BOZEMAN, Mont. (Interstat) — Taylee Chirrick scored 24 points and Addison Harris added 23 as Montana State outlasted Eastern Washington 72-70 in overtime in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Thursday at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. The Bobcats, who improved to 10-4, overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime. Eastern Washington’s Ella Gallatin sent the game to an extra period with a tying 3-pointer with 8 seconds left in regulation. Gallatin led the Eagles (7-8) with 18 points. Montana State capitalized on 27 Eastern Washington turnovers, converting them into 25 points. The Eagles shot just 36.8% from the field and 52.6% from the free-throw line in the loss. A layup by Jamison Philip with 2 seconds left in overtime provided the final margin for Montana State before a crowd of 1,673.

BOZEMAN, Mont. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Montana State Bobcats survived a monumental challenge from the Eastern Washington Eagles, escaping with a 72-70 overtime victory in a women’s basketball thriller Thursday night at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. The contest, a Big Sky Conference opener for both teams, saw Montana State overcome a significant halftime deficit and a staggering 27 turnovers from Eastern Washington to extend its winning streak to three games. The Bobcats improved to 10-4 overall, while Eastern Washington fell to 7-8. The narrative of the game was written in two starkly different halves. Eastern Washington, led by the poised play of guard Ella Gallatin, controlled the first 20 minutes with efficient offense and disruptive defense. The Eagles built a 29-20 lead at halftime, capitalizing on Montana State’s early shooting woes. The Bobcats connected on just 5 of 30 attempts from three-point range for the game and shot a frigid 32.1 percent from the field overall. Montana State’s salvation came in the paint and at the free-throw line. The Bobcats dominated inside, outscoring Eastern Washington 42-28 in the paint, and attempted 22 free throws to the Eagles’ 19. This inside-out persistence, spearheaded by forward Addison Harris and guard Taylee Chirrick, allowed them to slowly chip away at the deficit in the second half. The fourth quarter became a tense back-and-forth affair. With the game tied and seconds remaining in regulation, Montana State’s Chirrick delivered a clutch three-pointer with 29 seconds left to give the Bobcats a 57-54 lead. Eastern Washington, however, demonstrated its resilience. Out of a timeout, Gallatin found Caitie Gingras for a deep three-pointer with just two seconds on the clock, sending the game to overtime tied at 57 and sending the crowd of 1,673 into a stunned silence. The extra period continued the theme of attrition. Montana State struck first with another Chirrick three, but Eastern Washington answered. The game was tied at 70 with under 30 seconds to play when the decisive sequence unfolded. Eastern Washington’s Gallatin missed a layup, and after a scramble for the loose ball, Montana State gained possession. With the clock winding down, guard Jamison Philip drove the lane and converted a difficult layup with two seconds remaining to put the Bobcats ahead 72-70. Eastern Washington’s desperation heave at the buzzer was off target, sealing the dramatic win for the home team. The most critical factor in the outcome was Eastern Washington’s inability to secure the basketball. The Eagles committed 27 turnovers, which Montana State converted into 25 points. Conversely, the Bobcats gave the ball away only 13 times. This 14-turnover disparity proved insurmountable for Eastern Washington, negating its advantages in three-point shooting, where it made 10 to Montana State’s five, and overall field goal percentage. Taylee Chirrick was the catalyst for Montana State, finishing with a game-high 24 points, six assists and a critical block. Her late three-pointer in regulation and steady leadership in overtime were instrumental. Addison Harris provided a massive interior presence, scoring 23 points, grabbing key rebounds and blocking two shots. Eastern Washington was led by a balanced effort. Ella Gallatin filled the stat sheet with 18 points, six assists and three steals, though she was plagued by nine turnovers. Caitie Gingras added 14 points, all from beyond the arc, including the game-tying shot. Jaecy Eggers contributed 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in a full 42-minute effort. The victory keeps Montana State perfect in conference play as it prepares to host Idaho on Saturday. Eastern Washington, meanwhile, will look to regroup quickly as it travels to face rival Montana, also on Saturday. Based on the national ELO rating system, Montana State was projected with a 96 percent probability to win, a forecast the Bobcats ultimately fulfilled, but only after surviving a far tougher fight than anticipated.

BOZEMAN, Mont. (Interstat) — A surging Montana State looks to continue its strong start to Big Sky Conference play when it hosts Eastern Washington in a women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. The Bobcats (9-4, 2-0 Big Sky) have won three straight, including decisive road victories over Northern Colorado (86-79) and Northern Arizona (82-65) to open conference action. Eastern Washington (7-7, 0-1) seeks its first league win after dropping its opener 69-63 to Idaho at home last Saturday. Montana State’s offense runs through junior guard Taylee Chirrick, who is coming off a dominant 27-point, 8-rebound performance against Northern Arizona. Over her last five games, Chirrick is averaging 16.8 points, showcasing her as a primary scoring threat. She is supported by forwards like Ella Johnson, who recorded a double-double (7 points, 10 rebounds) in the same game. The Eagles will counter with guard Elyn Bowers, their most consistent offensive weapon. Bowers scored 20 points in the loss to Idaho and has tallied 20 or more points in three of her last six outings. Her backcourt playmaking will be crucial for an Eastern Washington team that has struggled on the road, with recent double-digit losses at UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Bakersfield in December. Historically, the venue favors the home team. The Bobcats are 6-1 at the Fieldhouse this season, with their only home loss a narrow 53-51 defeat to Oregon State. Eastern Washington is 1-5 in true road games. The matchup pits Montana State’s high-powered offense, which has scored 80 or more points four times this season, against an Eastern Washington defense that has allowed an average of 73.4 points in its seven losses. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST Thursday in the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Cheney on Feb. 7.