Woodin unveils 2016-17 slate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu July 12, 2016 Woodin unveils MSUB women’s basketball schedule Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU 2016-17 MSUB Women’s Basketball Schedule | 2016-17 MSUB Women’s Basketball Roster

MSUB junior Rylee Kane and the Yellowjackets begin the 2016-17 season with an Alumni Game on Friday, Oct. 21.

The MSUB women’s basketball team plays three games in the Magic City to open the 2016-17 season followed by a trip to California before hosting the annual Yellowjacket Classic.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Opening the year with three exhibition games in the Magic City before turning their attention to a trio of regular season tilts in California, the MSUB women’s basketball team is primed for a successful pre-conference 201617 start. Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin released the upcoming slate on Tuesday that includes 32 games with half being contested at home.

Montana State University Billings begins its preseason schedule with an Alumni Game on Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. in Alterowitz.

Ten days later, the ‘Jackets head to the Fortin Center for an exhibition game against Rocky Mountain College on Halloween Night, Oct. 31. Both the MSUB men’s and women’s teams will be in action on Nov. 4 against Montana Tech.

During this year’s designated EMC Throwback Night, the Yellowjacket women will take-on the Orediggers at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s teams at 7:30 p.m.

“It will be nice to play three games in Billings before the regular season begins,” Woodin commented on the opening two weeks. “It is always a fun event to play our alumni and I am hopeful a lot of our talented players of the past can play on Oct 21. Rocky is always a very competitive game and it will provide us with a great road atmosphere to play in which will only help us as the season goes on. Our Throwback Night has been one of our player’s favorite games in the past, and it should be an exciting atmosphere as both our men and us play them in a doubleheader on Nov. 4.”

The MSUB men’s and women’s teams have six doubleheaders scheduled for the 2016-17 season. The Yellowjacket women also have seven NCAA Division II in-region games on their docket as well as the regular 20 conference tilts.

After the trio of exhibition games, MSUB turns its attention to west region competition as the ‘Jackets begin the regular season in San Marcos, Calif., with games against Cal State San Marcos and last year’s NCAA west region runner-up UC San Diego during the GNAC/PacWest Challenge. The Yellowjackets stay close to San Diego for a contest against Point Loma for the third game of the trip to California.

“Our opening regular season trip to California will be a very challenging one to say the least,” Woodin commented. “We play three teams who should all be better than they were last year.

San Marcos will be the host team and returns a lot of key players.

San Diego played in the finals of our regionals and also has several top players coming back. Point Loma narrowly missed the regional a year ago and has been a very solid team ever since they joined NCAA D2. I do think playing a tough non-league schedule is important though, and we are looking forward to the trip.”

MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin has scheduled 32 games for the 2016-17 season. Last year’s GNAC Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year, Woodin reached his 200th career win at the helm of the Yellowjacket program as the team qualified for the NCAA national tournament for the second time in three years.

At home in Billings, the Yellowjackets are hosting a 2015-16 NCAA tournament team in Northern State and Cal Poly Pomona during the 2016 Yellowjacket Classic. Fellow NCAA Division II opponent Black Hills State will also be attendance at the annual event that runs Nov. 18-19.

During Thanksgiving break, MSUB challenges two more in-region teams on the road in Chadron State and South Dakota School of Mines.

Staying on the road in the first week of December, MSU Billings opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference competition at Northwest Nazarene on Dec. 1, followed by a game at Central Washington on Dec. 3.

The ‘Jackets are at home for four straight in the month of December with instate games against the University of Great Falls on Dec. 10, and the second contest of the season against intra-city rival Rocky Mountain College on Dec. 17. MSUB closes out the year hosting its first GNAC home games with Alaska on Dec. 29 and Alaska Anchorage on New Year’s Eve. MSU Billings continues the conference charge flip-flopping home and away contests in January, including a doubleheader billing at home with the MSUB men’s team on Jan. 12 and 14.

In February, the Yellowjackets close out the regular season with four home games, including two more doubleheaders with the men’s team, the 11th Annual Think Pink game against Western Washington on Feb. 16, and Senior Night against Northwest Nazarene on Feb. 25.

“I believe the GNAC will be even better than last year from top to bottom,” Woodin said. “Our league is very balanced and I look for many teams to improve upon their season of a year ago. I believe we will also have a very competitive team and I know my players are looking forward to the conference season. Last year we finished with 6 of 8 games on the road so it will be cool to have that reversed this season. Our Pink and Senior Night games are always special and I know they will be this year too.”

The 2016-17 GNAC Women’s Basketball Championships will be held Mar. 1-4 in Lacey, Wash., with the top-6 teams in the conference advancing to the tournament.

Last season, the Yellowjackets posted a record of 21-11 overall and 15-5 in conference action. MSU Billings finished third in the regular season, were the runner-up at the GNAC Championships, and advanced to the NCAA Division II west region tournament for the second time in three years.

Live video and statistics will be available for all MSUB home games and all GNAC road contests throughout the 2016-17 season, through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.

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