BOZEMAN — (Editor's Note: MSU Press Release)
The Montana State women’s basketball team faces five teams that advanced to the 2021 NCAA tournament as part of its 2021-22 schedule announced Bobcat head coach Tricia Binford on Monday afternoon.
“Our preseason schedule is going to be tough and will test us every single night,” Binford said. “Not only will we be playing against some elite competition with games against top 50 programs, but we will also face adverse road environments which will prepare us well for the Big Sky Conference season.”
Following a home exhibition game against South Dakota Mines, MSU opens its regular season slate against Frontier Conference champion Carroll College on Nov. 9. The Bobcats will then begin a stretch of six consecutive road games starting at Gonzaga on Nov. 11. The Zags captured the West Coast title last winter posting a 23-4 overall record and a 16-1 league ledger en route to the NCAA tournament. Montana State closes out its opening road swing with a stop in Las Vegas against UNLV on Nov. 13.
The Bobcats travel to the upper Midwest fulfilling home and home agreements with South Dakota State and North Dakota before Thanksgiving. MSU faces SDSU in Brookings on Nov. 18. Last season, the Jackrabbits went 21-4 overall and won the Summit League with a 14-0 mark. SDSU fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Montana State closes out its second road trip in Grand Forks against the Fighting Hawks of Nov. 20.
MSU plays in its only regular season tournament Thanksgiving weekend when it travels to San Luis Obispo, Calif., for the Cal Poly Invite. The Bobcats open play against North Texas on Nov. 26, followed by the Mustangs on Nov. 27.
Montana State opens December with Big Sky play facing Northern Colorado (Dec. 2) and Sacramento State (Dec. 4) in Worthington Arena. The two league contests start a six-game homestand for the Bobcats.
“After a season with no fans, or limited fans, we can’t wait to get back in front of our crowd,” Binford said. “We’re very grateful for the support we received from our fans last season, and now we want to give them something back.”
MSU will host sister school MSU-Billings on Thursday, Dec. 9 before closing out weekend play with Utah Valley on Saturday. The Bobcats defeated the Wolverines 66-63 in Orem last winter. Utah Valley went on to represent the Western Athletic Conference in the NCAA tournament.
The Bobcats close out its non-conference schedule prior to the Christmas break. MSU plays Seattle U on Dec. 18 and BYU, Dec. 21. Last winter, the Cougars went 19-6 overall and 13-3 in WCC action. BYU advanced to the NCAA tournament where it upset Rutgers in the first round, before falling to eventual runner-up Arizona, 52-46, to move on to the Sweet 16.
Montana State resumes Big Sky play Dec. 30 at Weber State in Ogden, Utah. The annual Cat-Griz games take place Jan. 8 in Bozeman, and Feb. 26 in Missoula. The Big Sky Conference Tournament will be held March 7-11 in Boise, Idaho.
2021-22 Montana State Women’s Basketball Schedule
November
6 South Dakota Mines (exhibition) Bozeman
9 Carroll College Bozeman
11 at Gonzaga Spokane, WA
13 at UNLV Las Vegas, NV
18 at South Dakota State Brookings, S.D.
20 at North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D.
26 vs. North Texas San Luis Obispo, CA
27 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
December
2 Northern Colorado* Bozeman
4 Sacramento State* Bozeman
9 MSU-Billings Bozeman
11 Utah Valley Bozeman
18 Seattle U Bozeman
21 BYU Bozeman
30 at Weber State* Ogden, UT
January
1 at Idaho State* Pocatello, ID
6 Idaho* Bozeman
8 Montana* Bozeman
15 at Southern Utah* Cedar City, UT
20 Northern Arizona* Bozeman
22 Portland State* Bozeman
27 at Eastern Washington* Cheney, WA
29 at Idaho* Moscow, ID
February
3 Idaho State* Bozeman
5 Weber State* Bozeman
10 at Portland State* Portland, OR
12 at Northern Arizona* Flagstaff, AZ
17 Eastern Washington* Bozeman
19 Southern Utah* Bozeman
26 at Montana* Missoula, MT
March
2 at Sacramento State* Sacramento, CA
4 at Northern Colorado* Greeley, CO
7-11 at Big Sky Conference Tournament Boise, ID
