Saturday, February 7
Cheney, WA
3 p.m. (MT)
Montana State University
at
Eastern Washington
Taylee Chirrick (photo by Aiden Atterberry)
Bobcats Fight Off Eastern Washington Rally for Road Win
2/7/2026 7:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Taylee Chirrick, Jamison Philip boost Montana State
(Feb. 7, 2026) – Montana State's Ella Johnson blocked an Elyn Bowers layup with a half-second to play, allowing the Bobcats to fight off a furious Eastern Washington comeback for a 71-69 win in Cheney, Washington on Saturday.
The Eagles overcame a 19-point deficit with a torrid shooting third quarter, but Jamison Philip provided an offensive boost when the Bobcats needed it the most. MSU's freshman point guard scored Montana State's final five points of the game.
"It was a gritty win," said Bobcats head coach Tricia Binford. "It's hard to win on the road. Eastern Washington gave it all we could handle, but I'm proud of how our team competed."
After Eastern Washington took its only lead of the game, 69-68 with 1:22 to play, Philip made two free throws. The Cats forced EWU turnovers in consecutive possessions in the game's final minute, then Philip made one of two free throws for the final margin.
Philip also made Montana State's final field goal of the game, a jump shot at 5:13 that gave the Cats a 68-64 lead. From that point on, each team exerted itself on defense. Bowers' and-one layup with 1:22 to play was the only field goal either team made in the game's final five minutes.
For the game's first 18 minutes it seemed unlikely that the Bobcats would need late-game heroics. The Cats led 23-12 at the end of the first quarter, and expanded the advantage to 42-23 on an Issy Bunyan and-one two minutes before halftime.
The Eagles answered immediately. Ella Gallatin made a pair of free throws, Jaecy Eggers made two from the line, and after a Bunyan free throw Bowers ended the first half scoring with a transition jumper to draw Eastern within 43-29.
Eastern Washington's 6-1 run to close the half seemed miniscule in the third quarter's opening moments. The Eagles opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run and outscored MSU 25-14 in that period. EWU forced four Bobcat turnovers in the period's first four minutes and limited Montana State to just 10 shots in the quarter.
After the Eagles pulled with one on three occasions late in the third quarter, Kadynce Couture made a pair of free throws to give the Cats a 57-54 cushion heading into the final period. The Cats rebuilt the lead to seven at 64-57 with 8:24 to play, but a layup by Gallatin and a triple by Caitie Gingras pulled the Eagles within two.
Taylee Chirrick converted a layup with 5:49 to play, and the Eagles answered with two Kourtney Grossman free throws. That set the stage for Philip's shooting and a game-closing defensive showcase.
"We had a terrific start," Binford said, "but we need to find a way to put a full game together. That's part of the process with a young team. They came out strong in the second half and played great, but we were able to finish."
Chirrick and Gallatin finished with 18 points each for game-high honors, and Chirrick's 10 rebounds gave her a double-double. The Eagles held MSU to a season-low nine steals, and Chirrick to a season-low one.
Other than turnovers – the Bobcats forced 18 while committing only 12 – and rebounding (the Eagles out-rebounded MSU 36-29) the statistical profile was similar for each team. MSU shot 41.7 percent, and the Eagles 41.8 percent. Each team hit six three-pointers, and Eastern made 17 free throws to MSU's 15.
Montana State raised its record to 17-6 overall, 10-2 in Big Sky play with the win. Eastern Washington falls to 12-12, 5-6. The Bobcats visit Montana on Saturday at 2 pm.
#GoCatsGo
The Eagles overcame a 19-point deficit with a torrid shooting third quarter, but Jamison Philip provided an offensive boost when the Bobcats needed it the most. MSU's freshman point guard scored Montana State's final five points of the game.
"It was a gritty win," said Bobcats head coach Tricia Binford. "It's hard to win on the road. Eastern Washington gave it all we could handle, but I'm proud of how our team competed."
After Eastern Washington took its only lead of the game, 69-68 with 1:22 to play, Philip made two free throws. The Cats forced EWU turnovers in consecutive possessions in the game's final minute, then Philip made one of two free throws for the final margin.
Philip also made Montana State's final field goal of the game, a jump shot at 5:13 that gave the Cats a 68-64 lead. From that point on, each team exerted itself on defense. Bowers' and-one layup with 1:22 to play was the only field goal either team made in the game's final five minutes.
For the game's first 18 minutes it seemed unlikely that the Bobcats would need late-game heroics. The Cats led 23-12 at the end of the first quarter, and expanded the advantage to 42-23 on an Issy Bunyan and-one two minutes before halftime.
The Eagles answered immediately. Ella Gallatin made a pair of free throws, Jaecy Eggers made two from the line, and after a Bunyan free throw Bowers ended the first half scoring with a transition jumper to draw Eastern within 43-29.
Eastern Washington's 6-1 run to close the half seemed miniscule in the third quarter's opening moments. The Eagles opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run and outscored MSU 25-14 in that period. EWU forced four Bobcat turnovers in the period's first four minutes and limited Montana State to just 10 shots in the quarter.
After the Eagles pulled with one on three occasions late in the third quarter, Kadynce Couture made a pair of free throws to give the Cats a 57-54 cushion heading into the final period. The Cats rebuilt the lead to seven at 64-57 with 8:24 to play, but a layup by Gallatin and a triple by Caitie Gingras pulled the Eagles within two.
Taylee Chirrick converted a layup with 5:49 to play, and the Eagles answered with two Kourtney Grossman free throws. That set the stage for Philip's shooting and a game-closing defensive showcase.
"We had a terrific start," Binford said, "but we need to find a way to put a full game together. That's part of the process with a young team. They came out strong in the second half and played great, but we were able to finish."
Chirrick and Gallatin finished with 18 points each for game-high honors, and Chirrick's 10 rebounds gave her a double-double. The Eagles held MSU to a season-low nine steals, and Chirrick to a season-low one.
Other than turnovers – the Bobcats forced 18 while committing only 12 – and rebounding (the Eagles out-rebounded MSU 36-29) the statistical profile was similar for each team. MSU shot 41.7 percent, and the Eagles 41.8 percent. Each team hit six three-pointers, and Eastern made 17 free throws to MSU's 15.
Montana State raised its record to 17-6 overall, 10-2 in Big Sky play with the win. Eastern Washington falls to 12-12, 5-6. The Bobcats visit Montana on Saturday at 2 pm.
#GoCatsGo
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