February 16, 2008

Yellowjackets Fall in OT, 83-78
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BILLINGS, Mont. – Despite Alira Carpenter’s (Lewistown) career-high 33 points, the Montana State Billings women’s basketball team was defeated 83-78 in overtime by Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Seattle University Saturday night at Alterowitz.  The Lady Jackets fall to 8-13 overall and 5-7 in league play, while the Redhawks improve to 14-7 and 5-7.

The crowd was a sea of pink as MSUB took part in its first ever “Think Pink” event.  Players and fans alike wore pink to show their support and to help raise breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses and in communities across the nation.  The event was part of a global effort through the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).  MSUB partnered together with the Eva Project to support the WBCA’s “Think Pink” initiative.

“It was a great atmosphere for our game tonight,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  “Both teams played hard, they (SU) just out executed us in the overtime.”

The Lady Jackets held a slim lead over the Redhawks for most of the first half, pulling out to an eight-point lead at the five-minute mark following a 3-pointer by Shantell Marquis (Cascade).  A 7-3 run by Seattle University to close out the half cut the Redhawks deficit to four heading into the locker room.

At the 13:46 mark of the second half, a 3-pointer by the Jackets’ Carpenter sent the junior to the top of the record books for career 3-pointers.  Dousing a record that has stood since 1999, Carpenter now has 196 career threes to her credit.

A stingy defense and back-to-back 3-pointers by the Redhawks’ Leah Stepovich and Chelsie Morrison closed the gap and sent SU into the lead by one.  Trading the lead nine times in the final seven minutes of regulation, the Lady Jackets were ahead by one, but a 3-pointer by Morrison with 21 ticks to play, sent the teams into extra minutes tied at 75 all.

“We need to get more consistency from our team on the offensive side,” said Woodin.  “It seems that one night we will score effectively from the perimeter but not on the interior and then the next game will be the opposite.  We have been snake-bitten lately on close games.  I need to do a better job of leading my team in close games.”

MSUB held a brief three-point lead before the Redhawks’ Morrison scored eight of the team’s nine points in OT to overpower the Jackets.

Carpenter led the Jackets with 33 points going 10-of-20 from the field and 5-of-8 from long range.  Marquis posted 18 points off 6-of-12 shooting.  The sophomore recorded a game-high five steals moving her into fourth in the record books for single season steals with 79.  Dani Henderson (Reed Point) and Kayla McPherson (Glendive) each added 10 points, while Jen Smith (Belgrade) posted a game and career-high 11 rebounds.

The Jackets shot 37 percent from the field going 25-of-68 and were 9-of-21 from behind the arc for 43 percent.  The team connected on 19 of 22 attempts from the charity stripe for 86 percent.  MSUB outrebounded the Redhawks 42-40.

Four players scored in double figures for Seattle and were led by Morrison’s game-high 35 points.  Morrison was 14-of-23 from the floor and 5-of-11 from long range.  Stepovich added 16 with Jackie Thomas and Kamrica Ary-Turner chipping in 12 and 10 respectively.

The Redhawks shot 50 percent from the floor and were 10-of-22 from the perimeter for 46 percent.  Seattle was a chilly 15-of-25 from the line for 60 percent.

“We need to get ready for next week,” added Woodin.  “We will play two very talented teams and it will take a focused effort from us.”

The Lady Jackets host Northwest Nazarene University of Thursday, February 21 before facing Seattle Pacific on Saturday, February 23.  Both games are set for 7 p.m.  Live stats, live video streaming and a free internet broadcast can be found on the Yellowjackets web site.