FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, December 28, 2016 New Faces: MSUB Women’s Basketball Freshman Jeanann Lemelin
One of four freshmen on MSUB’s women’s basketball team this season, Billings Senior graduate Jeanann Lemelin is excited to be starting her career with her hometown team. MSUB SPORTS – The competitive edge that Montana State University Billings women’s basketball freshman Jeanann Lemelin carries on her shoulders arose nearly a decade ago. Though the Billings native grew up playing every sport imaginable, her experience playing on a boys’ travel-ball team in third grade is what set basketball apart from the others. “I was the only girl, and that’s what started giving me my competitiveness,” Lemelin said. From there, Lemelin worked her way towards playing up a year, where she linked up with current Yellowjacket women’s golfer Kortney McNeil on the Triple Threat travel team. Now, after excelling in three sports at Billings Senior High School, Lemelin has seen action in all 10 games so far this season with the Yellowjackets.
“I had known Jeanann for years, and I believe she has excellent leadership skills and plays with great determination,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “She consistently puts forth an outstanding effort both on the court and in the classroom.” Woodin’s introduction to the local sports star came earlier than most, as Lemelin was a frequent attendee at the Yellowjacket youth basketball camps. Lemelin also attended women’s basketball games at Alterowitz Gym with her parents Jay and Stacy, as her familiarity with MSUB grew long before she considered a career at the college level. A torn ACL suffered towards the end of Lemelin’s junior year at Senior High put a setback into her college preparations, but the competitiveness that had come to define her determined Lemelin to get back to the court as quickly as she could. By the time the Broncs’ fall volleyball season got underway, Lemelin had motored through her rehab and kicked off a run where she led her prep team to the state playoffs in all three of her sports. “I try not to take anything for granted anymore because I found out it can go away in an instant,” Lemelin commented on her injury. “I think that has made me a better teammate. It was hard, but I never thought about giving up.” Lemelin’s bright, outgoing personality is unmistakable among her Yellowjacket teammates, as she brings a smile and a trademark laugh to every practice and team event. Her day isn’t complete without an Oreo Cheesecake Blizzard from Dairy Queen, and game-day is synonymous with a grilled cheese-mac ‘n cheese combo meal at Grains of Montana. Lemelin isn’t shy about showing off her self-admittedly subpar dance moves and vocal talents as a singer, and has the invaluable trait of being able to lighten the mood among her teammates’ varying personalities. “This team is a family and they are all really fun to be around,” Lemelin said. “Off the court we all have good relationships.” Living close to MSUB’s campus during the summer allowed Lemelin to prepare for her college career in her home gym, as she and fellow freshman Abbie Lohof convened regularly in the months leading up to the season. Though Lemelin has been used in a sparing role early on in her career, she has taken advantage of the learning opportunities from the upperclassmen in the program. “I really look up to Rylee, and I give her props for doing what she did and starting right away as a freshman,” Lemelin commented on junior and three-year starting point guard Rylee Kane. “Alisha, Tiana, and even Lemelin and Lohof celebrate during a home game at Alterowitz Gym.
the sophomores have all stepped up. It doesn’t really matter how old someone is, we are all looking out for each other and helping each other improve.” Citing her main skillset as her defensive tenacity, Lemelin keys her focus on generating turnovers by creating steals and playing at a fast tempo in transition. To progress into an elevated role with the ‘Jackets, she commented that her main area for improvement lies within her ball handling. “Jeanann has many of the intangibles it takes to play at this level, and many of them are not easily obtained,” Woodin said regarding the freshman’s skillset. “She puts in extra time on the court, works hard in the weight room, and is a great teammate. Jeanann excelled at three sports in high school, and I love to see that in a recruit. Once she focuses in on just basketball and getting stronger, I believe she will impact our program even more.”
Lemelin works with players during the Yellowjacket Holiday Hoops camp, which she attended as a youth player growing up in Billings.
Holding a front-row seat to Lemelin’s progression at MSUB is her family, as her parents regularly attend games. She remembers early games of pig in the driveway with her older brother Kale, who has already completed a degree in chemical engineering and is now in pharmacy school.
“It is great to play close to home, and have people who you know in the crowd,” said Lemelin, who is a communications major planning to pursue a career in speech pathology. “With my parents being here, it has brought a lot of my other family members to games also.” Lemelin notes that her type-A personality comes greatly from her father, who she shares a deeper connection with through his role as a basketball referee. An official for both football and basketball in youth leagues and high school, Jay Lemelin has inspired his daughter and even taken the court beside her during summer travel ball tournaments. “It is really important to see all sides of the game,” Lemelin said referring to her ambition to referee with her dad. “Someday I want to coach, and I think it is important to play, ref, and coach in order to understand the game fully. Reffing is a lot harder than most people give them credit for.” Lemelin picked up her first-ever steal in her very first game with the ‘Jackets, and scored her first college points with a bucket against Point Loma Nazarene during the team’s opening road trip. Whether she’s on the court or not, the loudest cheers come from No. 14 on the Yellowjackets’ roster, a competitive spirit who has everything to look forward to over her next four seasons. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--