Freije, Binford Earn Top Conference Honors

Sometimes the best things in life come in pairs. Today, that motto was especially true for the Montana State Bobcats women’s basketball team. The Big Sky Conference announced their All-Conference Women’s selections for the 2019-2020 season Monday, which included Montana State head coach Tricia Binford and senior forward Fallyn Freije. Fallyn, the Conference’s Preseason Player of the Year selection, proved award voters correct by taking home the 2020 Player of the Year award as the league’s most valuable player. The transfer from North Dakota averaged 13.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, among top 10 in the conference in both categories en route to a Big Sky regular season title. A big part of that regular season title was the coaching efforts of the Big Sky’s 2020 Coach of the Year Tricia Binford. Binford led the team to a 23-6 overall and 19-1 conference record this season—the best record Montana State’s ever had in the Big Sky. This marks the second time Binford has been named Coach of the Year after also earning the nod in 2016. Here are the other selections from the 2019-20 Women’s Basketball All-Conference Team: FIRST TEAM Fallyn Freije, Forward, Montana State, Senior Rebecca Cardenas, Guard, Southern Utah, Senior Khiarica Rasheed, Forward, Northern Arizona, Junior Gina Marxen, Guard, Idaho, Sophomore Mckenzie Johnston, Guard, Montana, Senior SECOND TEAM Jacey Bailey, Guard/Forward, Northern Arizona, Junior Callie Bourne, Guard, Idaho State, Sophomore Kennedy Nicholas, Forward, Sacramento State, Senior Dora Goles, Guard, Idaho State, Junior Oliana Squires, Guard, Montana State, Senior THIRD TEAM Beyonce Bea, Guard, Idaho, Freshman Lizzy Klinker, Forward, Idaho, Senior Kylie Jiminez, Guard, Portland State, Junior Alexis Chapman, Guard, Northern Colorado, Junior Desirae Hansen, Guard, Portland State, Sophomore HONORABLE MENTIONS Alisha Davis, Forward, Northern Colorado, Freshman Caitlin Malvar, Guard, Northern Arizona, Junior Bella Cravens, Center, Eastern Washington, Sophomore Darian White, Guard, Montana State, Freshman Harley Hansen, Guard, Southern Utah, Senior INDIVIDUAL AWARDS Defensive Player of the Year: Rebecca Cardenas, Southern Utah Newcomer of the Year: Nina Radford, Northern Arizona Freshman of the Year: Darian White, Montana State Top Reserve of the Year: Tori Martell, Montana State