Lady Jacket Senior Night Ends In “W” (2/18/06)
Box Score                Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – Five Lady Jackets seniors said goodbye Saturday and handed St. Mary’s (TX) their second loss in as many nights.  The Lady Jackets downed the Rattlers 77-70 to improve to 18-6 overall.  The Jackets are 9-2 in the Heartland Conference.  The Rattlers dropped to 14-12 and are 7-4 in league play.

The Rattlers held a one-point lead at the 17:24 mark of the first half but that would be their only taste of the lead throughout the remainder of the game.  Seniors Jenny Langford (Reed Point, MT) and Angela Lessard (Elizabeth, CO) knocked down back-to-back threes to regain the Jackets lead.  The Lady Jackets built comfort room on a lay-up by Tanya Petersen (Sr., Billings, MT) with 4:47 to go in the half.  Petersen was fouled on the play and converted it into a 3-point possession.  Shannon Harvey (Sr., Billings, MT) made two lay-ups in a row to head into the locker room with the 40-27 advantage.

“We played with a lot of emotion with this being senior night,” said Lady Jacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  “We built a good lead but the Rattlers kept it close through sections of the second half.  It was a good win for us and it is always nice to come out on top.”

The Lady Jackets held the Rattlers at bay for much of the second half.  Rattler Flavia Azinheira was held to just four points after averaging 16.4 points per game.  The Rattlers made a last ditch effort with just 17 seconds to play on a 3-point shot from Charlena Rodez.  It wasn’t enough as the Lady Jackets captured the win.

As a team the Lady Jackets shot just 43 percent from the field but were able to put away a combined 11 threes in the game for 40 percent.  The Jackets went 20-of-24 from the line and out-rebounded the Rattlers 38-36.

Lisa Jellum (Sr., Gillette, WY) netted three points and handed out a game-high six assists.  Harvey added 10 points on 2-of-6 shooting from behind the arc and 4-of-8 from the field.  Lessard shot 100 percent in all aspects of the game.  She went 1of-1 from the field, 2-of-2 from the line and matched her career-high hitting one from three point range, giving her five points.  Lessard also handed out three assists and blocked one shot.  Alira Carpenter (Fr., Lewistown, MT) netted 14 points on solid shooting from both the inside and perimeter.  Michelle Lieber (Jr., Gillette, WY) and Langford added 10 points apiece.  Lieber’s 10 rebounds gave her another double-double on the season.  Petersen led all scorers with 17 points.  For the second night in a row she nearly missed a double-double grabbing nine boards.  In doing so, Petersen moved up to the No. 11 spot for career rebounds with 610.  She also blocked six shots.

The Rattlers were led by Rodez with 16 points.  Juanita Merchant netted 14 points and poked away four steals.  Azinheira managed just four points but grabbed 10 boards.

The Lady Jackets travel to Silver City, New Mexico February 24 and 25 to play their final two games of the regular season.  The games against the Mustangs (4-19, 2-8) are scheduled for 5:30 MST.  Listen live on 970 KBUL or log onto the Yellowjacket Athletics website for the latest action.  Following their road trip, the Lady Jackets will return to Alterowitz to play game one in the Heartland Conference playoffs.  The game is scheduled for Wednesday, March 1.