BOZEMAN -- The Montana State women's basketball program had its second non-conference game canceled on Monday.
After their season opener against South Dakota School of Mines on Nov. 25 was canceled, the Bobcats' game at Utah Valley on Dec. 12 has now also been canceled.
"A positive COVID-19 case within the Utah Valley University women's basketball program has forced a pause of all basketball activities for the team," read a statement from the Utah Valley sports information department. "The result is the cancelation of the next three contests, beginning with Wednesday's scheduled game at Idaho State. Saturday's Dec. 5 game vs UNLV and the Dec. 12 contest against Montana State have also been canceled."
Montana State, the reigning Big Sky Conference regular-season champion, still has four non-conference games scheduled, the first coming Dec. 6 against North Dakota. The Bobcats are also scheduled to travel to Brigham Young on Dec. 10 and Portland on Dec. 17. They have a home game with South Dakota State scheduled for Dec. 21 before beginning Big Sky play at Southern Utah on Dec. 31.
Meanwhile, the Bobcats held an intrasquad scrimmage on Monday, with returners Tori Martell and Darian White predictably leading the way. Martell, the reigning Big Sky Conference top reserve of the year, scored 21 points, and White, the 2019-20 Big Sky freshman of the year, had 13. MSU's Gold team recorded an 80-74 win over the Blue team on Monday.
Martell went 5-of-10 from long distance and added four free throws. White converted five field goals, while dishing out six assists and adding three steals.
“Darian and Tori did what they do,” said MSU 16th-year head coach Tricia Binford said in a media release. “Tori hit her shots and Darian ran the floor, leading us on both ends of the court.”
In all, Montana State had eight players in double-digit scoring, led by Martell's 21 points. Freshman forward Katelynn Limardo scored 16 points, and Kola Bad Bear added 15. White (13 points), Ashley Van Sickle (13), Skye Lindsay (13), Kenzie Stumne (11) and Ava Ranson (10) also finished in double figures. Leia Beattie finished with seven points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Lindsay led MSU with 12 rebounds, while Gabby Mocchi added six.
“I think we showed we have a lot of talent and a lot of depth,” Binford said. “This scrimmage was much better than our first; we made great progress and it looked like we got our lungs back. It was also nice to see three post players in double digits. That area was a question mark heading into this season after the graduation of three outstanding seniors.”
