Women’s basketball sits atop conference standings after weekend matchups

The women's basketball team defeated Idaho State in the Cats’ second matchup against the Bengals this season on Thursday, Feb. 3, 73-68. 

After the jump ball, the Cats flew around the court, especially star point guard Darian White. The team clearly wanted redemption after the 67-57 loss to Idaho State earlier in the season.

 During the first half, the Cats struggled to best the Bengals’ defense and open up scoring lanes. Fortunately, the Cats were shooting very well from the outside. The first half ended close with the Bobcats up 23-19.

  The third quarter went to the Bengals. They tallied 23 points to the Bobcats’ 15, ending the quarter in the lead, 54-56.

 The Cats stepped onto the court in the fourth quarter with a new sense of urgency. Defensively they played very well. "We just had more ball pressure, and then we started communicating more," senior guard Ashley Van Sickle said.

 The players came alive in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. Van Sickle sank a three-pointer with 4:45 left in the game, pushing the Cats into the lead, 61-60. Both teams exchanged fouls and took crucial shots from the free-throw line until the score was 66-65 with 1:05 left. White made a three-pointer with 15 seconds left in the game, solidifying the Cats’ win.

 The Cats got another chance to redeem themselves on Saturday, Feb. 5, against Weber State. In a prior matchup on Dec. 30, the Cats suffered a 68-63 loss in Ogden, Utah.

 The score remained close throughout the game. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Cats were in the lead 49-44. Weber made a push and scored four three-pointers, which contributed to its 27 points in the final quarter. Despite the Wildcats’ efforts, MSU responded well and made 16-22 free throws. The game ended 74-71, and continued the Cats’ win streak.

Concluding a busy weekend of basketball, the Cats traveled to Moscow, Idaho to play the Idaho Vandals in a makeup game that had been previously postponed on Monday, Feb. 7. The game proved to be one for the ages as the Cats came back from a double-digit deficit to defeat the home team, 96-84.

The comeback began in the fourth quarter when at one point MSU was trailing 80-68. After the Vandals made a quick three-pointer to open the final frame, the Cats’ offense and defense began to run on all cylinders. For the remainder of the fourth, the Bobcats outscored Idaho 28-4, en route to their eighth straight win. White put on a show in the contest, registering a career-high 32 points. White also recorded six rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Senior forward Gabby Mocchi was also lights out on Monday night, ending with 21 points. 

The Cats now sit atop the Big Sky Conference standings with a conference record of 10-2 after the Lady Griz defeated Southern Utah on Monday. The Bobcats will hit the road this weekend as they take on Southern Utah (9-3) on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 6:30 p.m. and Northern Arizona (7-5) on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 12 p.m. Both games are available to stream on ESPN+. The Cats were originally slated to take on Portland State on Thursday but, due to COVID-19 protocols within the Vikings program, that game was postponed. The game against the Thunderbirds is a makeup game from a previously postponed game from earlier in the season.