by Tom Schulz, MSU Communications
Any guesses of how the Montana State women’s basketball team would respond to a 16-day layoff due to COVID protocols were answered in the first four minutes in its 79-69 win over Idaho on Monday night in Worthington Arena.
Montana State (8-8, 3-2) built an early 12-3 lead behind four 3-pointers. Idaho (3-12, 2-4) rallied, grabbing an 18-17 lead with one minute, 43-seconds left in the opening frame, before Taylor Janssen quickly answered with her second triple of the period and a pair of free throws as the quarter ended.
MSU never relinquished its advantage the rest of the night.
“Idaho did a great job taking away the inside game early on,” said Ellen Kreighbaum Head Women’s Basketball Coach Tricia Binford. “But we were fortunate to knock down some outside shots and take what they were giving us, and I loved how we were shot ready.”
The Bobcats built a 36-25 cushion on a Leia Beattie 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in the half and MSU held an eight-point advantage at intermission.
The Vandals whittled the lead down to three points midway through the third quarter, before the Bobcats responded with a 12-2 run capped by a Katelynn Limardo bucket. MSU took a 10-point margin into the final stanza.
Montana State took its largest lead of the game at 60-46 on a Kola Bad Bear (Crow) jumper with seven minutes, 43-seconds left, and Idaho would get no closer than six points down the stretch. Darian White went four of four from the line in the final 21-seconds to secure the win.
“I loved our balance on the offensive end,” Binford said. “The way our kids shared the ball was outstanding and winning the glass was critical for us. That’s been an area we’ve really circled.”
White led all scorers with 21 points, connecting on 7 of 16 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free throw line. Also in double figures were Bad Bear 13 and Janssen 12.
For the game, MSU shot 48.3% from the field, 50% (9-18) from long distance and 85.7% from the line. The Bobcats also held a 43-31 advantage on the glass as Limardo pulled down a team-best nine rebounds and Gabby Mocchi and Lexi Deden, six.
Idaho was paced by Beyonce Bea with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
“We got to be uniform, and the kids were super excited,” Binford said. “We got to be in the fieldhouse and our crowd was fantastic, especially for a Monday night. We’re really thankful for them coming out and giving us some extra energy.”
