, the teams played out the string. Each team scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, with 16 of Montana's and only four of MSU's coming from starters. Waddington scored 11 of those to push her total to 20 points. Her 21 points against the Cats in January played a large part in keeping that game competitive until the end, but on this day didn't affect the outcome. Neither did Dani Bartsch's 10 point-14 rebound double-double.
Montana was powerless to slow down the Bobcat onslaught on this day. "Our bench was incredible," Binford said, and Chirrick led that portion of the MSU attack with 13 points, five rebounds and three steals. Taylor Janssen scored 11 and Missoula product Lexi Deden 10 as reserves.
Montana head coach Nate Harris, a former Bobcat assistant, singled out a characteristic that played in MSU's favor. "I'm a firm believer that the tougher team wins almost always," he said, "and Montana State was the tougher team today."
Martin said her team's preparation has aided its historic run. "It's a testament to our hard work," the fifth-year senior said. "I think the coaches have done a good job of prepping us for every single game and I think the girls have bought into executing every single possession because we know that games can come down to one possession. I think we're well-oiled and we're bought into the process of what success looks like. That's what we executed today."
The memorable win raised Montana State's record to 25-2 overall, 15-0 in Big Sky play, while UM fell to 10-16, 6-9. It also left the Bobcats ruminating about the special nature of this year's team. "It's a different team than I've ever been on," Martin said. "When you have players that all love each other it makes the hard moments easier, and this team loves each other for who each other are and it shows in our success on and off the court."
After a post-game press conference in which each of MSU's three representatives praised the team's culture and how much the players love each other, Binford said the moment left her with many emotions. "Honored. Emotional. Lucky. Grateful. There's not a better place with better people. This team is really special how they love each other."
The Cats look to extend their perfect league record on Thursday when Morales' former team, Portland State, visits at 7 pm. On this day, though, Montana State's team leader summarized her emotions succinctly.
"Just blessed," she said with a smile.
#GoCatsGo
"I was looking up at the crowd, looking at the Gold Rush," Binford said of the 4,580 fans that painted Worthington Arena in yellow. "Then I thought about my first Cat-Griz rivalry (game) compared to what our crowd looked like (Saturday). We've always had tremendous support but this year it's been at another level."
Less than 3,000 fans looked on as Montana destroyed Binford's first Bobcat team 79-54 on Jan. 13, 2006. MSU fans raised their level Saturday, often to cacophonous effect, but the team surpassed that effort. Montana State won its 18th straight game to match the school record, the most consecutive games wins in a single season by the Cats, and scored the most points ever against the Lady Griz. The 32-point margin was MSU's largest against their ancient rivals.
"It's one of our four rings, one of our goals, to get both of these wins (against the Lady Griz)," said Bobcat freshman Taylee Chirrick. "We just did that, so that's obviously going to be super exciting for this team."
MSU started the game at a blistering offensive pace. The Cats hit five of their first six field goal attempts and converted a pair of free throws in that stretch, eventually shooting 62 percent in the first half and 52 percent for the game. "I feel offensively we just let the game come to us and really played through each other and found quality shots," Binford said.
The Cats never trailed. A Dylan Phillip layup opened the scoring, then two Marah Dykstra free throws and a short Addison Harris jumper gave Monana State led 6-0. After UM drew within one point at 8-7, the Cats scored 15 straight points. Short jumpers by Esmeralda Morales began and ended that run, and in between four players scored using a variety of shots from a variety of places on the floor to establish MSU's ability to get the shots it wanted.
Binford said that production stemmed from efficiency and energy. "When you keep it simple – Coach Devin (Perez) likes to use the baseball analogy of singles are great, we don't need home runs – and we find a quality shot, this team is certainly capable (of scoring bursts). But I do think that there was a contagious spirit around the energy we get from the Brick and playing off the crowd. When this team gets going it's hard to stop them. We saw that today."
Any doubt about the game's outcome disappeared as the second quarter began. MSU's 26-14 lead, built by shooting 61 percent, quickly blossomed to 20 points. Natalie Picton terminated a fast break with a three-pointer, then Lexi Deden drained a short jumper, and Morales hit a triple to give MSU a 34-14 lead.
While Montana State's offense thrived, Montana wilted under MSU's defensive pressure. Montana shot just 28 percent in the first half and turned the ball over five times, with all five resulting in Bobcat steals. Those live-ball turnovers led to six of MSU's 26 points. UM's three-point shooting helped the Lady Griz stay close in the Cats' one-point January win in Missoula, but a 2-12 start from deep doomed the visitors on this day.
UM's Tyler McCliment-Call said that Montana State's ability to defend inside while pressuring the perimeter makes the Bobcat defense difficult to attack. "It's pretty clogged up in there and it's hard when you can't really (draw) a foul," she said. "It's clogged up and they speed up the pace and make it messy, that's what's difficult about it."
