Lady Jackets Advance to HLC Title Game (3/2/07)
Box Score

DENTON, TX - The Montana State-Billings women's basketball team came back from a three-point halftime deficit to defeat St. Mary's 67-64 in the semifinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament on Friday.  The Yellowjackets advanced to the Heartland Conference championship game on Saturday where they will face University of the Incarnate Word.  The Cardinals defeated St. Edward's 56-53 in overtime in Friday's second semifinal. 

Tip off for the championship game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MST.  The game will be aired on AM 970 in Billings and on the internet at www.msubillings.edu/athletics.  The pre-game show will begin at 1:45 p.m.  Video of the championship game will also be streamed on the web at www.summitticket.com.  Links to all broadcasts can be found on the Yellowjacket Athletics web page.

Despite the Yellowjackets’ entering the tournament as the No. 1 seed and the Rattlers the No. 4 seed, all three regular season meetings between the two were decided by three points or fewer.  MSUB won two of those three games with St. Mary’s winning the last meeting in San Antonio on February 12.  Friday’s semifinal game proved as evenly matched as the previous three games.

The Yellowjackets jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead in the first 3:08 of the game, but that was the largest lead either team would hold the entire game.  The Rattlers responded with a 9-2 run to draw within a point, and the game seesawed the rest of the way.

“It was a hard-fought game,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  “There were a lot of mini-streaks.  We kept battling and made enough plays at the end.  When we play St. Mary’s, it always seems to come down to the last minute.”

True to form, there were 11 ties and eight lead changes in the game.  Seven of the ties and four of the lead changes came in the final 17 minutes.  The Yellowjackets didn’t seize the lead for good until Jetton Meadors (Billings, MT) converted a 3-point play in the paint with 6:23 to play.  A Jennifer Skrifvars (Brea, CA) jumper just inside the arc with 4:04 to play gave MSUB its largest lead of the second half at 62-55.

“We had a refuse-to-lose mentality,” said Woodin.  “Michelle Lieber played well in the second half.  Jetton hit a couple shots.  It was one of the best halves she’s played.  But you can’t single out a play (that won the game).  It was a lot of hard work by a lot of people.”

The Rattlers didn’t go quietly in the final four minutes, and the Jackets missed 3-of-6 free throws down the stretch to keep things interesting.  STMU’s Charlena Rodez pulled the Rattlers to within three on a put back with two seconds remaining.  After a quick foul, the Jackets missed both free throws, but the Rattlers’ three-quarter court shot fell short at the buzzer.

The Yellowjackets outscored the Rattlers 20-4 on fast break points and 18-10 on points off turnovers.  Lieber (Gillette, WY) led all players with 18 points and 10 rebounds, her eleventh double-double of the season.  She was 7-of-9 from the field and also had three steals.  Alira Carpenter (Lewistown, MT) scored 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field.  The conference leader in both scoring and 3-point shooting was held to 0-of-1 from behind the arc.

Meadors finished the game with a dozen points and four assists.  Kayla McPherson (Glendive, MT) added 10 points off the bench, going 3-of-4 from the field and 3-of-4 from the line.  Shantell Marquis (Cascade, MT) had seven points, four assists, and two steals.  Skrifvars had four points and a game-high five assists. 

The Rattlers, who scored 38 of their 64 points in the paint, had four players score in double figures.  Charlena Rodez, Dawn Killilan, and Natalie Gamez each scored 12 points.  Kyra Woods came off the bench to score 10 points and grab eight rebounds.  STMU out-rebounded MSUB 39-33.

“Over the last month we’ve played a lot of close games,” said Woodin.  “When you get in those games you get excellent experience.  The next time you’re in that situation it becomes easier.  Tomorrow will be a battle between two good teams.  We’re ready and looking forward to the opportunity.  Our goal is simple, win two and move on.  We understand the significance of the situation, and we’ll leave it on the floor.”

MSU Billings was 2-1 against Incarnate Word this season.  The Yellowjackets won both games in Billings, 89-81 on January 27 and 66-65 on January 28.  The Cardinals won handily in San Antonio on February 10, handing the Jackets their worst loss of the season 65-37.