Lady Jackets Edged at the Wire (1/12/07)
Box Score
Kevin Woodin post game comments

GOODWELL, OK – Looking to build on their nine-game winning streak, the Montana State – Billings Lady Jackets were dealt an 85-82 loss by Oklahoma Panhandle State Friday in Goodwell, Oklahoma.  The loss drops the Lady Jackets to 11-4 overall and 2-1 in the Heartland Conference, while the Lady Aggies improve to 3-12 and pick up their first conference win at 1-2.

The Lady Aggies jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead over the Lady Jackets before MSU Billings went on a 7-0 run of their own knotting the game at seven.  The Yellowjackets battled and with four 3-pointers in a span of four minutes, the Jackets led by five.  A three-point conversion by Michelle Lieber (Gillette, WY) near the end of the first half saw the Jackets carry a 44-37 lead into the locker room.

The Jackets continued their dominance through most of the second half and were up by a dozen with 9:20 left in the ball game on a basket by Jetton Meadors (Billings, MT).  The Lady Aggies chipped away at the Jackets’ lead and with less than two minutes left in regulation a 3-pointer by the Aggies’ Megan Hamilton followed by another three from Yadira Ortega put the Aggies ahead by four.  Tied at 82 apiece, with two seconds remaining, Hamilton made a layup followed by a free throw putting Oklahoma Panhandle on top by three icing the win for the Aggies. 

The Lady Jackets’ Meadors led all players in scoring with a career-high 26 points.  Meadors was 10-of-17 from the field and netted a career-best 6-of-12 from long range.  Also posting a career-high was Shantell Marquis (Cascade, MT) with 13 points.  She was 6-of-14 from the field and 1-of-5 from 3-point range.  Lieber recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds.  Lieber was 8-of-9 from the field and 3-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Five Aggies scored in double figures and were led by Hamilton and Sarah Polson with 18 points each.  Sedra Watkins turned in 15 points and five rebounds with teammate Yadira Ortega netting 13 points.

The Lady Jackets remain in Goodwell for a non-conference match-up against the Lady Aggies Saturday, January 13 before traveling to Odessa, Texas.  The Jackets will play one game against Heartland Conference provisional member University of Texas – Permian Basin (0-8) Monday, January 15.  Games can be heard on the Yellowjackets Athletic website or on AM 970 KBUL.