FARMINGTON, Utah (Feb. 25, 2026) – The final weekend of the Big Sky women's basketball regular season is here, with the regular season crown and No. 1 seed for Starch Madness still up for grabs.
Big Sky Women's Basketball Weekly Notes (Week 17)
Gallatin Named Big Sky Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Eastern Washington’s Ella Gallatin was a force all over the court this past week, averaging 22.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. She shot 43.3 percent from the floor, and was 14-of-15 (93.3%) from the free throw line.
In the Eagles’ 87-78 win over Portland State, Gallatin dropped 25 points and added 10 assists for her second career double-double. Gallatin's 10 assists are the most by an EWU player since Jamie Loera recorded 12 against Utah State in 2023.
Against Sacramento State, Gallatin scored 19 points, with six assists and six rebounds.
Others Nominated for Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Piper Carlson (ISU), Jamison Phillip (MSU), Layla Davis (NAU), Cici Ellington (PSU), Benthe Versteeg (SAC)
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 this season. 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 just two players in the nation to have a pair of 22-plus rebound games and has now recorded 10-plus rebounds in 18 of her last 19 games overall.
Leading the Lumberjacks and the Big Sky
Northern Arizona’s 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-plus point games to open the season. White 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 Returns March 7-11 in Boise
The 2026 Big Sky Men's and Women's Basketball Championships take place March 7-11 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. The tournament champions will receive automatic berths to the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship.
For the 11th-straight season, all Big Sky members will compete in the conference tournament with the field featuring 10 teams for both the men and women in 2026. All games will be available to stream on ESPN+ and the Championship Games will be aired on the ESPN family of networks.
2025-26 Big Sky Women's Basketball Schedule (Week 17)
Thursday, Feb. 26
Idaho at Northern Arizona // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Northern Colorado // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at Sacramento State // 7:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana State at Portland State // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Feb. 28
Montana State at Sacramento State // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Weber State // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at Portland State // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado at Idaho // 4:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Monday, March 2
Portland State at Weber State // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Idaho // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Sacramento State at Idaho State // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado at Montana // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Arizona at Montana State // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
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