Lady Jackets Shoot Out Lights, Feed Fans (12/6/06)
Box Score
Game Photos

BILLINGS, MT – Using some long distance sharp shooting, the Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team downed visiting Montana State-Northern 80-67 on Wednesday.  With 11 three-pointers in the game, the Yellowjackets also earned everyone in attendance a free pizza from Pizza Hut.

“Tonight was a very good win for us against a very good team,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  “We knew Northern was experienced and talented, and they proved it by jumping out to a quick lead.  However, I liked the way our team responded, and the game settled into a great game.  We continue to play inconsistent, and we have to become more steady on both ends of the floor.  But overall, our entire team contributed positively to the outcome.”

The Lights (8-4) opened the game with a 6-0 run in the first three possessions of the game on baskets from three different players.  MSUB (3-3) answered with a 15-0 run in a span of about two and a half minutes.  A Michelle Lieber (Gillette, WY) 3-point play in the paint started the run, and a pair of Laura Beach (Baker, MT) free throws ended it.  In between, guard Alira Carpenter (Lewistown, MT) scored 10 of her career-high 28 points.

Northern responded with a 20-9 run in the middle of the first half, retaking the lead at 26-24 on a Chelsie Searle 3-pointer with 7:54 remaining.  After the teams traded baskets twice, Carpenter knocked down one of her career-high five 3-pointers with 5:27 to go in the first half to give MSUB a 31-28 edge. 

The Jackets settled for a 38-36 halftime lead, but never trailed again in the game.  They opened a double-digit lead in the first three and a half minutes of the second half and maintained it for all but a few possessions when the Lights were able to trim the lead to nine.

Carpenter was 10-of-18 from the field and 5-of-9 from behind the arc.  Along with career highs for points and 3-pointers, she also had a career-best three steals.  The Yellowjackets scored 24 points off 19 Northern turnovers. 

Sophomore guards Jetton Meadors (Billings, MT) and Kayla McPherson (Glendive, MT) accounted for the Jackets’ other six 3-pointers.  Meadors was a career-best 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and McPherson hit 2-of-4.  Pizza Hut sponsored the game and handed out coupons for a free pizza if the Yellowjackets made 10 threes in the game.  McPherson reached the magic number with her second triple with 6:04 to play. 

Four players scored in double figures for the Yellowjackets.  Lieber netted 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting despite missing large parts of the game with foul trouble.  Dani Henderson (Reed Points, MT) added 10 points off the bench, connecting on 5-of-8 from the field.  Freshmen Shantell Marquis (Cascade, MT) and Rachel Hansen (Lolo, MT) each notched career highs with five assists.  Marquis also had a game-high and career-high nine rebounds.  Jen Smith (Belgrade, MT) had six assists.

“A big key for us was our outside shooting,” said Woodn.  “I thought we did a good job of finding our shooters in transition.  Alira shot consistently well, and Jetton hit some big shots for us.  I was also impressed with Dani; she showed great patience in the post and used her left hand effectively.  In addition, Shantell really stepped up for us on the boards with Michelle in foul trouble.  We really needed that.  She can change the game in so many ways.”

The Lights were led by 14 points apiece from Michele VanDyke and Ashley Trulock.  VanDyke was 6-of-12 from the field and also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.  Trulock came off the bench to score 10 of her points in the second half, helping the Lights to a 34-24 advantage on points in the paint.  Searle finished with 13 points, and DeLayne Johnston added 11.  Becky Sorenson handed out a game-high seven assists.

“Northern has a very balanced attack, and they do a great job of running their sets,” added Woodin.  “We struggled with our defense all night, but I think a large part of the credit should go to Coach Mouat and his team.”

The Yellowjackets continue their busy non-conference schedule on Saturday when they play at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, WA.  The Saints (3-4) will be one of the Jackets’ new conference foes next season in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Saturday’s game tips off at 4:00 p.m. MST and will be aired on AM 970 in Billings and on the web at www.msubillings.edu/athletics beginning with the pre-game at 3:45.