With a share of the lead, MSUB heads to Oregon for 2 GNAC games

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu January 12, 2016 With a share of the lead, MSUB heads to Oregon for 2 GNAC games MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU Interviews with senior Janiel Olson and sophomore Lexi Prevost GNAC Standings GNAC Release

The MSUB women’s basketball team has been playing tough defense and is now second in conference contests with an average 10.2 steals.

On a three game win streak and with a share of the lead, MSUB hits the road this week for conference games against Concordia (Ore.) and Western Oregon.

BILLINGS, Mont. – The MSU Billings women’s basketball team enters this week on a 3-game win streak and a share of the lead in the conference standings. The Yellowjackets are heading to Oregon for contests against the GNAC’s newest member in Concordia (Ore.) and then south for a tilt against Western Oregon.

Last week at home, MSU Billings (9-5, 5-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) picked up wins at against Saint Martin’s (64-49) and Seattle Pacific (61-50). The Yellowjackets are in a 3-way tie with Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington at 5-1 in the conference standings. Four schools are behind the top trio with records of 3-3.

Against Saint Martin’s the Yellowjackets held the conference’s leading scorer, Krista Stabler (18.5 points per game), to 11 points on the night. MSUB also limited the Saints to under 50 points and outrebounded SMU 42-30 on the glass.

In Saturday’s game against Seattle Pacific, MSUB found themselves behind 17-2 and 23-8 before engaging on a 15-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 29-28. The teams battled through the third period before ending at a 43-all tie.

During the last 10 minutes, the ‘Jackets accumulated a 10-0 run to push ahead and stay in front for the remainder of the contest.

D-FENCE: With their backs against the wall in both contests last week, stellar defensive efforts allowed the Yellowjackets time to collect themselves and remain in games. MSU Billings is now third in the conference in steals with 9.2 per game. The ‘Jackets held both opponents to 50 points or under and shooting percentages lower than 40.0 percent.

SECOND ALL-TIME: Senior Janiel Olson collected 32 rebounds across the two conference games last week. The native of Billings, Mont., secured a career-high 18 boards in the win over SMU and 14 in the victory over SPU. Olson has now amassed 842 total career rebounds which sends her to No. 2 all-time at MSUB and No. 6 in the GNAC record books. At an even 8.0, Olson is now fourth in the conference in rebounds per game.

The 5-foot-10 forward is also averaging 6.9 points per game and is second on the team in minutes played at 30.9 per game.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: Senior Monica Grimsrud picked a quality game to kick-in a career-high 18 points. The forward from Montana City, Mont., shot 6-13 from the field and addedin six assists in the game against Seattle Pacific. She had four of the first eight points for MSUB and was clutch down the stretch with half of the team’s points in the final four minutes.

Grimsrud has recorded double-digit point totals in three of the Senior Janiel Olson collected 32 rebounds across two conference last five games for MSUB. She is now averaging close to double- games last week. figures with 9.6 points per game.

BALANCED ATTACK: Matching Olson in rebounds, junior Alisha Breen poured in 18 points against SMU and 13 against SPU. She also had 11 rebounds and three steals. Breen is ranked third in the conference with an average 16.8 points per game. She is shooting 38.7 percent from the field, and an almost equal 38.5 percent from the 3-point arc.

CREATING THE OPEN SHOT: Sophomore point guard Rylee Kane is third-best on the team with an average 8.9 points per game. Kane had four assists in each contest last week while contributing 20 points. She has been stalwart in finding offensive opportunities, and has also been able to create space with her movement at the top of the court.

MAJOR MARKS: Junior Tiana Hanson completed eight points and six rebounds for MSUB last week. She is just six rebounds away from 50 on the year and nine points from reaching 100 total points as a Yellowjacket.

TRIO OF STARTS: After a double-double performance during her first collegiate start in the game against Alaska, sophomore Marissa Van Atta continues her charge of the court. The graduate of Billings Senior scored 14 points last week and had five steals. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged over 30 minutes in the last three MSUB contests, and is now averaging 5.3 points and 1.6 steals per game.