The Bobcats closed the first half with a flurry that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Holding a 51-30 lead in the second quarter's final minute, Morales juked a defender, stepped back, and hit a triple with 22 seconds remaining. "I just saw a mismatch," Morales said, "and coach says when you have a mismatch, go."
Moments later Katelynn Martin intercepted a Mack Konig pass, sprinted to a spot 25 feet from the basket, and rather than race the clock to the paint she gathered herself and calmly drained a three-pointer to boost her team's halftime lead to 57-30. "It was awesome," she said of the brief celebration that punctuated the day's joy. "It made it feel like all the work we put in is worth it. I was really happy and all my teammates were there to celebrate with me. It was awesome."
"It was a smart decision," Binford said of Martin pulling up behind the arc rather than lunging "for a layup from the free throw line," and Martin's teammates reveled in the game's last dramatic moment with her, a stark contrast to last year's Brawl of the Wild showdown, when Martin left on a stretcher after a brutal intentional foul knocked her out of action for two weeks.
A pair of first half injuries dampened MSU's mood and forced Binford to tap her deep, talented pool of reserves in the second half. Starters Marah Dykstra and Dylan Phillip each left the game with lower leg injuries, and didn't return. "You never want to see injuries happen on either (team)," Binford said, "and our thoughts are out to both of them. At the same time, we do have a team that's going to step up. The thing I'm most proud of is how they stepped up when it's really emotional and can go either way."
Morales said compartmentalizing the loss of two players so important to the team's success was key. "It sucks to see that, but as a leader, as a point guard, I have to continue. I have to praise them and say, 'Hey, we can't have those emotions right now, especially with this type of environment and type of game. Just continue to lead them, and we're doing it for them."
Montana's Avery Waddington opened the second half with a three-pointer to pull the Lady Griz within 24 points, 57-33, but half the third quarter elapsed before UM scored again. That allowed the Bobcats to score 14 straight points. Martin made pair of free throws, then Chirrick took over. The brilliant freshman turned one of her three steals into a fast break layup, then made an up-and-under layup, then drained a three-pointer, then turned a steal by Martin into a conventional three-point play off a fast break.
A few moments later, after the teams traded baskets, Morales made a pair of free throws to push MSU's lead to its high-water mark of 40 points at 78-38 with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter. By the time the presumptive Big Sky MVP checked out of the game for good with 28 points early in the fourth quarter to the delight of the crowd, her final tally included five rebounds and five assists without a turnover, and three steals.
Morales' presence has transformed the Bobcats from an emerging team that fought to a 10-8 Big Sky record a year ago into a historically dominant force in 2024-25. The Portland State transfer credited mindset MSU's ability to churn through another blowout win on Saturday. "It's just the mentality of (starting every possession like the score is) 0-0, and it's adjustments," she said. "It's 0-0, how can we continue to push the pedal, how can we be good, how can we attack, how can we be consistent? But the mindset's just 0-0."
Long after the score was actually 0-0 on Saturday, the teams played out the string. Each team scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, with 16 of Montana's and only four of MSU's coming from starters. Waddington scored 11 of those to push her total to 20 points. Her 21 points against the Cats in January played a large part in keeping that game competitive until the end, but on this day didn't affect the outcome. Neither did Dani Bartsch's 10 point-14 rebound double-double.
Montana was powerless to slow down the Bobcat onslaught on this day. "Our bench was incredible," Binford said, and Chirrick led that portion of the MSU attack with 13 points, five rebounds and three steals. Taylor Janssen scored 11 and Missoula product Lexi Deden 10 as reserves.
Montana head coach Nate Harris, a former Bobcat assistant, singled out a characteristic that played in MSU's favor. "I'm a firm believer that the tougher team wins almost always," he said, "and Montana State was the tougher team today."
Martin said her team's preparation has aided its historic run. "It's a testament to our hard work," the fifth-year senior said. "I think the coaches have done a good job of prepping us for every single game and I think the girls have bought into executing every single possession because we know that games can come down to one possession. I think we're well-oiled and we're bought into the process of what success looks like. That's what we executed today."
The memorable win raised Montana State's record to 25-2 overall, 15-0 in Big Sky play, while UM fell to 10-16, 6-9. It also left the Bobcats ruminating about the special nature of this year's team. "It's a different team than I've ever been on," Martin said. "When you have players that all love each other it makes the hard moments easier, and this team loves each other for who each other are and it shows in our success on and off the court."
After a post-game press conference in which each of MSU's three representatives praised the team's culture and how much the players love each other, Binford said the moment left her with many emotions. "Honored. Emotional. Lucky. Grateful. There's not a better place with better people. This team is really special how they love each other."
The Cats look to extend their perfect league record on Thursday when Morales' former team, Portland State, visits at 7 pm. On this day, though, Montana State's team leader summarized her emotions succinctly.
"Just blessed," she said with a smile.
#GoCatsGo
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