MSUB defeats CU 67-61 in Portland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu January 14, 2016 ‘Jackets hold on in Portland for 67-61 GNAC win over Cavaliers MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU Interactive Box Score

The MSUB women’s basketball team holds on for a road win over Concordia (Ore.).

After a slow start, the MSUB offense pushes ahead, including scoring 26 points from the free-throw line for the 67-61 conference win over Concordia (Ore.).

PORTLAND, Ore. – After a slow start, the MSUB women’s basketball team picked up speed and held on down the stretch for a 67-61 Great Northwest Athletic Conference road win against Concordia (Ore.) on Thursday.

With the win, Montana State University Billings (10-5, 6-1 GNAC) has won four straight games and is now 6-1 in the conference to remain tied at the top of the GNAC standings. MSUB is tied with Western Washington (10-5, 6-1 GNAC) and No. 2 Alaska Anchorage (19-1, 6-1 GNAC). After the loss, Concordia (Ore.) drops to 3-13 overall and 1-7 in the GNAC.

The Yellowjackets shot just 3-14 from the field in the opening 10 minutes of the game, but were just one point behind the Cavaliers thanks to 7-9 shooting from the free-throw line. Continuing their success at the free-throw line, MSUB ended the night shooting 26-33 from the foul line for almost 40 percent of the team’s total game points.

Junior Alisha Breen poured in 26 points and five rebounds. She shot 7-11 from the field and 11-12 from the free-throw line. Junior Tiana Hanson recorded a season-high 16 points. The transfer from Sheridan College made 12-13 from the free-throw line in 15 minutes of play off the bench for the Yellowjackets.

For the second time this season, Janiel Olson recorded a double-double, registering 12 points and 12 rebounds. This is the third game in-a-row for Olson with rebounds in the double-digits.

The Yellowjackets outrebounded Concordia (Ore.) 38-30. MSU Billings finished the game shooting 39.1 percent from the field (18-46) and were 5-13 from the 3-point arc.

The Cavaliers shot the ball from the field at a 40.7 percent clip (22-54) and were 5-17 from 3-point territory. From the free-throw line, CU shot 12-18 for 66.7 percent.

“I was impressed with how hard Concordia played,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “They really competed and made us work extremely hard on defense. They also have a very balanced team and I thought they were effective in the first half with their penetration. They did a nice job of adjusting throughout the game giving us a really tough game tonight.”

“I was proud of our players and how they hung in there,” Woodin continued. “It wasn’t pretty all the time, but I thought we made some plays when we really needed too. I thought the second quarter was our best quarter and down the stretch we registered enough plays for the win. I do think we missed too many shots around the basket. We need to be better at converting and following through inside the key.”

Erin Higbie had 15 points for Concordia (Ore.). Sierra Dean scored 10 points. Freshman Bailey Cartwright finished with a team-high seven rebounds. Keesha Sarman led the team in assists with six.

On the scoreboard, Concordia (Ore.) struck first, but Breen responded with a wide-open 3-pointer for the ‘Jackets. CU added six straights points to jump ahead 10-5. Hanson caught the Yellowjackets back up. She drove into the lane and laid in a layup plus a free-throw. CU’s Briannah Smith made a layup, but Hanson went back to the line four more times in the first quarter. She finished with two more free-throws to drop the deficit down to a single point, 15-14.

The Yellowjackets scored eight straight points to open the second quarter to close a 10-0 run and push MSUB up 22-15.

The Cavaliers picked up baskets from Higbie and Lexi Campbell, but Olson countered with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 28-20 lead.

Senior Monica Grimsrud earned her first 3-pointer of the game on an inbounds pass from Olson to open up a doubledigit advantage at 35-25. Concordia ended the first half with a steal and layup from Cartwright.

After the break, Breen sent the lead back up to double-digits with a layup, but Concordia engaged on a big 12-2 run to put the Cavaliers two points back. On CU’s next possession, Higbie tied the score on a short jump shot forcing the Yellowjackets to the bench to regroup.

Out of the break, Breen scored with a layup. Hanson pushed her point total to double-figures with four straight freethrows. Another pair of free-throws from Breen capped a 6-0 run and a 47-42 lead for the ‘Jackets.

Sarman grabbed an offensive rebound and drove to the basket for CU. Another offensive rebound, this time from Cartwright, gave the Cav’s a chance and the freshman capitalized with a layup to tie the score at 51-all.

The Yellowjackets broke open the final quarter with eight unanswered points, six of them from free-throws. The Cavaliers made one last surge with a 7-2 scoring run topped off by jumper from Higbie had CU within three, 61-58, with 1:26 remaining in the game.

Hanson was clutch down the stretch, finishing with a layup and two more free-throw for the Yellowjackets. Another pair of free-throws from Breen finished the scoring for MSUB. “Tiana had a very important game for us off the bench,” Woodin said. “Her foul shooting was critical to our victory tonight. I though Alisha had a very good all-around game – she had to play several positions even point guard as Rylee was in foul trouble. She hit a lot of free-throws and had a solid game. I thought Janiel was important on the boards.”

THE BUZZ: At 199, MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin is now just one win back from reaching the milestone of 200 career victories as the head women’s basketball coach at MSUB…Woodin became the winningest women’s basketball coach with the 61-51 MSUB defeat of Central Washington on Dec. 3.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings travels to Monmouth Oregon for a game against Western Oregon. The teams will tip-off at the early time of 3 p.m. Mountain time on Saturday, Jan. 16.

“We are looking forward to playing Western Oregon on Saturday afternoon. Last year both games were really close and I know this will be a very tough game for us.”

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