Taylee Chirrick posts rare steals triple-double as Montana State routs Portland State 91-43 at home

A defensive avalanche decided the Big Sky matchup in the opening quarter

Montana State overwhelmed Portland State 91-43 on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in Bozeman, producing one of the most lopsided results of the Bobcats’ Big Sky season. The game was effectively decided in the first quarter, when Montana State surged to a 31-1 lead and held Portland State without a field goal for more than 11 minutes of game time.

By halftime, the Bobcats led 52-15. Montana State finished with 47 points off turnovers after forcing 29, a margin that defined both the pace and the shot quality available to Portland State throughout the afternoon.

Chirrick’s line: 31 points, 12 rebounds and 11 steals in 27 minutes

Sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick delivered a career-high 31 points while completing a triple-double with 12 rebounds and 11 steals in 27 minutes. The performance included 20 points in the first half and matched a Montana State single-game record for steals.

The statistical profile placed Chirrick in a rare category nationally: triple-doubles built on rebounds and steals are uncommon in women’s college basketball, and reaching the threshold in limited minutes underscored how quickly Montana State’s pressure defense converted into scoring opportunities.

• Final score: Montana State 91, Portland State 43
• Quarter-by-quarter: MSU 31-21-29-10; PSU 1-14-16-12
• Turnovers forced by Montana State: 29

Portland State’s offense never recovered from the early deficit

Portland State’s scoring improved after the opening period, but the Vikings could not reverse the game’s central problem: possessions were repeatedly interrupted before they could generate stable half-court offense. The Vikings finished 2-of-14 from three-point range and committed 29 turnovers, leaving limited room to balance the efficiency gap created by Montana State’s transition scoring.

Kyleigh Brown and Laynee Torres-Kahapea led Portland State with 11 points apiece, but the Vikings’ output was spread thin across disrupted possessions and a shortened rotation forced by the game’s flow.

Supporting scoring and the standings impact

Montana State received additional production behind Chirrick, including 13 points from Brianne Bailey and 10 from Ella Johnson. The win moved the Bobcats to 16-5 overall and 9-1 in Big Sky play, keeping them near the top of the conference race entering a road game at Idaho on Thursday, February 5.

Portland State fell to 5-16 overall and 1-8 in league play, continuing a difficult stretch against conference opponents.

Montana State’s first-quarter dominance—holding an opponent to one point while forcing mistakes that immediately became points—set a template the Vikings could not escape.