Thursday, January 11
Flagstaff, AZ
6 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Northern Arizona
Taylor Janssen (24) controls the boards for MSU at South Dakota State on Saturday afternoon.
Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia
Cats Resume Big Sky Play at Northern Arizona
1/9/2024 4:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State jumps back into Big Sky Conference action this week as it travels to Northern Arizona, Thursday, Jan. 11 for a 6 p.m. tipoff in Flagstaff.
NEXT UP: Montana State jumps back into Big Sky Conference action this week as it travels to Northern Arizona, Thursday, Jan. 11 for a 6 p.m. tipoff in Flagstaff. The Bobcats will close out the weekend at Northern Colorado, Saturday, Jan. 13, with a 2 p.m. tip in Greeley. Montana State's next home game will be Cat-Griz, Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. in The Brick.
A LITTLE ABOUT MONTANA STATE: Montana State went 1-1 in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The Bobcats defeated North Dakota State 65-45 and dropped a 61-53 decision at South Dakota State in Brookings on Saturday afternoon.
A LITTLE ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA: Northern Arizona went 0-2 in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The Lumberjacks suffered a 110-102 double overtime loss to South Dakota State in Flagstaff, before losing 99-73 at North Dakota State on Saturday in Fargo.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Northern Arizona enters Thursday night's contest 9-5 overall and 1-0 in Big Sky Conference play. The Lumberjacks are coming off a pair of losses in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge, last week. NAU dropped a 110-102 double overtime decision to South Dakota State in Flagstaff, before suffering a 99-73 setback at North Dakota State on Saturday afternoon in Fargo. NAU's lone conference game was a 76-72 victory over Northern Colorado on Dec. 30. Four Lumberjacks average double figures in scoring led by Sophie Glancey 12.6, Emily Rodabaugh 11.9, Leia Beattie 10.7, and Grace Beasley 10.4. The Lumberjacks are first in the Big Sky at 77.6 ppg., but last in giving up 74.9 ppg.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Hall has started in all 15 games and is averaging 9.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. At South Dakota State on Saturday afternoon, Hall posted 10 points and hauled down five rebounds. It was her fifth straight double digit scoring game. Hall had a strong opening week of Big Sky play as the Bobcats defeated Idaho State and Weber State. For the two games, she averaged 15 points and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting 61.1% from the field and 80% at the line. Last season, Hall (Jackson) played in 29 games, including 16 starts. Over the summer, she married Brayden Hall, a former MSU men's basketball manager. Last winter, Hall tallied a season-best 12 points on two occasions. For the season, she averaged 5.2 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Hall had a career-high 20 points against Idaho State.
OH CANADA: Marah (MARE-ah) Dykstra has started 25-of-44 games as a Bobcat and is currently averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per outing, while dishing out a team-best 2.7 assists per game. Dykstra, who has started in all 15 games this season, has been in double-figures on five occasions. In MSU's last outing against South Dakota State, Dykstra posted 14 points and four rebounds. This fall, she notched her best game at Arizona State on Nov. 10, pouring in 17 points, while adding six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Last winter, the native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest, while shooting 38.2% from the field and 80.5% (33-41) from the free throw line. Last summer, Dykstra, a 6-2 forward, played for Team Canada at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup in Madrid, Spain, July 15-23. During the last offseason she navigated a year-long process and survived two rounds of cuts to make the final 12-player roster. Five players returned to the squad from the 2022 U18 Canadian team that competed in the Women's Americas Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of which Dykstra was a member. Team Canada cruised through pool play, defeating China 83-62, Czech Republic 66-61, Egypt 100-44, and Brazil 89-45. Dykstra averaged seven rebounds per game, the second-best mark of any athlete in opening round action. Dykstra finished World Cup play averaging 23.1 minutes, while chipping in 4.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Taylor Janssen notched a season-best 16 points at Portland on Dec. 2, connecting on six-of-10 from the field, including a three-of-four effort from beyond the three-point line. Janssen notched 11 points at South Dakota State last Saturday afternoon, which included a four-of-four effort from the line. On the season, the product of Rosemount, Minn., is averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.9% from the field. Janssen played in all 30 games and averaged 3.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per outing last season. She notched a season-high 11 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 7, 2023. Janssen pulled down a season-high seven rebounds against Providence (MT) in the season-opener. As a freshman, she connected on 20 straight free throws before missing a charity toss against Weber State. Janssen came up short of the all-time Bobcat record of 25 set by Rebecca Mercer during the 2007-08 season.
