FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 26, 2016 ‘Jackets fall to hot-shooting Hardrockers 83-42 MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | Box Score
MSUB women’s basketball split a pair of games on the road during Thanksgiving weekend.
A hot-shooting Hardrocker team outlasts MSUB women’s basketball as the Yellowjackets finish a Thanksgiving road trip with a loss to South Dakota Mines. RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Hardrockers of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology shot upwards of 70.0 percent in the first quarter, downing the Yellowjackets by a final of 83-42 Saturday during MSUB’s second of a pair of road games during Thanksgiving weekend. Plagued by its own poor shooting, Montana State University Billings (2-5) was unable to match the hot hands of South Dakota Mines (2-3) as the Hardrockers jumped out to a 26-14 lead in the opening quarter, drawing out the advantage with consistent play on both ends of the court. “All the credit goes to South Dakota Mines today,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “I thought they ran their sets very well, scored in transition, and also shot well from the 3-point line. We had a lot of open looks from the three, but couldn’t get any to fall. I think we just didn’t have enough in the tank to make a run at them after playing back-to-back
games this week. I know our players are looking forward to regrouping at home as we prepare to open our conference schedule next week.” SDSMT led by twelve in the first quarter as a pair of free-throws from Sami Steffeck made it 26-14 after the first ten minutes. The ‘Rockers continued to climb the scoreboard. A jump shot from Megan Rohrer opened a 15-point, 35-20, advantage with six minutes left in the opening half. A 3-point basket from MSUB’s Marissa Van Atta sparked an offensive run from MSUB at just over five minutes remaining in the half. Taylor Cunningham and Tiana Hanson contributed points from the free-throw line, and Lexi Prevost made a layup to cut the deficit down to eight, 37-29, with 1:30 left. South Dakota Mines responded with an 8-0 run to finish the first half on a 16-point, 45-29, lead. The ‘Rockers pushed their lead into the 20-point range in the opening minutes of the third period and never looked back, continuing to draw out their advantage until the buzzer. For the game, MSUB shot 25.0 percent (16-64) and was 2-19 (10.5 percent) from the 3-point arc. The ‘Jackets were also an uncharacteristic 8-14 (57.1 percent) from the free-throw line. Hanson led the Yellowjackets with 12 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Brina Hull shot 3-4 from the field finishing with seven points. Junior Rylee Kane led the team in assists and steals with four. Van Atta and Cunningham both had five points and three rebounds. Every player on the MSUB bench went into the game for at least five minutes. Grace Weeks contributed four points and Jeanann Lemelin a pair. Abbie Lohof added two rebounds. The Hardrockers finished the game shooting 61.1 percent from the field and were 11-24 (45.8 percent) from the 3-point arc. Rorher had 19 points and six rebounds. Anna Haugen scored 12 points with a team-high seven rebounds. The Yellowjackets will look to rebound with a strong week of practice as MSUB opens its conference schedule next week with two games. MSU Billings begins Great Northwest Athletic Conference action with road games at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Dec. 1, followed by a game at Central Washington on Saturday, Dec. 3. THE BUZZ: This is the first loss for MSUB to SDSMT as the ‘Jackets have won the last four contests at home against the ‘Rockers…eight players on the MSUB team scored points and eight recorded a rebound. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--