Visger Carries Lady Jackets to Big West Region Road Win (December 20, 2002)

NAMPA, ID – Senior Natalie Visger scored a career-high 25 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the MSU Billings Yellowjackets to a 77-69 win at Northwest Nazarene Friday night.  The Crusaders entered the contest ranked No. 3 in the West Region, while the Yellowjackets were ranked No. 7.

With the Jackets plagued by key injuries all season, Visger has willed the team to an 8-2 record over the first 10 games.  MSUB knocked of the nation's No. 13 team Western Washington on Wednesday before starting an important five-game road swing.

The first stop in that road trip was Nampa, Idaho to take on Northwest Nazarene (6-2), who was listed at No. 3 in the year's first regional poll.  The Yellowjackets, playing with a short bench, led from wire to wire.  MSUB opened a 43-30 halftime lead and led by as many as 20 in the second half. 

The Crusaders closed the gap to five with a 22-7 run late in the game, but the Yellowjackets were able to connect on key free throws to seal the win.  In the game, MSUB made 21-of-30 free throw attempts.  Visger was 9-of-10. 

MSU Billings also had its best shooting game of the season, connecting on 43.3-percent of its field goal attempts.  That marked the Jackets' highest single-game field goal percentage of the year.  Visger led the way with eight field goals in 15 attempts. 

Five other Yellowjackets scored at least nine points in the game.  Kayla Frize (11 points), Joan Langford (11 points) and Jessica Bachmann (10 points) all notched double figures, while Jessie Henigman and Tanya Petersen each added nine points.  Henigman also matched Visger's game-high 12 rebounds.

The Yellowjackets' next four games will be on the road against West Region teams.  They will play at Western Oregon on December 27 and 28, where center Robyn Milne could return to action after recovering from a broken hand.  The Yellowjackets will then face Seattle and Alaska-Fairbanks at a tournament in Hawaii on January 2 and 3.  Twelve of the team's final 16 games will be on the road.  MSUB's next home game is January 10 when the Jackets host Carroll College.