FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 14, 2016 Great Falls standout Hannah Collins signs with MSUB women’s basketball MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | 2017-18 MSUB NLI Signees
Hannah Collins, a standout from Great Falls High School, is the first signee to the 2017-18 MSUB women’s basketball program.
A standout from Great Falls High School, Hannah Collins has signed a National Letter of Intent, and will join the MSUB women’s basketball program for the 2017-18 season. BILLINGS, Mont. – Hannah Collins, a standout from Great Falls High School, has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Yellowjacket women’s basketball program for the 2017-18 season MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin announced Monday. Collins, a 5-foot-5 guard and native of Great Falls, Mont., is the first signee to join the Yellowjacket team for the fall season. “I am excited to have Hannah Collins join our women's basketball program next fall,” Woodin commented. “I have been impressed with her abilities and believe Hannah has many skills which will fit nicely into our program. She had an excellent junior season and played very well last summer. I expect her to be one of Montana's premier high school senior guards this year, and I know she will have a positive impact on our program next season.”
Collins is a four-year member of the Great Falls High School girl’s basketball program under head coach Jerry Schmitz and a member of the track and field team. Last year for the Bison, Collins averaged 12.6 points per game on 46.0 percent shooting from the field. She is a 72.0 percent shooter from the free-throw line and averaged 1.7 assists per game. Last season as a junior, Collins was instrumental in a Great Falls upset win over tournament-favorite Missoula Sentinel, 59-45, to send the Bison to the Montana class “AA” state title game. During the semi-final matchup against the Spartans, Collins scored a game-high 23 points, including shooting 4-5 from the 3-point arc. For the night, Collins was 6-9 from the field and 7-8 from the free-throw line. The Bison lost in the championship game to Bozeman, 45-44, but Collins was named to the girl’s all-tournament team. She was also an all-state and all-conference honoree. Collins returns to the Bison for her senior season as the team captain and the program’s reigning Most Valuable Player. On choosing MSUB, Collins saw the Yellowjacket program as a good fit. “I chose MSUB because when I went on my visit I really enjoyed all of the women’s basketball players as well as the entire coaching staff. I also really liked the campus set-up, the classrooms, and the dorms. After my visit I felt MSUB would be the best place for me to receive a great education and continue my basketball career. I am really looking forward to being a part of the program next year!” The Yellowjackets have advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament in the last two of three seasons. Last year, MSUB finished with a 21-11 overall record and were 15-5 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The ‘Jackets advanced to the GNAC tournament title game to challenge the eventual national runner-up Alaska Anchorage. MSUB was selected to the west region tournament and played its opening round game against host and No. 1 seed Azusa Pacific. The 2016-17 MSUB women’s basketball team concludes their opening-season trip to California with a game on Monday, Nov. 14, at Point Loma scheduled for an 8 p.m. Mountain time start. Live coverage for the contest can be found at GNAC.tv. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--