November 28, 2007

Lady Jackets Set to Face Orediggers

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings women’s basketball team will face Colorado School of Mines for a single game Saturday, December 1st in Golden, Colo.  The Lady Jackets lead the series 4-0 against the Orediggers with the two teams’ last meeting back in 1999.

The Orediggers are a perfect 2-0 at home and are posting a 2-2 overall record to start the 2007-2008 campaign.  Brecca Gaffney leads CSM averaging 12.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.    Shooting 56 percent from the floor and 90 percent from the free throw line, Gaffney is a force to reckon with in the lanes.  Gaffney also leads her team recording three blocked shots.  Stevie Hagemeister is averaging 8.5 points per game, while Peanut Eickleman leads the Diggers with 2.5 steals per game.

As a team the Orediggers are averaging 37 percent efficiency from the field and have knocked down 27 threes off 69 attempts for 39 percent.  The team is 74 percent from the charity stripe and has averaged 36 rebounds and 17.5 turnovers per game.  CSM’s margin of victory is a slim 4.2 points.

The Lady Jackets opened the season against very tough opponents and find themselves 1-3 overall.  The Jackets posted a convincing 82-57 win over Regis University at the third annual Chinook Wireless/Clock Tower Inn Yellowjacket Classic held over the Thanksgiving weekend. 

Alira Carpenter (Lewistown) leads the Jackets’ offense averaging 16.5 points per game.  Carpenter is 37 percent from the field and a blistering 12-of-12 from the free throw line.  Carpenter also leads the Yellowjackets knocking down 10 threes.  Kayla McPherson (Glendive) has come off the Jackets’ bench to average 11.5 points and five rebounds per game.  Like Carpenter, McPherson is a perfect 11-of-11 from the line.  Kayla Ryan (Big Timber) has pulled down a team-leading 6.3 boards and 1.25 blocks per game while teammate Shantell Marquis (Cascade) is averaging 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.25 steals per game.

As a team the Yellowjackets are 36 percent from the field and 27 percent from long range.  While MSUB is typically a very strong perimeter shooting team that has struggled in the early going, they have managed to hold their opponents to just 24 percent from three-point range.  The team is 76 percent from the line, and is averaging 36.8 rebounds per game.

The Lady Yellowjackets host NAIA opponent University of Great Falls Wednesday, December 5th.  Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.  Live video streaming, free live stats, and free internet broadcast of the game will be provided.  Information can be found on the Yellowjackets web site.