MSUB women's basketball hosting Chadron and Great Falls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 22, 2015 Women’s basketball hosting Chadron and Great Falls during Thanksgiving weekend Women’s Basketball on Facebook MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU Preview Interview with Sophomores Vanessa Stavish and Rylee Kane and head coach Kevin Woodin

Sophomore Vanessa Stavish finished both games in California last week in double-digit points.

MSU Billings begins a five-game stand with Chadron State on Friday and the University of Great Falls on Saturday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – After returning home from a road-trip to California, the MSUB women’s basketball team begins a fivegame home stand this holiday weekend hosting NCAA Division II opponent Chadron State on Friday, Nov. 27 and from the NAIA the University of Great Falls on Saturday, Nov. 28.

The Yellowjackets played back-to-back games last week coming away with a 68-51 win against Cal Poly Pomona before stumbling against Cal State San Bernardino 76-53.

MSU Billings is now 1-3 on the season, but head coach Kevin Woodin is looking forward to being at home for the rest of November and most of December. MSUB is welcoming familiar opponent in Chadron State from Nebraska for its first game of the weekend followed by an in-state game against Great Falls.

“Chadron is always a good game for us,” Woodin said. “They are well-coached and disciplined and they really get after you. Great Falls had a great year last year and I am hoping we can improve on our second-day performance. Last week we played well on Day 1 and then faltered a bit on our turnaround game.”

LEADING THE GNAC: Junior Alisha Breen sits atop the conference in scoring averaging 18.8 points per game. She holds the second-highest game in NCAA Division II this year with the 37 points she scored in the contest against Academy of Art. TIED AT 11: Breen and senior Janiel Olson are averaging 6.8 rebounds per game which has the two tied for 11th best in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

FROM THE LINE: Junior Tiana Hanson is second in the conference in free-throw percent. The Shepherd, Mont., native has made 12-13 attempts for 92.3 percent from the charity strip.

STAVISH FOR 3: Sophomore Vanessa Stavish made eight 3-pointers in two games last week, including a 5-6 performance in the game against Cal Poly Pomona. The forward is second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 57.1 percent.

ONE FOR THE TIE TWO FOR THE RECORD: With 190 career wins at MSUB, Coach Woodin is just one game back from tying the all-time record and two games back from becoming the new MSUB leader in career victories.

Friday, Nov. 27– 5:15 p.m.

Chadron State College Eagles Head Coach: Tim Connealy 2014-15 Record: 8-18, 8-14 RMAC 2015-16 Record: 0-3 Chadron State is 0-3 to begin the 2015-16 season. The Eagles have struggled to find their footing in the early going, but have improved each time they have been on the court.

At the top of the leader-board returners Maka Daysh at 13.0 points per game and Emma Block at 10.0 points per game are leading the offense. Daysh is shooting 60.0 percent from the field while the team is shooting 34.1 percent.

Stephanie Knowles is averaging 6.0 rebounds per game and Kayla Matthew and Block both have 2.3 assists per game.

The Eagles are holding their own against opponents in scoring, but in their three games this year are now averaging 27 turnovers per contest.

Last year in Chadron, MSU Billings won the game 78-52. Breen had a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds. Point guard Rylee Kane had six assists.

The Series: (11-3, H 7-1) MSUB is 11-3 overall against Chadron State and has won the last four games against the Eagles.

Saturday, Nov. 28 – 5:15 p.m.

University of Great Falls Argos Head Coach: Bill Himmelberg

2014-15 Record: 24-10 2015-16 Record: 6-2 The University of Great Falls is coming off a hot season where the Argos finished 24-10, making a post season run all the way to the NAIA Elite Eight where the team lost out to No. 1 seed Oklahoma City University 88-52.

UGF lost four seniors from that team, but return a good mix that has the Argos ranked No. 11 nationally. This season, Great Falls is 6-2. Five players on the team are reaching points above the double-digits. Nneka Nnadi is averaging 19.9 points per game which has her ranked 11th in the NAIA. The team has another five players who are averaging between 68 rebounds.

On defense, 6-foot-4 center Whitney George has 19 blocks on the year which is fifth-best in the NAIA. Point guard Erin Legel leads the team in assists averaging 4.4 per game.

The game between MSUB and UGF this year is an exhibition game for both teams. MSU Billings did not play Great Falls last season, but two years ago at Alterowitz the ‘Jackets went into triple-digits for a 102-78 victory.

The Series: (9-12, H 8-4) The Yellowjackets are 9-12 overall against the Argos, but hold an 8-4 record in Alterowitz.

The two games this weekend will be sandwiched between contests being played during the MSUB men’s basketball tournament. All six games this weekend will feature live video and statistics and play-by-play commentary available via MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.

Friday, Nov. 27: MBB - Alaska vs. Dixie State 3:00 p.m.; WBB – Chadron State vs. MSUB 5:15 p.m.; MBB – Dominican (Calif.) vs. MSUB 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28: MBB – Alaska vs. Dominican 3:00 p.m.; WBB – University of Great Falls vs. MSUB 5:15 p.m.; MBB Dixie State vs. MSUB 7:30 p.m.

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