Saturday, February 8
BOZEMAN
2 p.m.
Montana State University
22-2,12-0Big Sky
65
vs
44
Northern Colorado
10-13,3-9Big Sky
1
2
3
4
F
Northern Colo.
10
6
13
15
44
Montana St.
20
20
11
14
65
Addison Harris (33) had 10 points in MSU's 65-44 win over Northern Colorado on Saturday.
Photo by: Brian Morse
Strong First Half Propels Cats to Win over UNC
2/8/2025 5:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball
“The first half is who we are,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who saw her team win its 15th consecutive game. “We were able to force some turnovers and convert them into points.”
Montana State used a 12-3 run midway through the opening quarter and increased its margin to 24 points in the second stanza en route to a 65-44 win over Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon in Worthington Arena.
After jumping out to a 20-10 lead after the opening 10 minutes, Montana State (22-2, 12-0) held Northern Colorado (10-13, 3-9) scoreless for the first seven minutes of the second frame building a comfortable 23-point cushion. The Bobcats held a 40-16 advantage at intermission.
"The first half is who we are," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who saw her team win its 15th consecutive game. "We were able to force some turnovers and convert them into points."
MSU held a 23-2 edge in points scored off turnovers in the first half.
But as good as the Bobcats were in the first half, the second half proved to be a struggle.
MSU committed ten miscues, and UNC held an 11-4 margin in points off turnovers.
"Credit Northern Colorado," Binford said. "The played a strong second half, and we were undisciplined and moved away from our championship habits. I felt we were trying to go for the home run play, when we just needed to keep it simple."
The Bears outscored the Bobcats 28-25 in the second half, but were unable to get the MSU lead under 18 points.
Esmeralda Morales led MSU with 14 points, twelve of which came in the first half. Also, in double figures was freshman Addison Harris with 10 points.
For the game, MSU shot 35.7% from the field, but went an icy 18.5% (5-27) in the final 20 minutes. The Bobcat defense held UNC to 29.8% shooting. Montana State also got the job done at the free throw line connecting on 20-23, while the Bears converted 13-27.
"The first half we were really good guarding one on one," Binford said. "And the second half we were giving up direct line after direct line. It put us into really tough positions and then we were bailing them out and sending them to the line."
Northern Colorado held a slim 39-37 advantage under the boards. Marah Dykstra and Taylee Chirrick led MSU with six rebounds each.
Tatum West paced the Bears with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Montana State plays at Weber State, Thursday, Feb. 13 in Ogden, Utah.
After jumping out to a 20-10 lead after the opening 10 minutes, Montana State (22-2, 12-0) held Northern Colorado (10-13, 3-9) scoreless for the first seven minutes of the second frame building a comfortable 23-point cushion. The Bobcats held a 40-16 advantage at intermission.
"The first half is who we are," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who saw her team win its 15th consecutive game. "We were able to force some turnovers and convert them into points."
MSU held a 23-2 edge in points scored off turnovers in the first half.
But as good as the Bobcats were in the first half, the second half proved to be a struggle.
MSU committed ten miscues, and UNC held an 11-4 margin in points off turnovers.
"Credit Northern Colorado," Binford said. "The played a strong second half, and we were undisciplined and moved away from our championship habits. I felt we were trying to go for the home run play, when we just needed to keep it simple."
The Bears outscored the Bobcats 28-25 in the second half, but were unable to get the MSU lead under 18 points.
Esmeralda Morales led MSU with 14 points, twelve of which came in the first half. Also, in double figures was freshman Addison Harris with 10 points.
For the game, MSU shot 35.7% from the field, but went an icy 18.5% (5-27) in the final 20 minutes. The Bobcat defense held UNC to 29.8% shooting. Montana State also got the job done at the free throw line connecting on 20-23, while the Bears converted 13-27.
"The first half we were really good guarding one on one," Binford said. "And the second half we were giving up direct line after direct line. It put us into really tough positions and then we were bailing them out and sending them to the line."
Northern Colorado held a slim 39-37 advantage under the boards. Marah Dykstra and Taylee Chirrick led MSU with six rebounds each.
Tatum West paced the Bears with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Montana State plays at Weber State, Thursday, Feb. 13 in Ogden, Utah.
Team Stats
UNC
MSU
FG%
.298
.357
3FG%
.150
.250
FT%
.481
.870
RB
39
37
TO
25
17
STL
10
16
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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