Dykstra’s Career-Night Not Enough as Cats Fall in Laramie

Friday, December 2

Laramie, WY

6:30 p.m.

Montana State University

5-4,0-0Big Sky

Wyoming

4-3,0-0Mountain West

Montana St.

Wyoming

Photo by: Kyle Cajero

Dykstra’s Career-Night Not Enough as Cats Fall in Laramie

12/2/2022 9:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Dykstra, a product of Vancouver, B.C. connected on six-of-eight from the floor, was two-of-two from beyond the arc and converted both free throws in 22-minutes of action to pace Montana State (5-4).

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State freshman Marah Dykstra had her best offensive performance of the season leading the Bobcat with 16 points, but it wasn't enough to counter Wyoming's inside-out game as the Cowgirls handed MSU a 67-59 setback on Friday night in the Arena-Auditorium.

Dykstra, a product of Vancouver, B.C. connected on six-of-eight from the floor, was two-of-two from beyond the arc and converted both free throws in 22-minutes of action to pace Montana State (5-4). Junior Lexi Deden also hit double-digits with 14 points, to go along with six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Wyoming's (4-3) duo of post player Allyson Fertig and guard Quinn Weidemann matched the Dykstra and Deden show, as Fertig hit for 18 points, while Weidemann added 16, connecting on four 3-pointers.

"I loved our start and finish," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "But in the middle, we struggled with offensive flow and then they got hot from three. Wyoming is a good team, especially in their gym. Give them credit for being the better team tonight."

For the second straight game the Bobcats got off to a quick start taking an 11-4 lead on a Grace Beasley jumper. MSU held a 15-13 advantage after the opening quarter.

The Bobcats built a seven-point cushion at the 7:27 mark of the second stanza on a Dykstra triple, but the Cowgirls closed out the period on a 12-2 run to take a 32-29 lead into halftime.

With the game tied at 44-all at the 6:02 mark of the third quarter following a Madison Jackson jumper, the Cowgirls finished the frame on back-to-back three-pointers taking a 50-44 lead into the final 10-minutes.

Wyoming scored the first basket in the fourth quarter taking an eight-point advantage and held the margin until Dykstra's two free throws pulled the Bobcats to within 56-52 with 3:29 remaining. It would be the closest MSU would get down the stretch.

For the game, MSU shot 42.9% from the field, connected on three-of-nine from long distance and went eight-of-10 at the line. Wyoming shot 41.1% from the floor, converted nine-of-24 from beyond the arc, and capitalized on 12-of-13 from the line.

"It will be nice to get a couple of days off," Binford said. "We've played a lot of basketball in this stretch against good competition. We're showing progress, but it will be nice to recover and focus on us next week."

Montana State hosts Saint Mary's on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in Worthington Arena.