Big shots by Van Sickle, White help Montana State knock off ISU, move into first place

THE MATCHUP

Montana State hosted Idaho State on Thursday in a matchup between the Big Sky’s two preseason favorites, sitting third and second, respectively, in the conference heading into the game. The Bobcats came in on a five-game winning streak dating back to a Jan. 1 loss to the Bengals in Pocatello. ISU had a 10-game winning streak snapped last weekend against Sacramento State.

THE RESULT

Montana State roared out to a big lead, gave it all back and had to come back in the fourth quarter for a 73-68 win that, coupled with Southern Utah’s loss to Idaho, moved the Bobcats into a tie for first place in the conference standings.

Big 3-pointers by Montana State’s two experienced guards swung the tide in the fourth quarter. The first, by senior Ashley Van Sickle, gave the Bobcats a 61-60 lead with five minutes, three seconds to go, their first since early in the third quarter. Junior Darian White sealed the win with a walk-up 3 against soft ISU defense with 16 seconds to go, pushing the MSU lead to 71-65.

The Bobcats led by as many as 15 points late in a dominant second quarter, but defending conference champions Idaho State immediately responded with a 12-3 run to close the first half and then finished vaporizing Montana State’s advantage with a 10-0 run out of the halftime break.

The Bengals carried a narrow lead from that point until Van Sickle’s clutch 3, which came as part of an 8-0 run that put the hosts ahead for good.

Montana State shot 36% from the field but the Bobcats were better than that (38.5%) from behind the 3-point line and nearly doubled ISU up at the free-throw line, shooting 32 free throws to the visitors’ 17. Three of Idaho State’s post players – Ellie Smith, Montana Oltrogge and Callie Bourne – fouled out in a 30-second span with under four minutes to go.

THE STANDOUTS

White led Montana State with 14 points despite shooting just 2 of 10 from the field. Her only field goal before her late, clinching 3-pointer was a jumper in the first quarter, but she made 9 of 10 free throws.

Junior forward Kola Bad Bear was the other Bobcat in double figures with 12 points, and added a team-high six rebounds. Her post presence was key to the Bobcats fouling out Smith, ISU’s starting center, as well as Oltrogge and Bourne, two of the Bengals’ backup options to guard the post.

For Idaho State, breakout star Tomekia Whitman finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, her second double-double of the season, and added a crushing block of a Leia Beattie fast-break layup attempt late in the third quarter.

In her highly-anticipated matchup against White, ISU’s preseason all-conference point guard Diaba Konate similarly struggled from the field, shooting just 3 of 11, but finished with 13 points and a game-high six assists against two turnovers.

QUOTABLE

“Amazing. I don’t know what got into me. I was like, ‘They’re disrespecting my shot,’ and I had confidence to take it. When I saw it go in, I was like, ‘Let’s go, this is our game.’” – Montana State point guard Darian White on her 3-point shot with 16 seconds left

“We hit big threes down the stretch in critical moments. I thought the difference was the mentality. When Darian hit hers, it was like, ‘It’s go time right now.’ I thought our team was a little hesitant on shots in the first half and we got ourselves out of rhythm when we started out pretty hot.” – Montana State head coach Tricia Binford

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WHAT’S NEXT

Montana State (13-8, 8-2 Big Sky Conference) hosts Weber State on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Wildcats beat MSU 68-63 in Ogden on Dec. 30 but have lost seven of nine games since, including a 61-59 heartbreaker to Montana on Thursday when Sophia Stiles hit a buzzer-beater for the Lady Griz.

Idaho State (13-8, 9-3) finishes up its Treasure State road trip with a 2 p.m. tip against Montana on Saturday. The Bengals have now lost two of three since their 10-game winning streak, and now have more conference losses than they suffered all of last year.