OFFENSIVE IMPACT: Off the bench for MSUB, sophomore Vanessa Stavish shot 7-10 from the field recording 15 points last week.

Stavish scored 11 points against Seattle Pacific for her fourth doubledigit performance this season. In 14 games played this year, Stavish has an even 100 points for MSUB, including 18 3-point shots.

MSU Billings is averaging 63.4 points per game, but in GNAC games are limiting opposition to a conference second-best 57.2 points per game. The Yellowjackets are shooting 38.1 percent from the field and 34.0 percent from the 3-point arc. MSUB is averaging 33.7 rebounds, 9.2 steals, and 33.7 rebounds per game.

Marissa Van Atta averaged over 30 minutes in the last three games for MSUB.

Thursday, January 14 – at Concordia (Ore.) University Cavaliers – 8 PM MTN 2015-16 Record: 3-11, 1-5 GNAC Head Coach: Sean Kelly, 2nd season This will be the first contest between the Yellowjackets and the GNAC’s debut member, Concordia (Ore.). The Cavaliers were picked to finish 11th in the GNAC preseason coaches’ poll.

The Cavaliers opened their conference season with a win against Saint Martin’s (56-44), but since then have dropped five straight. Last week, CU made the trek north, taking losses against Alaska (75-66) and No. 2 Alaska Anchorage (7649).

Sophomore Sierra Dean is averaging 13.5 points per game for Concordia (Ore.). She had 15 points in the game against Alaska Anchorage. Briannah Smith scored a team-high 22 points and chipped in eight rebounds in the game against Alaska.

Bailey Cartwright has been the team’s leading rebounder in six contests this year and is averaging a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game. Keesha Sarman is contributing 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and leads the team in player minutes with an average 29.6 per game.

The Cavaliers are scoring 58.4 points per game on 34.8 percent shooting from the field. The team is averaging 37.8 rebounds with 8.0 steals, and 4.7 3-point baskets per game.

The Series: This is the first meeting between MSU Billings and Concordia (Ore.).

Saturday, Jan. 16 – at Western Oregon University Wolves – 3 PM MTN 2015-16 Record: 2-12, 1-5 GNAC Head Coach: Holli Howard-Carpenter, 3rd season Western Oregon was picked to finish 10th in the preseason coaches’ poll after finishing ninth last season with a 5-13 record in the GNAC. One of those wins was against MSU Billings as the Yellowjackets split their games with the Wolves last year. The first contest between the teams was a ROOT Sports Game of Week in which MSUB’s Kayleen Goggins scored a layup at the buzzer for the 59-57 win.

At home during MSUB’s Think Pink game, the Wolves repaid the favor with a jump shot in the final 12 seconds of the game for a 71-69 win.

This season, Western Oregon is on a 3-game slide with losses last week to No. 2 Alaska Anchorage (90-39) and Alaska (75-55). WOU’s last win was a 1-point game at home over Simon Fraser, 58-57, back on New Year’s Eve. Jordan Mottershaw (8.6 ppg) and Sydney Azorr (8.0 ppg) are heading up the offense for the Wolves. Azorr leads the team in assists with 2.4 per game, while 6-foot-2 freshman Natalie DeLonge averages a team-leading 4.5 rebounds per game.

Western Oregon is scoring 55.3 points per game on 36.2 percent shooting from the field. The Wolves are averaging 35.4 rebounds and 6.3 steals per game.

Last Season: MSUB split its games with WOU winning on the road, 59-57, and falling 71-69 at home.

The Series: The Yellowjackets hold a 20-6 overall record against Western Oregon and are 10-4 in away contests. Last season’s loss at home broke a four game win streak against the Wolves. MSU Billings is 9-2 in the last 11 contests against Western Oregon.

UP NEXT: MSUB plays the next 4-6 games at home. After the road trip to Oregon this week, the Yellowjackets are home for two weeks, including double-headers with the MSUB men’s basketball team on Jan. 21, and Jan. 23.

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