BOZEMAN, Mont. (Interstat) — The Montana State women’s basketball team avenged an earlier loss by holding off Idaho State 67-61 in a Big Sky Conference game Saturday at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Jamison Philip led all scorers with 21 points for the Bobcats, who improved to 20-6 overall. Taylee Chirrick added 14 points and eight rebounds for Montana State. The Bengals, who got an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double from Piper Carlson, fell to 18-9. Montana State used a 19-point third quarter to build a cushion and survived despite shooting just 31.1% from the field. The Bobcats forced 23 Idaho State turnovers, converting them into 21 points. A crowd of 2,645 watched the home team complete the regular-season series split.

(Interstat) — In a rugged, defensive struggle defined by turnovers and missed shots, the Montana State Bobcats used a dominant third-quarter surge and a career performance from guard Jamison Philip to fend off the Idaho State Bengals 67-61 in a pivotal Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. A crowd of 2,645 watched as the Bobcats, now 20-6 overall, avenged a 19-point home loss to the Bengals just a month prior and solidified their position atop the conference standings. Idaho State fell to 18-9 with the road defeat. The game’s defining stretch came early in the third quarter. Leading by just five points at halftime, 32-27, Montana State unleashed a 13-2 run over the first four minutes of the second half to seize control. The spurt was fueled by the defensive intensity that characterized their entire night. Ella Johnson, who finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks, ignited the run with a steal and a layup. Addison Harris then buried a 3-pointer before Johnson scored again inside, forcing an Idaho State timeout with the Bobcats leading 40-29. Montana State’s defense was the story, converting 23 Idaho State turnovers into 21 points while recording 15 steals and six blocks. The Bengals managed only three assists against those 23 giveaways, a staggering ratio that crippled their offensive flow. By contrast, the Bobcats dished out 15 assists. Despite the defensive pressure, Idaho State refused to fade. The Bengals clawed back within six points on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter, the last at 60-54 following an Alyse Aby 3-pointer with just over six minutes to play. Each time, Montana State had an answer, often from Philip. The 5-foot-7 guard from Ellensburg, Washington, scored a game-high 21 points, repeatedly attacking the basket to stem Bengal rallies. Her driving layup with 6:31 left pushed the lead back to eight, and she went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes to seal the victory. Philip’s backcourt mate, Taylee Chirrick, provided crucial all-around support. The Bobcats’ top star this season contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in 36 minutes, helping to orchestrate the offense and hound Idaho State’s ball-handlers. The Bengals were led by the interior duo of Piper Carlson and Kacey Spink, who each posted double-doubles. Carlson had 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Spink added 11 points and 10 boards. Halle Wright chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Their efforts helped Idaho State win the rebounding battle 46-42 and earn 23 free-throw attempts to Montana State’s 34, but they could not overcome their ball-security issues. Shooting was a challenge for both teams in the physical contest. Montana State made just 19 of 61 field goal attempts, a 31.1% clip, and was 6 of 27 from 3-point range. Idaho State was only slightly better, shooting 30.8% on 16-of-52 shooting. The difference came at the free-throw line, where the Bobcats made 23 to the Bengals’ 16, and from the turnover margin. The win gives Montana State momentum as they hit the road for their next two contests, at Portland State and Sacramento State. Idaho State, which had won seven of its last eight coming in, looks to rebound at home against Weber State and Sacramento State next week. The result tightens the Big Sky race and sets the stage for a potential rematch in the conference tournament next month.

BOZEMAN, Mont. (Interstat) — A critical late-season Big Sky Conference women’s basketball showdown is set for Saturday when the Montana State Bobcats host the Idaho State Bengals at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Both teams enter with strong overall records, but with different recent trajectories. Montana State (18-6) rides a three-game winning streak, including a decisive 72-55 road victory over rival Montana on Feb. 14. The Bobcats boast one of the league’s top defenses and are 10-1 at home this season. Idaho State (17-8), meanwhile, looks to rebound from a 50-65 home loss to Idaho on Feb. 14 that snapped a five-game winning streak. The Bengals will draw confidence from their 79-60 home win over these same Bobcats just last month on Jan. 22. The matchup features two of the conference’s standout players. For Idaho State, guard Kacey Spink has been a consistent force, averaging 11.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists over her last seven games. She scored 20 points in a win at Northern Colorado on Feb. 7. Montana State counters with forward Ella Johnson, who is coming off a dominant 17-point, 6-rebound, 2-block performance in the win at Montana. Her interior presence and efficiency will be key against a physical Bengals frontcourt. With the conference tournament approaching, the game carries significant weight for seeding. Montana State will aim to protect its home floor and avenge January’s loss, while Idaho State seeks a resume-boosting road win to solidify its standing. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. MST on Saturday, Feb. 21.