Saturday, February 14
Missoula, Mont.
2 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Montana
Tricia Binford
Photo by: Brian Morse
Montana State Faces Lady Griz in Dahlberg Arena on Saturday Afternoon
2/13/2026 1:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Cats look to continue building as season reaches its home stretch
BOZEMAN, Mont. (Feb. 13, 2026) – Tricia Binford understands the emotion woven into every Cat-Griz game, and sees the impact of each outing on the Big Sky standings as February creeps closer to March. She's experienced the hostile atmosphere in store for her Bobcat women's basketball team this weekend.
But she's focusing on something much more fundamental as Montana State prepares to face Montana (7-16 overall, 4-8 Big Sky) in Dahlberg Arena on Saturday at 2 pm.
"I think we're just excited to make sure we keep getting better right now," Binford said. "And Dahlberg's a great venue. It's a great atmosphere. We're coming off of really good atmosphere from (last week's) road trip and love that our conference has some places that are drawing really well."
While this year's Bobcats has experience in the Brawl of the Wild rivalry, particularly MSU's 82-44 win against the Lady Griz in Bozeman last month, gaining experience in hostile environments such as what's in store for the Cats on Saturday remains a work in progress. Binford said, though, that she doesn't expect to have any trouble commanding her team's attention, even considering the result of the previous encounter with Montana.
"I think it's pretty easy after our last road trip," she said. "Everybody's better on their home floors and the score is 0-0 when you tip the ball. Montana's playing really good basketball right now, so we know we're going to have to put a complete game together."
That's the phrase Binford uses, a complete game, in describing Montana State's win four weeks ago. Montana State scored the game's first 13 points, outscored UM in each quarter, and posted MSU's largest margin of victory in the series. "It was the first time we just set the tone from the start," she said, "and we carried it through a full game. We really played off the crowd."
Positive energy is something Saturday's crowd won't provide, so the Bobcats need to maintain the growth mindset that has led the team to a 17-6 overall record and a 10-2 conference mark. "It's a matter of sticking together and being really loud, making sure our huddles are very elite, and just focusing on next play."
Replicating the quick start Montana State benefited from in the earlier meeting isn't necessary for success on Saturday, Binford said. Playing 40 minutes of solid basketball is much more important.
"I think whether we're talking about the very beginning (of the game) or the midway point or whatever, we just need a complete game," she said. "We need four quarters come off of a week that we weren't complete for 40 minutes. That's how we're focusing on getting better. We need to put a full 40 together so we can be playing our best basketball right now heading into (the conference tournament in) Boise."
Montana's leading scorer Mack Konig returns for the Lady Griz after missing a stretch of games. She averages 16.8 points per game with a team-high 60 assists. Avery Waddington adds 12.9 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per contest. Jocelyn Land also helped carry the scoring load in Konig's absence, with 11.1 points per game.
Montana State continues its status as one of the most disruptive defensive teams in the nation, averaging 15.6 steals per game with 26.35 turnovers forced per contest. Both are good for fourth nationally. Taylee Chirrick's 4.17 steals per game is second in the nation, while Jamison Philip averages 2.52 steals, third in the Big Sky.
Saturday's game marks Montana State's entry into the Big Sky schedule's home stretch. Beginning with Thursday's home game against Eber State, the Cats play five games in 26 days to close the regular season. Saturday's game airs on MTN – The Spot stations around Montana, and streams on ESPN+. The game is broadcast around the state by Keaton Gillogly and Brian Priebe on the Bobcat Radio Network, and also on Learfield's Varsity app.
#GoCatsGo
But she's focusing on something much more fundamental as Montana State prepares to face Montana (7-16 overall, 4-8 Big Sky) in Dahlberg Arena on Saturday at 2 pm.
"I think we're just excited to make sure we keep getting better right now," Binford said. "And Dahlberg's a great venue. It's a great atmosphere. We're coming off of really good atmosphere from (last week's) road trip and love that our conference has some places that are drawing really well."
While this year's Bobcats has experience in the Brawl of the Wild rivalry, particularly MSU's 82-44 win against the Lady Griz in Bozeman last month, gaining experience in hostile environments such as what's in store for the Cats on Saturday remains a work in progress. Binford said, though, that she doesn't expect to have any trouble commanding her team's attention, even considering the result of the previous encounter with Montana.
"I think it's pretty easy after our last road trip," she said. "Everybody's better on their home floors and the score is 0-0 when you tip the ball. Montana's playing really good basketball right now, so we know we're going to have to put a complete game together."
That's the phrase Binford uses, a complete game, in describing Montana State's win four weeks ago. Montana State scored the game's first 13 points, outscored UM in each quarter, and posted MSU's largest margin of victory in the series. "It was the first time we just set the tone from the start," she said, "and we carried it through a full game. We really played off the crowd."
Positive energy is something Saturday's crowd won't provide, so the Bobcats need to maintain the growth mindset that has led the team to a 17-6 overall record and a 10-2 conference mark. "It's a matter of sticking together and being really loud, making sure our huddles are very elite, and just focusing on next play."
Replicating the quick start Montana State benefited from in the earlier meeting isn't necessary for success on Saturday, Binford said. Playing 40 minutes of solid basketball is much more important.
"I think whether we're talking about the very beginning (of the game) or the midway point or whatever, we just need a complete game," she said. "We need four quarters come off of a week that we weren't complete for 40 minutes. That's how we're focusing on getting better. We need to put a full 40 together so we can be playing our best basketball right now heading into (the conference tournament in) Boise."
Montana's leading scorer Mack Konig returns for the Lady Griz after missing a stretch of games. She averages 16.8 points per game with a team-high 60 assists. Avery Waddington adds 12.9 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per contest. Jocelyn Land also helped carry the scoring load in Konig's absence, with 11.1 points per game.
Montana State continues its status as one of the most disruptive defensive teams in the nation, averaging 15.6 steals per game with 26.35 turnovers forced per contest. Both are good for fourth nationally. Taylee Chirrick's 4.17 steals per game is second in the nation, while Jamison Philip averages 2.52 steals, third in the Big Sky.
Saturday's game marks Montana State's entry into the Big Sky schedule's home stretch. Beginning with Thursday's home game against Eber State, the Cats play five games in 26 days to close the regular season. Saturday's game airs on MTN – The Spot stations around Montana, and streams on ESPN+. The game is broadcast around the state by Keaton Gillogly and Brian Priebe on the Bobcat Radio Network, and also on Learfield's Varsity app.
#GoCatsGo
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