OUT ON A LIMB: Senior Katelynn 'KJ' Limardo has started 14 games for the Bobcats and will make her 104th start at MSU on Thursday against Northern Arizona. Limardo is averaging a team-best 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. She has been in double-digits on 12 occasions, including a career-high 25 points against North Texas on Dec. 21, connecting on seven-of-11 from the field, five-of-nine from long distance and six-of-seven from the line. Limardo also added six rebounds, three steals and two assists against the Mean Green. For her efforts, she was named Big Sky Player of the Week. At Portland on Dec. 2, she notched her first ever double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She had her second double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Weber State on Dec. 31. Against North Dakota State on Wednesday night, Limardo posted 12 for her sixth consecutive double digit scoring game. Last year, she played in all 31 games and averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Against Saint Mary's on Dec. 12, 2022, Limardo registered a career-high seven triples- which were the second most in a single game at Montana State, behind Tori Martell's 8 3-pointers against North Dakota on Dec. 6, 2020. The product of Silver City, N.M. (a town where lawman Harvey Whitehall was the first to arrest Billy the Kid, known at the time under the alias Henry Antrim in 1875), is shooting 36.4% from the field and 78% from the line. Limardo is first on the team with 26 3-pointers.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Freshman Natalie Picton, a 5-5 guard from Welland, Ontario, Canada has played and started in all 15 games following the injury to sophomore point guard Dylan Philip. The freshman has filled the role admirably, averaging 6.4 points and 2.3 assists per game. Picton has reached double-figures in five games, including a season-high 12 points against San Jose State and North Dakota.
MADE IN MONTANA: Sophomore Lindsey Hein (Forsyth) and redshirt freshman Brooke Berry (Billings) have both come off the bench to make big contributions. The duo had their best outings against Wyoming. Hein finished with 11 points, which included a five-of-six effort from the free throw line. She also recorded three rebounds and a blocked shot. Berry, who prepped at Skyview, scored eight points to spark MSU in the opening quarter against the Cowgirls. She finished the game with 10 points on four-of-eight shooting. Berry is the daughter of former MSU men's player Gale Berry, who was part of the Bobcat program from 1988-90.
THE WONDER FROM WALES: Freshman Issy Bunyan has made an impact in her short time at MSU. The 6-0 guard from Tonyrefail, Wales, is averaging 5.7 points per game. She has been in double figures scoring on four occasions, including a season-best 15 against BYU in the season opener.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Over the past 10 seasons the Bobcats have thrived in the warm confines of Worthington Arena. Since the 2012-13 season, Montana State has gone an impressive 120-33 (78.4%) overall and 82-23 (78.1%) in Big Sky Conference play on its home court. During that span - from the start of the 2015-16 Big Sky season to the beginning of 2017-18 in league play- MSU rattled off a 19-game home court win streak. In her 19 seasons at Montana State, Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford is 168-73 (69.7%) overall and 111-48 (69.8%) in Big Sky play in Worthington Arena.
WIN 300: With its 75-60 win over Weber State on Feb. 9, 2023, MSU head coach Tricia Binford notched her 309th career win, moving her past former Weber State bench boss Carla Taylor (308 -23 years). With MSU's 92-84 victory at Eastern Washington on Dec. 31, 2022, Binford became just the third coach in Big Sky history to record 300 wins- all coming as a member of the league. Binford is second to Montana's Robin Selvig (865, 38 years). In Big Sky play, Binford is second to Selvig (358) with 199 victories. Binford is MSU's winningest coach - men/women. This season marks Binford's 19th with the Bobcat program. She is currently 320-240 overall and 199-119 in BSC play.
