Montana State University
Black Hills State
11/1/2026 7:42:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BOZEMAN, Mont. - Marking the official commencement of the 2026-27 basketball season, Montana State welcomes Black Hills State to Bozeman for a matinee on Monday, Nov. 2, in the annual school day celebration.
GAME 1Â
Who:Â Black Hills State
When: Monday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. MT
Where:Â Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: The Varsity Network & 103.5 FM
Live Stats:Â StatBroadcast
While thousands of students from across the state pack the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, the Bobcats will begin what is expected to be another spectacular season. The meeting will be the first regular season game between the Bobcats and the Yellow Jackets, although counting as an exhibition for BHSU only.
The visitors are entering their second year under head coach Kelly Kruger, who led the Yellow Jackets to an 18-11 record while serving as interim head coach last season.
The game will be the first of two for MSU during their opening week, as the team will continue to host Portland on Sunday, Nov. 8 in Bozeman. Single-game and season tickets are on sale now.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
In a testament to the culture Tricia Binford has built at Montana State, 10 players return to the Montana State roster from last season. Led by reigning Big Sky MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Taylee Chirrick and first team All-Big Sky selection Addison Harris, all five of MSU's starters are back in action this year. Ella Johnson, Issy Bunyan and Jamison Philip, who started all 35 games last year, are all back in the Blue and Gold. Fifth year Dylan Philip is back in action after spending a year out with injury and will look to extend MSU's depth, backed by Brianne Bailey, Kadynce Couture, Teagan Erickson, and Brooke Fatupaito.Â
FRESH TALENT
Four newcomers join the array of talent already on the Montana State team, between two freshmen and two transfers. Madison O'Connor and Emma Dongelmans will look to make their collegiate debuts this season, each bringing an array of accolades from their high school careers. Meanwhile, Braeden Gunlock, a sophomore BYU transfer, and Ebele Mbagwu, who previously competed at Miles Community College, look to bring experience to the court as they work their way into MSU's scheme.Â
PRESEASON PRAISE
After an historic end to the 2025-26 campaign, the Bobcat women were picked to finish first in both the Big Sky Coaches and Media Preseason Polls. Two of MSU's 10 returners, Taylee Chirrick and Addison Harris, were named to the All-Big Sky Preseason team, alongside five other conference standouts. Chirrick was named the preseason MVP, after becoming the only player in MSU history to win Big Sky MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. She also became the program and conference single-season steals leader with 145, and finished third among active NCAA DI players with 4.2 steals per game as a sophomore. Harris received first-team All-Big Sky accolades last season, and totaled 495 points, 142 rebounds, 48 assists, 33 steals, and 24 blocks while starting all 35 games for Montana State in her sophomore campaign.
STACKING SUCCESS
Montana State's most successful years have come across the past two seasons. After Coach Binford guided the Bobcats to 30 wins in 2024-25, the women had their longest season to date in 2025-26, advancing to the third round of the WNIT. With 57 combined wins across the two years, the Bobcats set a school and conference record for most victories in back to back seasons.Â
KEEP AN EYE OUT
After a successful sophomore season, Taylee Chirrick earned a spot on the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List alongside 25 of the top players in the nation. Joining Chirrick's praise, Tricia Binford was named to the Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Preseason Watch List.Â
EXHIBITION EXCELLENCE
The Bobcats had a pair of early opportunities to showcase their skills in October, hosting Cedarville and South Dakota Mines in exhibition games. With tremendous team efforts, the Bobcats put up over 100 points or more in each matchup, proving their readiness for a challenging non-conference slate.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Entering the season, Montana State is set for 14 home contests, 10 non-conference matchups and 20 Big Sky games. The 2026-27 schedule will not be easy for the Bobcats, with nine teams that reached the 20-win mark and four NCAA tournament teams on the calendar. Looking to improve upon the best home attendance in program history, MSU is sure to provide Bobcat fans with excitement and energy in each outing. The Cats begin conference play on Dec. 5, when Northern Arizona makes an appearance in Bozeman.Â
FAMILY TIES
Family comes first for the Bobcats, with sisters Jamison and Dylan Philip ready to take to the court together for the first time. Madison O'Connor, who follows in the footsteps of her mother, Sheila (Hutchinson) was a first-team All-Big Sky selection for the Bobcats in 2004 and helped MSU to a regular season conference title. O'Connor awaits the arrival of her younger sister Avery, who is verbally committed to join the Bobcats in the 2027-28 season.Â
MONTANA MADE
Nearly half of the MSU roster is local to the state, with six Bobcats hailing from Montana. Madison O'Connor comes from Baker, Taylee Chirrick hails from Roberts, Kadynce Couture from Missoula, Teagan Erickson from Saco, Brooke Fatupaito from Billings, and Braeden Gunlock from Bigfork. The Bobcats also have three players from Washington, and one each from California, Idaho, Minnesota, Canada and Wales.Â
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Off-court success is a high priority for the program as well, and the Bobcats were named the 2026-27 Big Sky Team Academic Champions, posting the highest combined GPA amongst women's basketball programs in the conference at 3.76. Eight Montana State players earned Big Sky All-Academic honors during the season, including Brianne Bailey, Taylee Chirrick, Kadynce Couture, Teagan Erickson, Brooke Fatupaito, Addison Harris, Ella Johnson and Courtney Smith. Dylan Philip was also one of seven Bobcats to earn a perfect 4.0 GPA, joining Bailey, Erickson, Fatupaito, Johnson and Smith. Montana State also finished 11th in the nation in team GPA as honored by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. It marked the eighth time in program history, all under the watch of head coach Tricia Binford, that the Bobcats have been a top 15 academic squad.
FROM COURT TO COACH
Esmeralda Morales to the coaching staff, who makes her return to the program as a graduate assistant after spending a season on the roster as a standout student-athlete in the 2024-25 season. In her sole season at Montana State, Morales was a catalyst in one of the program's most historic seasons. In 2024-25, she helped MSU to its eighth Big Sky regular-season title, fourth tournament championship, and fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. Morales was named Big Sky Most Valuable Player after finishing in the conference's top five in points, steals, and assists, and earned WBCA All-America Honorable Mention honors. The team's 30 wins that season marked the first half of what would later set a Big Sky record for most wins in consecutive campaigns. Following her collegiate career, Morales signed a professional contract with Club Deportivo Escuela Alemana de Paillaco in Paillaco, Chile. Most recently, Morales played for the Australian National Basketball League team Lakeside Lightning, where she was named the NBL1 West Women's MVP in August.
Follow the Bobcats
For the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Montana State women's basketball team, follow the Bobcats on X at @MSUBobcatsWBB and on Instagram at @msubobcatswbb. Information on the Montana State athletic program can be found online at msubobcats.com or by following the Bobcats on X at @MSUBobcats, Instagram @MontanaStateBobcats, and on Facebook at Montana State Bobcats.
