Lady Jackets Run by Bears (11/28/06)
Box Score
Game Photos
Coach Woodin post game audio

BILLINGS, MT – Big runs to start each half lifted the Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team to an 85-69 non-conference win against Rocky Mountain College Tuesday night at Alterowitz Gym.  The Yellowjackets improved to 2-1 on the season, dropping the Bears to 3-5.  The game was the only official meeting between the cross-town rivals this season.  They met once in the preseason in an exhibition game.

“It was a nice win for us tonight,” said Yellowjacket coach Kevin Woodin.  “I really liked the way we started the game.  Our defense got us a couple of easy baskets early and we were effective in transition.  However, we continued to experience peaks and valleys within a half.  Give Rocky credit; they settled down and fought back and they really hurt us on the offensive boards.  For us, Michelle Lieber played very well in the first half, and Jen Smith and Rachel Hansen provided sparks off the bench.”

The Jackets looked like they were going to blow the game open early, starting the night with a 23-4 run.  Alira Carpenter’s 3-pointer at 12:37 of the first half gave the Jackets a 19 point lead.  On the ropes, the Bears responded with a run of their own, outscoring the Yellowjackets 18-4 over the next 7:12.  A pair of Shaylynn Conroy free throws with 5:25 to play in the half drew the Bears to within five at 27-22.

The Yellowjackets settled for a 39-32 halftime lead but made the necessary adjustments at the break.  After the Jackets’ Kayla McPherson (Glendive, MT) and the Bears’ Keri Siewert traded 3-pointers to start the second half, the Jackets opened up a double-digit lead that they never relinquished.  Another McPherson triple on the next possession sparked a 14-3 MSUB run.  McPherson’s jumper with 14:40 to play put the Jackets ahead 56-38.

“At halftime we talked about playing a more consistent second half, and overall I thought we did that,” said Woodin.  “We also rebounded much better which was a big key to our success.  It was nice to finally see Kayla and Alira hitting their shots while in the game together.  When they are both hitting, it really spreads the defense and makes our cuts and post ups more effective.”

MSUB’s largest lead of the night came when a Carpenter free throw with 8:31 remaining gave the Jackets a 70-44 advantage.  The closest the Bears would get over the final 10 minutes of the game was 15.

Lieber (Gillette, WY) finished the night with a game-high 22 points.  She was 7-of-9 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.  Carpenter (Lewistown, MT) had a season-high 19 points while knocking down a career-high four 3-pointers.  McPherson added 15 points, hitting 3-of-6 from behind the arc.

Smith (Belgrade, MT) came off the bench to score a career-high 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting.  Hansen (Lolo, MT) added nine points off the bench, all of them coming in the first half.  She was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field, including two 3-pointers.  A redshirt freshman, Hansen’s nine points were the first of her collegiate career. 

Point guard Jetton Meadors (Billings, MT) handed out a game-high six assists and was one of three Yellowjackets with three steals.  Fourteen MSUB steals helped lead to 33 Rocky turnovers.  MSU Billings scored 39 points off turnovers.  Carpenter and Shantell Marquis (Cascade, MT) also had three steals apiece.

The Bears were led by Gretchan Wall’s 15 points.  She was 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line.  Siewert added 11 points, making all three of her 3-point attempts.  Alysa Brown came off the bench to score 10.  The Bears’ Jenna Sawyer grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds as Rocky out-rebounded the Jackets 43-30.

The Yellowjackets hit the road for two big NCAA South Central Region games this weekend.  They play at Northwest Missouri State on Thursday and at Missouri Western State on Saturday.  The two teams entered the week with a combined 8-1 record.

“This trip to Missouri will be extremely tough,” said Woodin.  “However, it gives us an opportunity to play quality in-region games, and I think it will pay off for us down the road.  I am pleased with our performance thus far, but we have only scratched the surface of our potential.”