Grimsrud career-high 20 points in win over Cavaliers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 13, 2016 Grimsrud career-high 20 points in Senior Night 65-45 win over Cavaliers MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU Pre-game ceremony with Alisha Breen and Janiel Olson Post-game interviews with Monica Grimsrud and Janiel Olson 2016 MSUB Women’s Basketball Senior Ceremony GNAC Standings Interactive Box Score

Senior Monica Grimsrud poured in a career-high 20 points, including 7-7 from the free-throw line in the win over CU.

On Senior Night, Monica Grimsrud pours in a career-high 20 points and Janiel Olson adds a team-best seven rebounds in a 65-45 win over conference opponent Concordia (Ore).

BILLINGS, Mont. - Senior Monica Grimsrud poured in a career-high 20 points and fellow senior Janiel Olson finished with a team-best seven rebounds as the MSU Billings women's basketball team finished their 2016 home schedule with a 6545 win over Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Concordia (Ore.) at Alterowitz Saturday.

The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 23-10 lead in the opening 20 minutes and kept their scoring margin consistent finishing with a 20-point win.

Grimsrud scored three 3-point baskets and was a clutch 7-7 from the free-throw line. She also picked up four rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal in her last game in Alterowitz.

Olson finished with seven boards and 10 points. She also was 2-2 from the free-throw line with a block, assist, and a team-leading two steals.

With the win, MSU Billings moves to 17-7 on the season and is 13-3 in the GNAC. Concordia (Ore.) slides to 5-19 overall and 2-13 in the GNAC. “It was a great win for us tonight,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “This game was for our two seniors (Janiel & Monica) and our team had great focus and determination all evening. We got off to a solid start and I thought we played a very good first half. It was nice to see some 3-point shots fall as we have been struggling lately on them.”

“All of our players contributed to this victory tonight and I thought our overall team defense was excellent,” Woodin continued. ”I was very proud of how both Janiel and Monica played tonight. Janiel was had one of her best all-around games of the season and Monica’s 3-point shooting and free throws played important roles in our win tonight.”

Grimsrud and Olson kicked things off on the floor. Grimsrud had the first points of the game with a jump shot assisted by Alisha Breen. Olson went to work on the defensive end, making a block and a steal in the first three minutes. She posted her first points at the seven minute mark with a jumper to open up an 8-1 lead.

Off an offensive board from MSUB’s Tiana Hanson, Marissa Van Atta cleared a 3-pointer on the next possession.

Sophomore Lexi Prevost provided five straight points. Grimsrud threw a long ball across the court to the guard who drove in for a layup and on the next possession she pulled up for a 3-point basket for a 23-10 advantage at the quarter.

The Yellowjackets scored two more 3-pointers from point guard Rylee Kane and one from Grimsrud for 29-12.

A counter 3-pointer from CU’s Bailey Cartwright stopped the Yellowjacket barrage of points. A layup from Hanson with 7:14 left in the half were the last points for almost five minutes before McKenna Daly made a basket for Concordia. A layup from Grimsrud and a free-throw from Kane gave MSUB a 34-17 advantage at the break.

MSUB opened up its largest lead of the game in the third quarter on back-to-back 3-pointers from Vanessa Stavish and Breen for a 26-point, 49-25 lead. Erin Higbie snuck in a bucket for the Cavaliers, but Grimsrud ended the third quarter on two more free-throws.

Concordia picked up their pressure in the last quarter, but Grimsrud was able to find Olson for a short jump shot. Four straight points from the Cav’s at the free-throw line dropped the deficit down to 15, 55-40 with four minutes remaining.

Olson grabbed an offensive board and went back up for two points to stop the momentum. CU had a block and steal on the ball, but Olson was there again on the other end to make a counter block and this time Kane drove to the rim, drawing the foul.

Olson made two a pair of free-throws at two minutes remaining, and Grimsrud pumped in her third 3-pointer with one minute left to push the lead back up to 20 points.

MSUB finished the game 13-15 from the free-throw line. The ‘Jackets were 21-51 from the floor and 10-25 from the epoint arc. CU was 17-53 for 32.1 percent shooting from the floor and 3-16 from 3-point territory.

MSU Billings outrebounded the Cavaliers 37-33.

Breen had 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists for MSUB. Stavish added eight points and three rebounds. Kane had a game-high five assists.

For the Cavaliers, Higbie finished with 13 points, Cartwright 10, and Keesha Sarman a game-high eight rebounds.

THE BUZZ: Grimsrud was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings finishes the regular season with four road games. The Yellowjackets start their road work at Simon Fraser on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 5:15 p.m. Pacific time.

Senior Janiel Olson had 10 points and 7 rebounds in the Senior Night win over Concordia (Ore.).

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