Thursday, February 26
Portland, OR
8 p.m. (MT)
Montana State University
21-6,14-2Big Sky
66
at
63
Portland State
6-22,2-14Big Sky
1
2
3
4
F
Montana St.
14
17
14
21
66
Portland St.
13
19
13
18
63
Taylee Chirrick (photo by Scott Larson)
Taylee Chirrick Paces Bobcats to Road Win at Portland State
2/26/2026 11:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU overcomes shooting woes with late defensive stand
(Feb. 26, 2026) – Sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Montana State to a 66-63 win at Portland State on Thursday.
Chirrick's offensive effort and late defensive heroics by junior forward Ella Johnson helped the Cats overcome a woeful shooting performance. MSU shot 37.5 percent from the floor, 23.5 percent from three-point range, and made just 14 of 29 free throws.
When her team needed her the most, though, Johnson came through. She blocked two shots in the fourth quarter and came away with one steal, and when the Vikings had the opportunity to tie the game in the last 15 seconds Johnson's perimeter defense on Cici Ellington forced a shot that landed well short of the basket as the buzzer sounded.
"Ella is so good in those situations," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "Her length and her timing make her very, very effective. We had trouble with (committing too many) fouls tonight, and when we needed her Ella was fantastic."
With 2:19 to play and MSU leading 61-59, Johnson blocked a Kyleigh Brown shot. That play led to Addison Harris making one of two free throws to push MSU's lead to three points. Then with 31 seconds to play Johnson blocked another short jumper by Brown to preserve a two-point Bobcat lead.
A Jamison Philip free throw on the ensuing possession gave MSU a three-point lead. That set the stage for Johnson's game-clinching defensive stand.
Binford said Johnson's late defense was an extension of her team's mentality in the fourth quarter. "We found a way in the fourth quarter," she said. "Our attack-mindedness really showed up."
Montana State came away with three steals in the fourth period – one each by Johnson, Issy Bunyan and Chirrick – and forced two other turnovers. MSU limited the Vikings to just four points in the game's final four-and-a-half minutes.
Chirrick carried the Bobcat offense in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 of MSU's 21 points. She hit four of her six field goal attempts.
Binford was quick to credit Portland State for much of MSU's offensive struggles. "Portland State was fantastic," she said, "credit them. Their defensive adjustments (from the previous meeting) were excellent."
With the win Montana State clinches a top two seed in the Big Sky Tournament, which means the Bobcats' first game is Sunday, March 8. MSU raises its record to 21-6 on the season, 14-2 in Big Sky play, while Portland State is 6-22, 2-14.
#GoCatsGo
Chirrick's offensive effort and late defensive heroics by junior forward Ella Johnson helped the Cats overcome a woeful shooting performance. MSU shot 37.5 percent from the floor, 23.5 percent from three-point range, and made just 14 of 29 free throws.
When her team needed her the most, though, Johnson came through. She blocked two shots in the fourth quarter and came away with one steal, and when the Vikings had the opportunity to tie the game in the last 15 seconds Johnson's perimeter defense on Cici Ellington forced a shot that landed well short of the basket as the buzzer sounded.
"Ella is so good in those situations," said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. "Her length and her timing make her very, very effective. We had trouble with (committing too many) fouls tonight, and when we needed her Ella was fantastic."
With 2:19 to play and MSU leading 61-59, Johnson blocked a Kyleigh Brown shot. That play led to Addison Harris making one of two free throws to push MSU's lead to three points. Then with 31 seconds to play Johnson blocked another short jumper by Brown to preserve a two-point Bobcat lead.
A Jamison Philip free throw on the ensuing possession gave MSU a three-point lead. That set the stage for Johnson's game-clinching defensive stand.
Binford said Johnson's late defense was an extension of her team's mentality in the fourth quarter. "We found a way in the fourth quarter," she said. "Our attack-mindedness really showed up."
Montana State came away with three steals in the fourth period – one each by Johnson, Issy Bunyan and Chirrick – and forced two other turnovers. MSU limited the Vikings to just four points in the game's final four-and-a-half minutes.
Chirrick carried the Bobcat offense in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 of MSU's 21 points. She hit four of her six field goal attempts.
Binford was quick to credit Portland State for much of MSU's offensive struggles. "Portland State was fantastic," she said, "credit them. Their defensive adjustments (from the previous meeting) were excellent."
With the win Montana State clinches a top two seed in the Big Sky Tournament, which means the Bobcats' first game is Sunday, March 8. MSU raises its record to 21-6 on the season, 14-2 in Big Sky play, while Portland State is 6-22, 2-14.
#GoCatsGo
Team Stats
MSU
PSU
FG%
.375
.411
3FG%
.235
.316
FT%
.483
.846
RB
39
39
TO
18
25
STL
17
9
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballG
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