Jackets’ Carpenter Named HLC Player of the Week (12/20/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings women’s basketball player Alira Carpenter picked up her second-straight Heartland Conference Player of the Week award for the week of December 11-17.  The award is the fourth for the Lady Jackets this season.

Carpenter, a sophomore guard from Lewistown, Montana, continued to carry the Lady Jackets’ offense in a 69-63 win over Division II opponent University of Mary last week.  She scored a game-high 24 points to raise her season scoring average to 17.4 points per game.  She was 8-of-13 from the field, 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.  She also had two assists, two steals, and two rebounds.  Carpenter scored 18 first half points, including the Jackets’ last 10 points of the half to erase an eight-point deficit and give MSUB a two-point lead.  For the season, Carpenter is shooting 43 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3-point range, and 83 percent from the line. 

The Lady Jackets (6-3) continue play at the Hoop-N-Surf Classic December 20 where they will play undefeated Missouri Southern State (7-0).  Tip off for the game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. HST, and 5:00 p.m. MST.  The Lady Jackets return to Alterowitz Gym December 30 when they open the conference schedule against Oklahoma Panhandle State (2-9).  Tip off for that game is 5:30 p.m.