FARMINGTON, Utah (Feb. 17, 2026) – The homestretch of hoops season is here as teams around the league head into the final two weekends of the regular season with a lot to be decided.
Big Sky Women's Basketball Weekly Notes (Week 16)
Williams Named Big Sky Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Kayla Williams posted stats of 20.5 points on 62.5% shooting, and five rebounds per game this week while dishing three assists and grabbing two steals. Williams hit two clutch free throws to keep NAU up by three against PSU so the game could only go into OT on Thursday.
The 2-0 weekend for the Lumberjacks has led to a three-game win streak as Northern Arizona prepares to host two of the league’s Top-4 teams, Idaho and Northern Colorado for the final home games of the season in Flagstaff.
Others Nominated for Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Ella Gallatin (EWU), Debora Dos Santos (UI), Tasia Jordan (ISU), Ella Johnson (MSU), Tatum West (UNC), Kyleigh Brown (PSU)
The Nation's Best on the Boards
Eastern Washington’s Kourtney Grossman has proved to be one of the nation’s best on the boards in the nation.
The sophomore forward is currently averaging 12.8 rebounds per game, a mark good enough to be ranked third in the country.
Grossman is also fourth in the nation in total rebounds with 333 on the season.
She is one of two players in the nation to have two 22+ rebound games and has now recorded 10+ rebounds in 18 of the last 19 games.
Leading the Lumberjacks, and the Big Sky
Naomi White has been a lethal force for the Lumberjack offense in her first season in Flagstaff.
Through 27 games, White leads both the Lumberjacks and the Big Sky in scoring averaging 21.9 points per game which ranks ninth in the nation.
She recorded six consecutive 20+ point games to open the season. She also recently set a new career high of 37 points against Weber State. The redshirt-freshman drained a career-high nine triples in that contest.
This is White’s first season of collegiate action after redshirting her freshman year at Grand Canyon a season ago.
Montana State Sweeps Preseason Polls
After a 30-win campaign a season ago, the Bobcats begin their title defense as preseason favorites of both the Coaches' Poll and Media Poll leading up to the 2025-26 Women's Basketball season, the conference office announced.
The Bobcats received five first-place votes in the coaches’ poll and 11 in the media poll compared to Montana three first-place votes in the coaches' poll and seven in the media poll. Idaho and Idaho State gathered the final two first place votes in the coaches poll.
Montana State finished its last campaign with a 30-4 overall record, the first Big Sky team to reach the 30-win mark, and a 17-1 mark in Big Sky action. The Bobcats swept the Big Sky titles, earning their eighth regular-season crown and its fourth tournament title. The season came to a close in Columbus where the Bobcats faced the Buckeyes of Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1: Montana State (5) – 74
2: Montana (3) – 72
3: Idaho (1) – 65
4: Idaho State (1) – 57
5: Sacramento State – 50
6: Eastern Washington – 38
7: Northern Colorado – 36
8: Weber State – 28
T9: Northern Arizona – 15
T9: Portland State – 15
() – Denotes First-Place Votes
2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll
1: Montana State (11) – 238
2: Montana (7) – 224
3: Idaho (7) – 220
4: Sacramento State (2) – 177
5: Idaho State – 161
6: Eastern Washington – 123
7: Weber State – 120
8: Northern Arizona – 102
9: Northern Colorado – 86
10: Portland State – 34
() – Denotes First-Place Votes
Versteeg Headlines Preseason All-Conference Team
The 2025-26 Big Sky Women's Basketball Preseason Team has been revealed, the conference office announced. Sacramento State's Benthe Versteeg highlights the team, earning Preseason MVP honors.
Versteeg represents one of five schools through the six-member Preseason All-Conference Team.
Versteeg enters her redshirt senior season as one of the league's most impactful returners, collecting All-Big Sky First team honors a season ago. In her 2024-25 campaign, she led the conference in assists with 208, nearly 40 more than anyone else in the conference. The Hornet also ranked Top-10 in the conference in scoring (10th), total points (8th), field goals made (7th), assist-to-turnover ratio (7th), steals (8th) and minutes (2nd). Her defensive efforts have earned her a spot on the Big Sky All-Defensive team twice in as many years.
The Lady Griz of Montana are the only school represented on the Preseason All-Conference team twice in Mack Konig and Avery Waddington. The Lady Griz duo led the squad a season ago as the two highest-point scorers on the team, both averaging 10+ points per game. Montana enters the first full season of the Nate Harris era, who led the team to a championship appearance in Boise to close out the 2024-25 season.
2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State (Preseason Most Valuable Player)
Mack Konig, Montana
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State
Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington
Avery Waddington, Montana
Hope Hassmann, Idaho
Starch Madness
The 2026 Big Sky Basketball Championships in Boise, Idaho will take place from March 7-11 inside Idaho Central Arena. Visit
StarchMadness.com for more details.
2025-26 Big Sky Women's Basketball Schedule (Week 16)
Thursday, Feb. 19
Sacramento State at Eastern Washington // 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Weber State at Montana State // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Portland State at Idaho // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Montana // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Feb. 21
Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Weber State at Montana // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Montana State // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Sacramento State at Idaho // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Portland State at Eastern Washington // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
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