FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 23, 2017 Wildcats pull away in fourth quarter to hand ‘Jackets 59-48 loss MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | Interactive Box Score
MSUB’s Tiana Hanson finished with a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds.
MSU Billings and Central Washington were tied until the Wildcats pulled away in the fourth quarter, handing the ‘Jackets a double-digit loss at Alterowitz. BILLINGS, Mont. – Tiana Hanson poured-in a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds and Rylee Kane had a careerhigh 13 assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an efficient Central Washington offense in the fourth quarter as MSU Billings fell 59-48 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game on Thursday at Alterowitz. Hanson shot 12-for-20 from the field, 3-for-3 from the free-throw line and 1-for-1 from the 3-point arc to finish just a point shy of her career best 29 points. Kane had six points and four rebounds to go along with her new career-best assist total, three more than her previous record of 10 she posted in a game at home this season against Cal Poly Pomona. In a game Central Washington (14-14, 9-11 GNAC) needed to win to stay in the hunt for a GNAC tournament postseason spot, the Wildcats pulled away on second chance points, outscoring MSU Billings (8-19, 5-14 GNAC) 22-6. On defense, CWU clogged up the middle, forcing MSUB to take outside shots or forced shots from mid-range. The Yellowjackets finished 2-for-15 from outside. The Wildcats were 1-for-11 from outside, but made up for it in other areas including
points in the paint, 36-26, and 13 points off of 17 MSUB turnovers. The fourth quarter was a low-scoring offensive showing for both teams as the Wildcats finished with nine points and the Yellowjackets just two. Freshman Kaelie Flores led the Wildcats with a career-high 15 points. Ten CWU players recorded at least a point in the game. Sadie Mensing posted seven points and a team-high seven rebounds. Jasmin Edwards was 5-for-5 from the freethrow line with four assists. “Central Washington really outplayed us in the fourth quarter and that was the difference in the game tonight,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “I though defensively we were good enough to win at the end, but offensively we struggled with our continuity in the fourth quarter and also we just missed some shots we should have made. They definitely deserved to win.” “Tiana was tremendous tonight,” Woodin said. “Despite being double and triple teamed she was still effective and I was really proud of her performance. We needed some other people to step up and make some shots and that just didn’t happen. Senior Night this Saturday is important for our two seniors Tiana and our team assistant Alyssa. I hope people will come out and support them as we honor them following the game.” Down by six at half-time, 30-24, the ‘Jackets made a run at the top of the third quarter to take the lead back. After CWU’s Kortney Grattic made a layup, the ‘Jackets scored six straight to tie the game at 32 on baskets from Grace Weeks, Lexi Prevost and Kane. Grattic made a pair of free-throws to give the lead back to CWU, but a 3-pointer from Kane pushed the ‘Jackets ahead for a one-point, 35-34, advantage. The teams traded points and possession. A layup by Hanson followed by a rebound and layup from Marissa Van Atta knotted the game at 41 with 2:49 remaining in the third quarter. A layup by Sarah McGee at the end of the quarter kicked off a short run to move the Wildcats ahead by six, 52-46. Kane logged her record 13th assist on a dish to Weeks at 8:30 for a layup that turned out to be the only two points MSUB earned in the final quarter. The ‘Jackets didn’t score any more points for the remainder of the game, missing all 10 shots aimed at the basket. For the game, CWU shot 40.4 percent from the field and were 12-for-16 from the free-throw line for 75.0 percent. MSUB shot 35.7 percent from the field and were 6-for-11 from the free-throw line for 54.4 percent. THE BUZZ: Hanson supplied a game-high four steals…this was Hanson’s seventh double-double of the season…at 383 career assists Kane is within 16 of matching No. 5 all-time at MSUB Megan Mason-Dickerson at 399. UP NEXT: MSU Billings’ Senior Night is on Saturday, Feb. 25, as the Yellowjackets host their last game of the 2016-17 season with a GNAC contest against Northwest Nazarene that begins at 7 p.m. Seniors Tiana Hanson and Alyssa Yaeger will be honored directly following the conclusion of the game. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--