Duly Noted: Cats Face Griz in Big Sky Title Tilt

Wednesday, March 12

Boise, ID

3 p.m.

Montana State University

Montana

Photo by: Brian Morse

3/12/2025 12:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

The 121st installment of Cat-Lady Griz basketball takes place on a neutral floor in Boise, Idaho on Wednesday afternoon.

By: Tom Schulz

MONTANA STATE BOBCATS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES

MONTANA STATE (29-3) VS. MONTANA (14-17) – BOISE, IDAHO – IDAHO CENTRAL ARENA, 3 PM
TV: ESPNU/ESPN+ (Tracy Warren, Krista Redpath); RADIO: 1450 KMMS AM (Daniel Salle)

LAST GAME:

Montana State defeated Idaho State, 75-42, Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Montana defeated Northern Arizona, 71-67, Tuesday, March 11, 2025

SERIES:

Today's meeting is the 121^st installment of Cat-Griz
Montana leads its all-time series with MSU 81-39 – started Jan. 10, 1975
MSU defeated UM – 67-66 - Jan. 25, 2025, in Missoula, Mont.
MSU defeated UM – 98-66 – Feb. 22, 2025, in Bozeman, Mont.
MSU has won the last 12-of-14 from Montana, and 16-of-20 contests.
MSU has an 11-game win streak over Montana in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse

CAT/GRIZ:

Montana State and Montana have met five times in Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship games. UM has won 4 times (1991, 1995, 1997, 2008), MSU's lone win over the Lady Griz was in 1993.

MSU FIVE:

G – Esmeralda Morales, 5-5, Sr., Spanaway, Wash., 15.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg
G – Issy Bunyan, 6-0, So., Tonyrefail, Wales, 2.87 ppg, 1.1 rpg
F – Katelynn Martin, 6-2, Grad, Silver City, N.M., 9.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg
F – Ella Johnson, 6-2, So., Elk River, Minn., 2.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg
F – Marah Dykstra, 6-2, Jr., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 12.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg

THE BENCH:

The Bobcat bench is the 12^th best in the nation averaging 27.5 ppg
G – Taylee Chirrick, 5-11, Fr., Roberts, Mont., 7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg
G – Natlie Picton, 5-5, So., Welland, ON, Canada, 6.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg
F – Addison Harris, 6-1, Fr., Camas, Wash., 5.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg
F – Lexi Deden, 6-1, Sr., Missoula, Mont., 4.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg
F – Taylor Janssen, 6-3, Sr., Rosemount, Minn., 3.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg
G – Hannah Robbins, So., Phoenix, Ariz., 1.9 ppg, 1.0 rpg
F – Teagan Erickson, 6-2, Fr., Saco, Mont., 1.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg

THE COACH:

Tricia Binford is in her 20^th season at Montana State (358-252 Overall; 224-127 Big Sky)
Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year – 2016, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025
Second Winningest Coach in Big Sky Conference Women's Basketball history
Winningest Coach in Montana State history – men or women
Has not had a losing season in the last 18 years
Has four Big Sky MVPs – Esme Morales, Fallyn Freije, Peyton Ferris, Jasmine Hommes
Alma Mater: Boise State, 1995, All-Big Sky Guard under legendary June Daugherty
Played in the WNBA for the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Rockers
Was an assistant at Utah State resurrecting that program prior to Montana State
Husband Todd, son Justin, daughter Brooklyn

THE STAFF:

Associate Head Coach Sunny Smallwood is a graduate of Boise State University
Smallwood has been an assistant throughout her 35-year career. She has coached at MSU, Arizona, Boise St., Cal, Nebraska, Washington, Washington St., over 1,000 games in total.
Started her career coaching at Boise High School (8 years).
Ryan Johnson has served at Xavier, Idaho St., No. Colorado, Utah St., Colorado St.
Devin Perez served at Missouri and Marquette prior to Montana State.

NATIONALLY:

#1 in the nation – Steals Per Game – 14.7
# 3 in the nation – Turnover Margin – 8.88
#5 in the nation – Turnovers Forced Per Game – 23.81
# 7 in the nation – Winning Percentage – 90.6%
#12 in the nation – Bench Points Per Game – 27.5
#16 in the nation – Scoring Defense – 55.4 ppg
#17 in the nation – Free Throw Percentage – 78.1%
#18 in the nation – Scoring Margin – 17.5
Listed in the top 100 in the nation in 18 statistical categories.

INDIVIDUALLY:

Taylee Chirrick is 5^th in the nation in Steals Per Game – 3.44
Taylee Chirrick is 7^th in the nation in Steals – 110
Taylee Chirrick is the top freshman in the country in Steals and SPG.
Esmeralda Morales is 30^th in the nation in Free Throw Percentage – 87.8%

THE TEAM:

MSU held ISU to 42 points, the 3^rd lowest total in BSC Tournament history.
No Bobcat player saw more than 24 minutes of action against Idaho State.
MSU's school record 471 steals are third most in Big Sky Conference history.
MSU's 14-of-14 effort from the line against ISU matched a tournament record.
In MSU's 32 games, it has held its opponents to 60 points or less on 23 occasions.
In MSU's 32 games, it has held its opponents to 50 points or less on 11 occasions.
MSU's Assists/TO: 476/478; MSU's opponents Assists/TO: 346/762
MSU 64.2% shooting against Northern Colorado was the best of the season.
MSU's 12 3-pointers vs. UNC matched a season high (also at ISU, Jan. 16, 2025)
MSU dished out season-high 29 assists against Northern Colorado
MSU's current NET RANKING is 52.

THE TOURNEY:

MSU's 29 assists against Northern Colorado tied the Big Sky Tournament record.
MSU's 18 steals against UNC was the second most in a Big Sky Tournament game.
MSU's 64.2% FG against UNC was 2^nd best in a Big Sky Tournament game.
Taylee Chirrick's 8 steals vs. ISU tied Big Sky Tournament record.
MSU's 92 points vs. UNC were its second highest in tourney play, 93 v., NAU, 1996 Q

THE PLAYERS:

Taylee Chirrick's 110 steals are 6^th best in Big Sky Conference history, 3^rd at MSU
Taylee Chirrick has had five or more steals in a game on six occasions, high 11 at EWU
Last four games Natalie Picton has averaged 13.3 ppg, 56.3% FG; 52.9% 3FG
Picton's four 3s against UNC was fourth highest for a Bobcat in Big Sky Tourney game.
Katelynn Martin plays in her 151^st game vs. ISU, 3^rd highest total Big Sky history.
Taylor Janssen plays in her 144^th game vs. ISU, 4^th highest total in Big Sky history.
Taylor Janssen had season-high 14 points in MSU's win over Northern Colorado.
Issy Bunyan's 20:22 minutes vs. UNC second most of season; 8 pts, 5 assists, 4 steals
Issy Bunyan's 23:51 minutes vs. ISU most of season matched career high 15 points
Esme Morales career numbers (Big Sky career ranking); Points: 1,844 (14^th), three-point makes: 282 (6^th), 3-pt. FG Per Game: 2.29 (11^th), FT Percentage: 86.7% (6^th).
Esme Morales has played and started in all 123 games of her career.