A FEW MORE NOTES: Over the past seven seasons, the Bobcats have claimed three Big Sky regular season titles 2016, 2017, 2020; two Big Sky Conference Tournament titles 2017, 2022; made two NCAA appearances 2017, 2022; and one WNIT appearance 2016…In the last six seasons, no Big Sky Conference team has won more league games than the Bobcats. Montana State has racked up 72 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. The Bobcats are followed by Idaho (67) and Idaho State (64).
A LITTLE ABOUT MONTANA STATE: Montana State went 1-1 in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The Bobcats defeated North Dakota State 65-45 and dropped a 61-53 decision at South Dakota State in Brookings on Saturday afternoon.
A LITTLE ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA: Northern Arizona went 0-2 in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The Lumberjacks suffered a 110-102 double overtime loss to South Dakota State in Flagstaff, before losing 99-73 at North Dakota State on Saturday in Fargo.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Northern Arizona enters Thursday night's contest 9-5 overall and 1-0 in Big Sky Conference play. The Lumberjacks are coming off a pair of losses in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge, last week. NAU dropped a 110-102 double overtime decision to South Dakota State in Flagstaff, before suffering a 99-73 setback at North Dakota State on Saturday afternoon in Fargo. NAU's lone conference game was a 76-72 victory over Northern Colorado on Dec. 30. Four Lumberjacks average double figures in scoring led by Sophie Glancey 12.6, Emily Rodabaugh 11.9, Leia Beattie 10.7, and Grace Beasley 10.4. The Lumberjacks are first in the Big Sky at 77.6 ppg., but last in giving up 74.9 ppg.
ALL JACKED UP: Madison Hall has started in all 15 games and is averaging 9.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. At South Dakota State on Saturday afternoon, Hall posted 10 points and hauled down five rebounds. It was her fifth straight double digit scoring game. Hall had a strong opening week of Big Sky play as the Bobcats defeated Idaho State and Weber State. For the two games, she averaged 15 points and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting 61.1% from the field and 80% at the line. Last season, Hall (Jackson) played in 29 games, including 16 starts. Over the summer, she married Brayden Hall, a former MSU men's basketball manager. Last winter, Hall tallied a season-best 12 points on two occasions. For the season, she averaged 5.2 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Hall had a career-high 20 points against Idaho State.
OH CANADA: Marah (MARE-ah) Dykstra has started 25-of-44 games as a Bobcat and is currently averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per outing, while dishing out a team-best 2.7 assists per game. Dykstra, who has started in all 15 games this season, has been in double-figures on five occasions. In MSU's last outing against South Dakota State, Dykstra posted 14 points and four rebounds. This fall, she notched her best game at Arizona State on Nov. 10, pouring in 17 points, while adding six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Last winter, the native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest, while shooting 38.2% from the field and 80.5% (33-41) from the free throw line. Last summer, Dykstra, a 6-2 forward, played for Team Canada at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup in Madrid, Spain, July 15-23. During the last offseason she navigated a year-long process and survived two rounds of cuts to make the final 12-player roster. Five players returned to the squad from the 2022 U18 Canadian team that competed in the Women's Americas Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of which Dykstra was a member. Team Canada cruised through pool play, defeating China 83-62, Czech Republic 66-61, Egypt 100-44, and Brazil 89-45. Dykstra averaged seven rebounds per game, the second-best mark of any athlete in opening round action. Dykstra finished World Cup play averaging 23.1 minutes, while chipping in 4.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
THE PRIDE OF ROSEMOUNT: Taylor Janssen notched a season-best 16 points at Portland on Dec. 2, connecting on six-of-10 from the field, including a three-of-four effort from beyond the three-point line. Janssen notched 11 points at South Dakota State last Saturday afternoon, which included a four-of-four effort from the line. On the season, the product of Rosemount, Minn., is averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.9% from the field. Janssen played in all 30 games and averaged 3.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per outing last season. She notched a season-high 11 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 7, 2023. Janssen pulled down a season-high seven rebounds against Providence (MT) in the season-opener. As a freshman, she connected on 20 straight free throws before missing a charity toss against Weber State. Janssen came up short of the all-time Bobcat record of 25 set by Rebecca Mercer during the 2007-08 season.
