The Montana State women’s basketball team and the Southern Utah Thunderbirds entered their Saturday afternoon matchup tied for 2nd place in the Big Sky. The two teams met last Thursday, where SUU pulled out a 70-60 overtime victory.

MSU came into today’s game coming off of a tough loss to a lowly Eastern Washington team, a performance in which MSU gave up an 11-point 4th quarter lead. SUU, meanwhile, came in off of a 77-53 blowout over Northern Colorado.

THE RESULT

On an emotional and energetic Senior Day, the Bobcats simply outplayed Southern Utah from start to finish, cruising to a 65-47 win and taking sole possession of 2nd place in the Big Sky. Eight different Bobcats scored five or more points and seven different ‘Cats collected five or more rebounds, which completely overmatched the Thunderbirds’ defensive efforts.

Southern Utah committed seven turnovers in the first six minutes of the game and were limited to a dismal 17 percent field goal percentage in the first half.

THE STANDOUTS

While several MSU players contributed on Saturday afternoon, sophomore forward Kaitlynn Limardo finished as the team’s leading scorer with 12 points. Limardo hit two threes, went 4-4 from the stripe, and brought down seven rebounds. Seniors Gabby Mocchi and Ashley Van Sickle each contributed as well; both players knocked down a 3-point shot in the second half to help the Bobcats pull away.

Senior forward Darri Dotson led the Thunderbirds with 13 points on an efficient 5-7 shooting, the lone bright spot on an SUU team that finished shooting 26.8 percent from the field.

QUOTABLE

“Every senior leaves a different legacy in a program, and I will tell you that both of these players (Mocchi and Van Sickle) have overcome tremendous obstacles and challenges while continuing to be selfless teammates.”

Montana State head coach Tricia Binford

“I’m grateful I’ve been in every position you can be in, so everyone on the team can relate to me in a way.”

MSU senior forward Gabby Mocchi

SOCIAL

WHAT’S NEXT

Montana State’s final four regular season games will come on the road; they will visit Portland State on Monday and travel to Missoula for the second edition of Cat-Griz next Saturday.

Three of Southern Utah’s final four regular season games will come at home in Cedar City, highlighted by a matchup with the current No. 1 team in the Big Sky, Idaho State, on March 2nd.