Lady Jackets Down Bears in Exhibition (11/7/06)
Coach Woodin post game audio

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team built a large lead then coasted to a 60-48 exhibition win at Rocky Mountain College on Tuesday.  It was the second exhibition game of the season for the Yellowjackets, who lost at Montana State in Bozeman last Thursday.

With neither team’s offense clicking in the early going, the Yellowjackets opened a 12-0 lead in the first seven minutes of the game.  Rocky didn’t get its first basket until the 12:29 mark of the first half when Josie Evans broke the ice for the Bears.  Evans would score five-straight points, but finished the game with five points before fouling out.

The Yellowjackets built a double-digit lead in the first half before the Bears were able to trim the deficit just before halftime.  Amy Schillinger made two 3-pointers in the closing minutes of the half to cut the Jackets’ lead to 29-21 at the break.

“We started well defensively and held them scoreless for quite a few minutes,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  “We missed some pretty easy shots in the first few minutes, or we could have built a bigger lead.  Give Rocky credit.  We had them on the ropes and they made a run just before halftime.  Early in the second half our defense really got after it.” 

The Yellowjackets ratcheted up the defensive pressure in the second half to open a 20-point lead.  MSUB forced 25 Rocky turnovers in the game, including 15 in the second half.  The Yellowjacket guards had a large hand in that, especially freshman Shantell Marquis (Cascade, MT).  Marquis wreaked havoc on the Rocky ball handlers all night, picking up six steals in the game.  Jetton Meadors (Billings, MT) had three steals.

“I think this early in the season we have to focus on our defense,” said Woodin.  “It’s well ahead of our offense.  That should be expected with a young team.  In our first two exhibitions we’re playing about 25 minutes really well; the other third of the game is not real consistent.  There are a lot of reasons for that.  It’s very early, and we graduated three multi-year starters.  But what I like is we’re finding ways to score off our defense and our hustle.”

The Bears were able to close the gap in the final six minutes of the game, but never cut the lead to less than 10.  Jenna Sawyer had a solid second half, finishing with 12 points for the Bears.  Schillinger also netted a dozen points.

The Jackets’ Alira Carpenter (Lewistown, MT) led all players with 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting.  She was 2-of-3 from behind the arc.  Michelle Lieber (Gillette, WY) just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds.  She was 6-of-8 from the field.  Kayla McPherson (Glendive, MT) added 11 points with three 3-pointers.

“I like our depth and our team speed,” concluded Woodin.  “We’re trying to pick up people full court.  Any time you defend people in the full court it’s going to expend more energy.  We want to go to that bench, and I think it will pay off for us.  There’s a lot of youth out there and I’m pleased with what’s going on right now.”

The Yellowjackets close out the exhibition season on November 12 with a 2:00 p.m. game at University of Montana.  MSUB opens the regular season on November 17 at home against Western Oregon as a part of the Chinook Wireless/Holiday Inn Yellowjacket Classic.