Chirrick’s triple double paces MSU in rout; UM’s streak ends
MSU and UM Communications | Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 3 hours, 13 minutes AGO
BOZEMAN — Taylee Chirrick recorded Montana State’s third-ever triple-double, her second in a month, and the Bobcats finished off a defensive weekend for the ages by beating Portland State 91-43 in Worthington Arena on Saturday.
Chirrick scored 31 points and added 12 rebounds and 11 steals on Saturday to become the fourth player on record in NCAA women’s basketball history to record a triple-double with rebounds and steals, and the first to do so in less than 28 minutes. She logged a career high in points and matched the school record in steals, which she held.
The Cats (16-5 overall, 9-1 in the Big Sky Conference) dealt their opponent a knockout blow early for the second straight game, scoring the game’s first nine points and leading 31-1 after the first quarter.
Brianne Bailey added 13 points off the bench for MSU; Ella Johnson chipped in 10 points.
Chirrick helped the Bobcats force 29 turnovers, and she joins TCU’s Olivia Miles (who has four) as the only players in the country with multiple triple-doubles this season.
Laynee Torres-Kahapea and Kyleigh Brown had 11 points each for PSU (5-16, 1-6 league).
Sacramento St. 64, Montana 57
MISSOULA — Rubi Gray hit four 3-pointers and scored 18 points, and Sacramento State used a big third quarter to beat Montana Saturday.
The win was only the Hornets’ second on Robin Selvig Court in 32 tries and ended Montana’s four-game winning streak.
Big Sky Conference Preseason MVP Benthe Versteeg had 17 points and seven assists for the Hornets (11-11 overall, 5-4 in the Big Sky). Former MSU Bobcat Natalie Picton also scored 17.
Avery Waddington led Montana (7-14, 4-6 BSC) with 16. Draya Wacker had 10 off the bench.