OUT ON A LIMB: Senior Katelynn 'KJ' Limardo has started 14 games for the Bobcats and will make her 104th start at MSU on Thursday against Northern Arizona. Limardo is averaging a team-best 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. She has been in double-digits on 12 occasions, including a career-high 25 points against North Texas on Dec. 21, connecting on seven-of-11 from the field, five-of-nine from long distance and six-of-seven from the line. Limardo also added six rebounds, three steals and two assists against the Mean Green. For her efforts, she was named Big Sky Player of the Week. At Portland on Dec. 2, she notched her first ever double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She had her second double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Weber State on Dec. 31. Against North Dakota State on Wednesday night, Limardo posted 12 for her sixth consecutive double digit scoring game. Last year, she played in all 31 games and averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Against Saint Mary's on Dec. 12, 2022, Limardo registered a career-high seven triples- which were the second most in a single game at Montana State, behind Tori Martell's 8 3-pointers against North Dakota on Dec. 6, 2020. The product of Silver City, N.M. (a town where lawman Harvey Whitehall was the first to arrest Billy the Kid, known at the time under the alias Henry Antrim in 1875), is shooting 36.4% from the field and 78% from the line. Limardo is first on the team with 26 3-pointers.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Freshman Natalie Picton, a 5-5 guard from Welland, Ontario, Canada has played and started in all 15 games following the injury to sophomore point guard Dylan Philip. The freshman has filled the role admirably, averaging 6.4 points and 2.3 assists per game. Picton has reached double-figures in five games, including a season-high 12 points against San Jose State and North Dakota.
MADE IN MONTANA: Sophomore Lindsey Hein (Forsyth) and redshirt freshman Brooke Berry (Billings) have both come off the bench to make big contributions. The duo had their best outings against Wyoming. Hein finished with 11 points, which included a five-of-six effort from the free throw line. She also recorded three rebounds and a blocked shot. Berry, who prepped at Skyview, scored eight points to spark MSU in the opening quarter against the Cowgirls. She finished the game with 10 points on four-of-eight shooting. Berry is the daughter of former MSU men's player Gale Berry, who was part of the Bobcat program from 1988-90.
THE WONDER FROM WALES: Freshman Issy Bunyan has made an impact in her short time at MSU. The 6-0 guard from Tonyrefail, Wales, is averaging 5.7 points per game. She has been in double figures scoring on four occasions, including a season-best 15 against BYU in the season opener.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Over the past 10 seasons the Bobcats have thrived in the warm confines of Worthington Arena. Since the 2012-13 season, Montana State has gone an impressive 120-33 (78.4%) overall and 82-23 (78.1%) in Big Sky Conference play on its home court. During that span - from the start of the 2015-16 Big Sky season to the beginning of 2017-18 in league play- MSU rattled off a 19-game home court win streak. In her 19 seasons at Montana State, Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford is 168-73 (69.7%) overall and 111-48 (69.8%) in Big Sky play in Worthington Arena.
WIN 300: With its 75-60 win over Weber State on Feb. 9, 2023, MSU head coach Tricia Binford notched her 309th career win, moving her past former Weber State bench boss Carla Taylor (308 -23 years). With MSU's 92-84 victory at Eastern Washington on Dec. 31, 2022, Binford became just the third coach in Big Sky history to record 300 wins- all coming as a member of the league. Binford is second to Montana's Robin Selvig (865, 38 years). In Big Sky play, Binford is second to Selvig (358) with 199 victories. Binford is MSU's winningest coach - men/women. This season marks Binford's 19th with the Bobcat program. She is currently 320-240 overall and 199-119 in BSC play.
A FEW MORE NOTES: Over the past seven seasons, the Bobcats have claimed three Big Sky regular season titles 2016, 2017, 2020; two Big Sky Conference Tournament titles 2017, 2022; made two NCAA appearances 2017, 2022; and one WNIT appearance 2016…In the last six seasons, no Big Sky Conference team has won more league games than the Bobcats. Montana State has racked up 72 victories in Big Sky play since the 2019-20 season. The Bobcats are followed by Idaho (67) and Idaho State (64).
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