FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 19, 2016 Big team win as MSUB battles to 64-50 victory over Cal Poly Pomona MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | Interactive Box Score Post Game Interview with Senior Tiana Hanson and Head Coach Kevin Woodin
Tiana Hanson scored a team-best 18 points in the win over Cal Poly Pomona.
Outside shooting and stifling defense leads MSUB to a 64-50 win over west region opponent Cal Poly Pomona during the final game of the Yellowjacket Classic. BILLINGS, Mont., - Tiana Hanson poured in 18 points and Rylee Kane recorded a career-high 10 assists as the MSUB women's basketball team battled to a west regional win over Cal Poly Pomona 64-50 during the final game of the Yellowjacket Classic sponsored by the Red Lion Hotel & Convention Center Saturday at Alterowitz. Junior Lexi Prevost also earned a career-high with 15 points on 5-11 shooting from the field. Marissa Van Atta added 13 as the 'Jackets used a huge 17-6 fourth quarter point-differential in the first win of the season for Montana State University Billings Hanson shot 6-8 from the field, 2-3 from the 3-point arc, and was 4-4 from the free-throw line. Kane contributed a teamhigh six rebounds, four steals and three points, as the junior from Red Lodge, Mont., battled on both ends of the floor for the ‘Jackets.
“This was an important win for us,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “We lost two close games in the past week, but tonight we were able to finish the deal.” Only three points separated the two teams after the third quarter, but handling the pressure tonight, MSUB stayed aggressive, containing Cal Poly Pomona on defense and maximizing chances at the basket with rebounds and tough play under the hoop. Reminiscent of a shot last night from Prevost, this time it was Grace Weeks that hit a last second 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter. MSUB led by as many is seven points in the second frame before CPP used a short 10-3 run to pull ahead before a 3-pointer from Van Atta provided a 30-27 lead at half-time. The Yellowjackets again pulled away in the third quarter. A jumper from Hanson put MSUB ahead by eight, 41-33, with 4:13 left. The Broncos battled to within two points, 44-42, on a steal and break-away layup from Marshanique Hall. A layup from CPP’s Dominque Hall kept the game within a basket at the end of the quarter. The fourth quarter was the deciding factor as the Yellowjackets held their own off the glass while shooting 50.0 (6-12) from the field for 17 points. On the other end of the floor, MSUB held CPP to 15.4 percent shooting (2-13) while forcing six turnovers for just six points. “I really liked our execution on both ends in the fourth quarter,” Woodin commented. “I felt last night we got complacent late in the game, but tonight we continued to attack. Defensively, we played very well as a team in the second half. I liked how we took multiple charges and Coach Heringer had the team well-prepared from a scouting perspective.” Priscilla Brooks was the lone player from CPP to top doubled-digit points with 12, adding seven rebounds. Chelsea Waddy-Blow posted a game-high 10 rebounds. Dominique Dotson had four assists. The win is the first for the Yellowjackets this season as MSUB moves to 1-4 in the early year. Cal Poly Pomona draws to an even 2-2. MSUB had 11 3-pointers in the game led by three each from Prevost and Van Atta. Hanson added a pair and Weeks, Brina Hull, and Taylor Cunningham each had one. MSUB shot 45.8 percent from the arc and was 41.2 percent from the field (21-51) The ‘Jackets had just seven turnovers in the game and six team steals. MSUB Led by Waddy-Blow, Cal Poly Pomona claimed more rebounds, 39-21. The Broncos shot 35.3 percent (18-51) in the game and were 5-18 from the 3-point arc at 27.8 percent. At the free-throw line, MSUB was 11-16 (68.8 percent) with Cal Poly Pomona connecting on 9-17 (52.9 percent). MSUB scored its first 12 points of the game on 3-point shots. Van Atta and Prevost kicked-off the Yellowjackets scoring. Two early steals from Van Atta and Kane kept up the momentum as MSUB was able to convert into points. Hanson completed the third trey and Cunningham the fourth basket for MSUB in the opening quarter for a 12-8 advantage. The Broncos reclaimed the lead on a drive from Marshanique Hall to the basket. Van Atta found the basket on a layup for the first two-point field goal in the frame to take the lead back. The Broncos earned two more points in the interior on post plays. Weeks tied the score at 17 at the end of the period on a long 3-pointer for MSUB’s fifth 3-pointer of the game.
Hanson opened the second frame by scoring five straight points. The first coming on an inbounds play off a Kane dish for a 3-pointer and the second from a turnaround jump shot at the top of the arc for 24-19. CPP’s Casey William fired off an open 3-pointer to draw the lead down to two, 24-22. Kane found Hanson under the basket with a bounce pass. Hanson missed the shot, but after a foul drained both free-throws to drive the lead up by four. The Broncos knotted the score with a second 3-pointer from McWilliams and a layup from Brooks with 1:22 left in the half. Van Atta earned the teams last basket, a high 3-point shot to give MSUB a 30-27 advantage at the break. Prevost opened the scoring for MSUB in the second half with a 3-point shot. Kane drove down the floor, passing the ball to Van Atta for a jump shot just outside the key. Weeks grabbed an offensive rebound and went in for two points on a one-handed drive to the hoop. Cunningham made a smart defensive rebound and Hanson converted for a long 2-point shot just under the arc. CPP began a run of five straight points, converting two straight turnovers from MSUB into three free-throws and a layup from Dominque Dotson to close the gap to three points. Hull hit a 3-pointer, but more turnovers from the Yellowjackets enabled CPP to move within two points, 44-42. The ‘Jackets made three of their own free-throws to close the quarter with a 3-point advantage. The Yellowjackets came back onto the floor in the fourth quarter focused smart shots and centered defense. MSUB fought for position under the hoop at both ends. A jumper from Weeks capped a 6-point run from the ‘Jackets for a 5144 lead. Prevost and Hanson contributed layups for a 10-point, 55-45, lead at the half-way point of the fourth quarter. The ‘Jackets began to pick up the pace. Prevost and Van Atta hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Kane shot 3-4 from the free-throw line for the largest lead of the night, 15 points, 64-49. Kane and Prevost both made crucial steals in the closing minutes. “Rylee had a solid performance tonight,” Woodin said. “She didn’t score a lot, but she was a great floor general and got us a lot of open shots. Tiana played very well too. She competed hard on both ends and her versatility on offense was an asset tonight. Marissa played a complete game for us and I was also very happy for Lexi. She played the best game of her career tonight.” Both Hanson and Kane were named to the all-tournament team as was Hall from CPP. Sierra Toms from Black Hills State, and Miranda Ristau from Northern State also earned a spot. NSU's Jill Conrad was selected the Most Valuable Player. THE BUZZ: MSU Billings played a close game against Northern State last night during the first night of the Yellowjacket Classic…MSUB lead for most of the first three quarters before the Wolves came back with a 24-13 surge to take control of the game in the last quarter…this year MSUB had also led a game in California against Cal State San Marcos for most of three quarters before the Cougars launched a comeback to take the win from the Yellowjackets…this is the third straight year MSUB has faced Cal Poly Pomona…MSUB lost to CPP in the west region championship game in 2014 and defeated the Broncos at home last season in 2015. UP NEXT: MSU Billings plays back-to-back games the week of Thanksgiving. On Friday, Nov. 25 the Yellowjackets will be in Chadron, Nebraska for a game a 1 p.m. Central time game against Chadron State. The following day on Saturday, Nov. 26, MSUB is in Rapid City, S.D., for a game against South Dakota School of Mines beginning at 3 p.m. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--