March 8, 2008

Yellowjacket Comeback Falls Short in 62-56 Loss to Alaska Anchorage in Season Finale

   Box Score
   MSUB Season Stats

BILLINGS, Mont. – A big second half rally came up just short as the Montana State Billings women’s basketball team dropped a tough, hard-fought 62-56 decision to Alaska Anchorage in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday night at Alterowitz Gym. 

With the loss, the Yellowjackets finish the season at 11-16 overall and 8-10 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  UAA improves to 26-4 overall and 15-3 in conference play.

“Tonight was a very strange game to be a part of as there were so many streaks by both teams,” Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin said . 

Alira Carpenter and Dani Henderson each had 19 points for the Yellowjackets, while Dasha Basova had a team-high 14 points off the bench for the Seawolves.

The Yellowjackets opened the game with a 10-0 spurt as the Seawolves committed six turnovers through the first six minutes of the game during the run.  UAA would answer as it went on a 40-12 run to close the half, for a 40-22 score at intermission.  The Seawolves caught fire from downtown, making five consecutive 3-pointers during a run that put them ahead for good.

“I was very pleased with our 10-0 start, we were definitely ready to play,” Woodin added.  “However, we struggled the rest of the half as we went from 10 ahead to down 20 which was very frustrating.”

In the first half alone, UAA had nine three-pointers and were 13 of 25 from the field for 52 percent.  MSUB struggled after the initial spurt shooting just 6 of 19 from the field and 1 of 6 from downtown.  Carpenter had a team-high seven points in the first half. 

“Basova and Nilsson were great from the perimeter in the first half.  “We were close to them, but not close enough as they made the big run with their leading scorer on the bench shows you how deep and good they are.”

The second half opened as the Yellowjackets caught fire from long range and the Seawolves went cold.  The Jackets were 13 of 28 for the half from the field and 6 of 14 from beyond the arc.  UAA was just 7 of 27 from the field in the half and 0 of 10 from three-point land.  

The Yellowjackets began the half with a 20-8 spurt through the first 10 minutes to cut the deficit to 48-42.  MSUB would get as close as four down the stretch, but UAA had the answer each time and made enough free throws (8 of 11) in the second half to come out with the victory.

“Our players did not quit and played a solid second half,” Woodin added.  “Dani played her best half of the season at both ends.”