Montana

Montana State women hammer Northern Colorado, cruise into Big Sky semifinals

Published

10 months ago

March 9, 2025

Montana State women hammer Northern Colorado, cruise into Big Sky semifinals

BOISE, Idaho — The cardinal rule to beating Montana State this season? Don’t turn the ball over.

Easier said than done, obviously. Northern Colorado was the latest to fall victim to MSU’s pressure Sunday at the Big Sky Conference women’s basketball tournament at Idaho Central Arena.

The Bobcats, who rank No. 1 in Division I in steals per game and No. 5 in forced turnovers per game, scored 37 points off 26 UNC giveaways in a 92-60 quarterfinal victory.

Photos: Montana State women defeat Northern Colorado at Big Sky Conference tournament

With a quick start, top-seeded Montana State (28-3) advanced to the tournament semifinals where it will face either Weber State or Idaho State on Tuesday at noon.

“We’re so excited for our team,” said MSU freshman Taylee Chirrick, who again helped lead the defensive charge. “To get a fast start just makes us want to continue that and keep it rolling, because it makes it super fun.”

Bobcat postgame: Coach Tricia Binford, players discuss quarterfinal win over UNC

A 3-pointer by Natalie Picton at the 3:48 mark of the first quarter put the Bobcats ahead 19-0 and MSU was well on its way.

Northern Colorado scored its first points on a free throw by Aniah Hall at 3:11 of the first, and the Bears’ first field goal didn’t come until London Gamble converted a layup at the 2:02 mark.

MSU led 29-7 at the end of the first after Big Sky MVP Esmeralda Morales beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer, a hole far too great for the Bears to climb out of.

“We just didn’t value the basketball and it got out of control pretty quickly,” Northern Colorado coach Kristen Mattio said.

Still, the Bears crawled within 11 points at 36-25 on a 3 by Gamble midway through the second as the Cats got a little too sloppy with the ball. But Montana State stabilized and went into halftime with a 20-point advantage, 48-28.

MSU’s lead grew to as much as 37 points in the second half, and the Bobcats mitigated 24 turnovers of their own by proving again to be too fast and too efficient for an opponent.

The Cats put five players in double figures, led by Katelynn Martin’s 16 points. Picton and Taylor Janssen each had 14.

Chirrick added 12 points and seven steals. Morales finished with 10 points and seven assists. The Bobcats shot a sizzling 64% from the field.

Northern Colorado, which topped Portland State 53-50 in the first round on Saturday, exits the tournament with a 14-17 overall record. The Bears last won the Big Sky tourney in 2018.

The Bobcats are seeking their first tournament championship since 2022 and are chasing the fourth tourney crown in program history. MSU’s 28 wins are an extension of its single-season school record.

“I’m really proud of how we came out start to finish,” said Montana State coach Tricia Binford. “Our energy, our defense … this team does not (care) who we’re rotating.

“Everybody has been ready to give us a huge impact. We had five kids in double digits. Just really proud of this group. We came ready to go today.”

Source link

Click to comment

Montana

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

Published

9 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

BOZEMAN — For the second consecutive week, Montana State sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick has been named Big Sky Conference player of the week, the league office announced Tuesday.

The 5-foot-11 product of Roberts scored the game-winning basket with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift the Bobcats to a 71-70 upset of Big 12 member Colorado on Sunday afternoon at the CU Events Center. Chirrick finished the contest with 21 points, which included a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line.

Chirrick once again stuffed the stat sheet, pulling down a team-best six rebounds, while adding four steals, three assists and a pair of 3-pointers in the victory.

Chirrick is currently ranked third in the nation averaging 4.5 steals per game, and her 27 total steals rank 14th overall. Her 19.8 points per game rank second in the Big Sky and 28th in the nation.

Montana State opens the Big Sky Conference/Summit League Challenge on Wednesday at North Dakota State in Fargo. Tip is slated for 6 p.m. (MT) in the Scheels Center. The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network.

Source link

Montana

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Published

21 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Justin Hosa / MTN Sports

Montana State topped Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim their first National Championship since 1984.TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Kyle Hansen / MTN Sports

Source link

Montana

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Montana State squares off with Illinois State Monday night in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The Bobcats are making their third trip to the title game in the past five seasons under coach Brent Vigen. The program is seeking its first championship since 1984.

MTN Sports has been on the ground in Nashville for the past five days covering the lead-up to the game, including the pregame show “Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest” hosted by Scott Breen and Kyle Hansen.

In it the MTN staff provides game previews, features, facts and figures and sights and sounds from the past several days in Music City in the run-up to the game. To watch, see the video reel below.

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest

Source link