Road Trip Gives Lady Jackets Eleventh Straight “W” (1/21/06)
Box Score

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – As if the Billings skies knew it was coming, the Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team laid down a hail storm of points toppling Lincoln University 78-56 Saturday in Jefferson City.  The win marks the eleventh consecutive victory for the Lady Jackets tying them for the school record of 11 consecutive wins previously held by the 1990-1991 squad.  The Jackets are now 12-4 overall and 5-1 in the Heartland Conference.  The Blue Tigers drop to 0-15 and 0-5 in league play.

Considering the roll the Lady Jackets have been on, they were caught on their heels a bit as the Blue Tigers kept the game close and even led by as many as two in the first five minutes of play.  With 14:47 to go in the half, Shannon Harvey (Jr., Billings, MT) hit from behind the arc giving the Jackets the one point lead.  The Lady Jackets held Lincoln scoreless for almost four minutes before the Blue Tigers' leading scorer Sylvia Guldalian made her first of four 3-pointers bringing her team back within one.  The two teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of the half. With 2:59 to go, the Lady Jackets gave themselves some comfort room on three 3-pointers by Lisa Jellum (Sr., Gillette, WY), Jenny Langford (Sr., Reed Point, MT), and Harvey taking the 36-22 lead into the locker room. 

“We started slow offensively and missed some early shots,” said Lady Jacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  “The key to our win I feel was at the end of the first half when we were able to build a double-digit lead.” 

The Lady Jackets didn’t give an inch going into the second half keeping the Blue Tigers scoreless for an eight and a half minute stretch.  The Jackets built their lead to 24 before a Yellowjacket foul sent Nadine Nomendoue to the line for one.  The Jackets' bench trotted out onto the court with the mindset of adding to the team's lead, contributing 28 of the team’s total points.  A made field goal by Jennifer Skrifvars (Jr. Brea, CA) gave the Jackets’ a 29-point lead with 13:59 to play.  The Blue Tigers nailed three 3-pointers with one minute left in regulation to go down fighting.

“The bench deserved playing time,” added Woodin.  “They always try to increase the lead and make plays happen.  They all contributed and earned points, something that is important as the season progresses.”

Every Lady Jacket that checked into the game scored.  Tanya Petersen (Sr., Billings, MT) led the team netting 16 points.  Petersen moved up in the record books and now holds thirteenth place for career scoring with 1,153 total points.  She also grabbed five rebounds, blocked four shots and went 6-of-7 from the field.  Michelle Lieber (Jr., Gillette, WY) had another solid game posting 12 points, five boards and went 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.  Harvey also had a record breaking night moving into seventh in the record books for career 3-pointers made with 104.  She also netted nine points on the game, all coming from behind the arc.

The Blue Tigers Sylvia Guldalian led all scorers with 17 points.  Teammates Tiffanie Wolfe and Nomendoue each contributed 11 and seven points respectively.

“St. Edward’s is an important game for us.  We are only halfway through the conference schedule so each game is big.  Whoever comes out with the win next Saturday will hold first place in the Heartland Conference.”

The Lady Jackets will play a three-game home stretch hosting conference opponent St. Edward’s (7-9, 3-1 HLC) on January 28 at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  Tip off is set for 6 p.m.  Lincoln University (0-15, 0-5 HLC) will travel to Billings for a pair of games on February 3-4.  The first of two will be a conference counter.  Tip off for those games are scheduled for 6 p.m.