2026 Big Sky Postseason Thread

[Mvemjsunpx]

• NCAA-M

(15) Idaho (21-14) 47-78 vs. (2) Houston (28-6)

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• NCAA-W

(13) Idaho (29-5) 59-89 @ (4) Oklahoma (24-7)

• WNIT

Northern Colorado (22-10) 79-72 @ Air Force (16-18)

San Francisco (19-14) 53-69 @ Montana St. (25-7)
Northern Colorado (23-10) 60-80 @ South Dakota (23-9)

Portland (20-14) 54-72 @ Montana St. (26-7)

Montana St. (27-7) 56-65 @ South Dakota (25-9)

[Mvemjsunpx]

Kinda boring this year, especially on the men's side. The CBI's last-minute cancellation left minimal openings for Big Sky men's teams to make postseason events.

[Mvemjsunpx]

As expected, the Idaho men's postseason run was brief. After taking a 12-9 lead a little over 5 minutes in, the Vandals allowed Houston a 24-3 run and could never remotely recover as they lost 78-47. The Cougars won shooting 50%-29% (60%-27% in the first half ) and outrebounded Idaho by 15. Kolton Mitchell had 14 points, but he was the only Vandal in double figures.

The Northern Colorado women beat Air Force 79-72 in the first round of the WNIT. The Bears torched the nets by shooting a season-high 60% from the field. This was the first time they'd even cracked 50% against a DI opponent. Air Force only shot 40%, but they stayed in the game by winning points-off-turnovers 21-7. Tatum West led NoCo by going 9/10 from the field and putting up 22 points and 13 rebounds.

[Mvemjsunpx]

The Idaho women also went down with a thud as they fell to Oklahoma 89-59. The Vandals did manage 81 shot attempts over the course of the game, but efficiency was lacking as they only shot 25% on field goals and 64% from the free-throw line. This included a dreadful 1/18 performance from the field in the third quarter. Reagan Beers & Sahara Williams each had double-doubles for the Sooners, while Kyra Gardner led Idaho with 19 points.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Northern Colorado lost to South Dakota in Vermillion 80-60. The Bears shot a respectable 40%, but that was nowhere near the 60% they needed to beat Air Force in the first round. Losing pretty much every other stat didn't help, either. Heather Baymon led the Bears with 15 points off the bench, but she fouled out in only 24 minutes.

Montana State kept the Big Sky postseason alive by beating San Francisco at home 69-53. It was a sloppy slugfest between two pressing teams throughout the first half, but a dominant 27-10 third quarter decided the game for the Bobcats. MSU won turnovers 28-20 and points-off-turnovers 24-8. Taylee Chirrick had 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 steals. The Dons went a dreadful 5/15 from the free-throw line.

[Mvemjsunpx]

The Bobcat women easily dispatched U Portland in the WNIT's "Super 16" 72-54. Addison Harris & Taylee Chirrick combined for 40 points while Chirrick added 13 rebounds. MSU only won turnovers by 3, but they compensated by destroying the Pilots on the glass 51-30. The Bobcats now move on to the "Great 8," where they will play South Dakota in Vermillion.

[kalm]

The Bobcat women easily dispatched U Portland in the WNIT's "Super 16" 72-54. Addison Harris & Taylee Chirrick combined for 40 points while Chirrick added 13 rebounds. MSU only won turnovers by 3, but they compensated by destroying the Pilots on the glass 51-30. The Bobcats now move on to the "Great 8," where they will play South Dakota in Vermillion.

[Mvemjsunpx]

The Big Sky basketball season came to an end today as the Montana State women lost to South Dakota in the WNIT quarterfinals 65-56. Shooting was the story here as the Bobcats were outshot 44%-33% and couldn't gain enough ground on turnovers & rebounds to compensate. MSU had 10 field goals in a third quarter they won by 7 points, but they could only manage a total of 10 field goals in the other quarters combined (outscored 48-32). Harris & Chirrick combined for 39 points for the 'Cats, but they got little scoring help from anyone else. Molly Joyce led the Coyotes with 31 points.

[canyoncat]

That was a fun ride to watch in the WNIT. This team was one of the most fun teams to watch and one of the most frustrating teams to watch every single game. Their youth really showed yesterday. No seniors a couple of Juniors all the rest Sophomores and Freshmen. They need to bring in a couple or develop a couple of pure shooters. They have a scoring machine coming in next year in future freshman O'Connor from Baker, MT and Binford has shown she is able to use true freshman in her system. Three played a ton of minutes this year with one starting at point, Phillips. Will be interesting to see if they lose anyone to the portal.