Bobcats Run Win Streak to Six with Strong Second Half Effort

Thursday, January 9

Greeley, CO

6 p.m.

Montana State University

13-2,3-0Big Sky

Northern Colorado

7-7,0-3Big Sky

Montana St.

Northern Colo.

Esme morales drives to the basket against UNC's Silvia Nativi on Thursday night in Greeley.

Photo by: Kim Spurny

Bobcats Run Win Streak to Six with Strong Second Half Effort

1/9/2025 9:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

“It’s hard to get road wins in the Big Sky Conference,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “UNC was shooting really well in the first half, and our team responded defensively in the third quarter. Once we set the tone defensively, we were able to capitalize off their mistakes.”

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State won its sixth consecutive game overcoming a three-point halftime deficit with a strong third quarter en route to a 68-57 victory over Northern Colorado on Thursday night in Bank of Colorado Arena.

Trailing 32-29 at intermission, Montana State (13-2, 3-0) used a 12-0 run over the course of three minutes in the middle of the third quarter building a 47-37 lead sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from Esmeralda Morales and Taylor Janssen. The Bobcats outscored the Bears 21-9 in the frame.

"It's hard to get road wins in the Big Sky Conference," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "UNC was shooting really well in the first half, and our team responded defensively in the third quarter. Once we set the tone defensively, we were able to capitalize off their mistakes."

Montana State scored 24 points off UNC's 23 turnovers.

Northern Colorado (7-7, 0-3) whittled the MSU advantage to eight points with 2:47 remaining before sophomore Natalie Picton took over with a three-pointer followed by a steal and layin giving the Bobcats a 13-point cushion.

"Our bench really gave us a great spark in the second half," Binford said. "And we also had solid inside/out balance."

Montana State shot a season-high 50% from the field and connected on 10-13 at the free throw line. MSU also outrebounded the Bears 26-23. The Bobcats were led under the glass by Marah Dykstra with five rebounds.

Offensively, three Bobcats reached double figures, including Morales and Dykstra with 15 points, apiece. Lexi Deden, playing in her fifth game since returning from a knee injury that sidelined her for a good portion of the 2023-34 campaign, recorded a season-best 13 points going four-of-eight from the floor and five-of-six at the line.

London Gamble paced Northern Colorado with a game-high 24 points.

Montana State meets Northern Arizona in a clash of Big Sky Conference unbeatens on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Flagstaff.