Bench Bolsters Bobcats in Big Win Over Lady Griz

Sunday, March 8

Boise, ID

2:30 pm

Montana State University

24-6,16-2Big Sky

Montana

9-22,5-13Big Sky

Montana

Montana St.

Teagan Erickson led a strong effort by MSU's bench on Sunday

Photo by: Brian Morse

3/8/2026 6:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Montana State beat Montana for the sixth straight time on Sunday

By: Bill Lamberty

BOISE, Idaho (March 8, 2026) – The destruction began early, as it has this season. It lasted most of the afternoon. And when it when ended, Montana State had made a little history by beating Montana 78-57 in the second round of the 2026 Big Sky Conference Women's Basketball Tournament on Sunday in Boise.

The 21-point win tied MSU's fourth-largest margin of victory in a Bobcat post-season game, it extended the team's conference tourney win streak to a program-best four games, and it gives the Cats a six-game winning streak against their arch-rivals. That is Montana State's second-longest in series history.

For Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford, one factor stood out. "We've talked a about our bench being as important as our starters," said MSU's 21^st-year head coach. "The way we play, we need everybody. Teagan (Erickson) had an incredible game, Brooke (Fatupaito) had an incredible game, our entire bench came up big."

Erickson scored 12 points, her most since early January, while Fatupaito added nine, her most since missing 17 games with an injury. All nine of her points came in the first quarter, and kick-started MSU's dominant win. The Bobcat bench scored 42 of the team's 78 points.

The quick start, though, set the tone. In fact, that has become customary for the Cats against UM. Montana State led the Lady Griz 21-7 after one quarter in the first meeting between the teams this season in January, 21-7 after the first quarter in the second matchup in February, and 23-7 on Sunday.

"We just tried to focus on that (first) quarter," Binford said of her team's fast starts against UM. "We try to take each quarter one at a time as far as keeping teams in check."

MSU kept Montana in check in the first quarter using a series of body blows, with Montana State's pressure defense decimating the Lady Griz first quarter offensive efforts. Montana shot 10 times in the opening period, making three, and turned the ball over 10 times. The Bobcats led 23-7 after the first quarter and Montana never pulled within single digits again.

Addison Harris won the opening jump, then six seconds later drained a corner three-pointer to open the scoring. Then Ella Johnson made a layup, Harris hit a jumper, and Issy Bunyan made one of two free throws.

After Kennedy Gillette scored two of her eight points, Fatupaito's basket gave MSU an 11-2 lead. An Erickson triple stretched MSU's advantage to 16-4, and then a three and a layup by Fatupaito closed the first quarter with MSU holding a 23-7 lead.

UM steadied itself in the second quarter, matching MSU's 17 points and shooting 6-for-15 (40 percent). But the Cats continued to pressure UM, forcing five more turnovers. Chirrick registered four steals and four rebounds in the first half, while Teagan Erickson scored 10 points. MSU out-rebounded the Lady Griz 20-17 and forced 15 turnovers while giving the ball away just five times.

Montana made eight three-pointers, but never tied or led after Harris' game-opening salvo. The Cats led by double-digits for the game's final 32 minutes. The Lady Griz played without leading scorer Mack Konig on Sunday after playing without several other players in their first-round win on Saturday.

In addition to her nine points, Fatupaito contributed two rebounds and two steals. She said staying patient during her time on the sidelines wasn't difficult. "I think the whole time Coach (Binford) always has had confidence in me, and was being like, 'When you come back we're going to need you, we're going to need you to step into that role. And so that was really encouraging."

As she has all season, Chirrick led the Bobcats. The Big Sky MVP's 13 points matched Harris for team-high honors, her 10 rebounds marked her fourth double-double to go with two triple-doubles. In fact, coupled with six assists and five steals on Sunday she now has six four-by-five games (at least five points, rebounds, assists and steals). That is second-most in Division I, after eight by Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame.

The win boosts Montana State's record to 24-6, the fourth-most wins in a season in program history. Montana ends its season at 9-22. The Bobcats play the winner of Monday's Eastern Washington-Northern Colorado game on Tuesday at 2:30 pm in Boise's Idaho Central Arena.

#GoCatsGo