THE MATCHUP
Montana State had won seven in a row going into Monday’s game against Idaho in Moscow. The Vandals came into the season as one of the favorites in the conference, led by preseason MVP Beyonce Bea, but stumbled to a 1-8 recond in non-conference play and continued to struggle in the Big Sky. They were coming off their best performance of the season, a 19-point demolition of conference co-leader Southern Utah on Thursday.
THE RESULT
The score was 51-46 in Idaho’s favor at halftime, when the Vandals already had four players in double figures, and didn’t get any less crazy from there.
Montana State went down 80-68 when Idaho’s Sydney Gandy hit a 3 on the first possession of the fourth quarter. From there? Not much, just a 28-4 run by Montana State to close the game and hand the Bobcats a 96-84 victory, their eighth straight.
Two free throws by Allison Kirby gave Idaho its last lead at 84-83 with four minutes, 48 seconds to go. The Vandals didn’t score again, and a jumper by Darian White after an offensive rebound on Montana State’s ensuing possession gave the Bobcats the lead for good.
Montana State shot 54.5% from the field and 43.5% from 3-point range. The Bobcats made 4 of 6 from behind the arc in the fourth quarter. Idaho was even better from deep, shooting over 50% from 3 for much of the game and finishing at 45.5%.
The win kept Montana State all alone in first place in the Big Sky with two losses, one fewer than Southern Utah and defending conference champion Idaho State.
THE STANDOUTS
White, Montana State’s star point guard, authored probably the greatest performance in a career full of greatness, shooting 13 of 21 from the field and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with a career-high 32 points in 32 minutes.
She added eight assists, six rebounds and three steals against just one turnover. White hit a jumper and then assisted on three straight baskets as the Bobcats closed the gap in the fourth quarter, and closed the Vandals out at the free-throw line.
Bobcat senior forward Gabby Mocchi also put up a career-high, scoring 21 points on just nine field-goal attempts. She finished 4 of 6 from behind the arc.
Junior forward Kola Bad Bear had 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds for Montana State.
Kirby and Louise Forsyth, both fifth-year guards, each scored 18 points to lead Idaho. Bea finished with 16, and Sac State transfer Tiana Johnson, who went to Flathead High School in Kalispell, had 14.
QUOTABLE
“Darian put the team on her shoulders, and we had a number of other kids step up, as well. … This is an amazing group of kids. It’s one of the best performances I have seen, to overcome that level of shooting. To have a team that believes and then chips away and keeps fighting down the stretch is a great feeling.” – Montana State head coach Tricia Binford
BOX SCORE (CLICK)
SOCIAL
Comeback complete!!
— Montana State WBB (@MSUBobcatsWBB) February 8, 2022
The Bobcats, after being down double digits, rallies to defeat the Vandals!#ProveIt // #GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/z9EItFMsIh
The Bobcats sit all alone at the top of the #BigSkyWBB standings after 32 points from @darian_white03! 👏 #ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/UFwbUod6iv
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) February 8, 2022
The 🏦 is open‼️@MSUBobcatsWBB sinks it at the buzzer to trim Idaho’s lead at the break 👀 #ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/GKaYTOCrCw
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) February 8, 2022
Darian White is the best player in the Big Sky, it’s not close, and there is a legitimate conversation to be had about All-America honors. Seriously. She is amazing…
— Bill Lamberty (@blamberty) February 8, 2022
WHAT’S NEXT
Montana State (15-8, 10-2 Big Sky Conference) puts its winning streak on the line on Thursday at Portland State. The Vikings lost 93-45 to Northern Colorado on Monday.
Idaho (5-14, 4-6) plays at rival Idaho State on Thursday.
