Defense Dominates in Lady Jackets Win (Nov. 27, 2004)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team used stifling defense on Saturday night, improving to 3-0 with a 78-52 win over Ohio Valley.  It was the second win in as many nights over the Fighting Scots, who dropped to 0-4.

The Yellowjackets opened the game with a 9-0 run and didn’t allow the Fighting Scots to score until 14:14 of the first half.  A layup by Michelle Lieber (So., Gillette, WY) gave MSU Billings an 18-9 lead at 10:39.  On Friday, OVC rallied from an 18-8 deficit to pull to within 18-17.  The Yellowjackets used a 15-4 run on Saturday night to knock the Scots out of the game early.  MSU Billings led 39-23 at the half.

“I was very pleased with our team defense throughout the game,” said head coach Kevin Woodin.  “We emphasized it in practice early today and I thought everyone made the commitment to it.  We also got excellent minutes from our entire bench and I thought Kayla Frize, Shannon Harvey, and Jessica Bratton played key roles in both halves off the bench.  Ohio Valley did a much better job of defending the low post tonight, but I think we did a good job of finding the open player.  We are looking forward to our first road games at Seattle University next Tuesday and Wednesday.”

The Yellowjackets’ three post players—Robyn Milne, Tanya Petersen and Lieber—combined for 56 of the team’s points on Friday.  They accounted for just 26 on Saturday as eleven different players found the scoring column.  Milne (Sr., Richey, MT) finished with eight points, Petersen (Jr., Billings, MT) netted 13, and Lieber added five.

The Yellowjacket starters played just over half of the minutes in the game, accounting for only 37 points.  MSUB had 41 bench points, led by Jessica Bratton’s (So., Casper, WY) 14.  Bratton was 6-of-10 from the field.  Shannon Harvey (So., Billings, MT) added 13 points off the bench, making all three of her 3-point attempts.  Starter Jenny Langford (Jr., Reedpoint, MT) made the Jackets’ other two 3-pointers and finished with 10 points and six assists.  Frize (Jr., Miles City, MT) added six points and four assists.

Ohio Valley was paced by 19 points from Stacy Mielecki.  She was 4-of-11 from the field and 11-of-12 from the line.  Stephanie Blanc came off the bench to score 16 points, hitting 4-of-5 from behind the arc.

The Yellowjackets face their first road tests of the season on November 30 and December 1 at Seattle University.  Following a trip to California, the Jackets’ next home game will be December 17 against Humboldt State.

Click HERE for photos of the Lady Jackets vs. Ohio Valley College