FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 18, 2016 Fourth quarter drought sinks 'Jackets as MSUB falls 72-67 to Northern State MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | Interactive Box Score Prevost’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the half | Head Coach Kevin Woodin Post-Game Interview
Rylee Kane scored 11 points and dished seven assists in the loss to Northern State.
Northern State erases an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter as the ‘Jackets fall quiet from the court, not making a field goal in over eight minutes in a tough 72-67 loss during the second game of the Yellowjacket Classic. BILLINGS, Mont. - A fourth quarter field goal drought costs the Yellowjackets as Northern State erased an eight-point deficit, taking the lead at the three-minute mark and holding-on to deliver MSU Billings a 72-67 non-conference loss during the Yellowjacket Classic sponsored by the Red Lion Hotel & Convention Center Friday at Alterowitz. A 3-pointer from MSUB junior Grace Weeks pushed MSUB out to an eight-point, 60-52, advantage with 8:14 remaining in the game. Northern State responded with a 13-3 run, capped by a layup from Miranda Ristau that gave the Wolves the lead, 65-64, with 2:50 left to play. NSU added to their lead with points from Jill Conrad and Bethany Crosswait before a 3-pointer from MSUB’s Tiana Hanson brought the deficit down to a one possession game, 70-67, with 12 seconds left. MSUB was forced to foul, sending Ristau to the line to shoot two. The junior made both attempts and a 3-pointer from Lexi Prevost went wide at the buzzer to end the game on a 5-point gap.
In the eight-minute run, MSUB scored just four points, all from the free-throw line as the Yellowjackets were unable to find the hoop from the field. The team also made five of their 15 total turnovers in those eight minutes, providing Northern State extra chances to score. “I thought both teams battled hard tonight but Northern State executed better on both ends down the stretch,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “I was really impressed with NSU’s offensive patience and their two post players, Miranda Ristau and Jill Conrad, were excellent.” “We are struggling with consistency during our games,” Woodin continued. “Right now we play a great quarter and then a sloppy one. We need to step-up and play our best basketball in the fourth quarters of close games. That is what the great teams do.” Hanson led four MSUB players in double-digit scoring with 19 points. She also recorded a team-high five rebounds with three blocks. Marissa Van Atta earned 13 points, Weeks was 2-2 from the 3-point arc finishing with 12 points, and Rylee Kane had 11 points with a game-high seven assists and two steals. The Yellowjackets were heavily out-rebounded off the glass, earning 15 in the game compared to 29 from Northern State. The Wolves scored 36 points in the paint and were 7-22 (46.7 percent) from the 3-point arc. From the field, NSU shot 53.2 percent (26-48) and 72.2 percent from the free-throw line (13-18). MSU Billings was 46.0 percent (23-50) from the field and 70.6 percent (12-17) from the free-throw line. MSUB shot 9-22 from the 3-point arc with Hanson, Weeks, and Brina Hull each earning two buckets. For Northern State, Ristau (25) and Conrad (24) combined for 49 points. Gabby Larimer had three 3-point baskets for nine points. Ristau led the team with seven rebounds. Paige Waytashek recorded six assists. With the win, Northern State improves to 2-0 on the season. MSU Billings falls to 0-4. Weeks buried a long shot just inside the 3-point arc and Kane came off the left using a drive to the basket to tie the early score at four. Van Atta got open on a screen and Kane dished her the ball for a 3-point basket. Kane kept the ‘Jackets ahead 9-6 with 4:30 left in the opening quarter on her second dribble-and-drive to the basket. The Wolves took their first lead since the opening minutes on an inbounds play to Ristau. With eight second left on the clock in the opening quarter, Prevost grabbed a defensive rebound and dribbling down the floor, shot the ball from the 3-point arc with one second left to give the Yellowjackets the lead 18-15. (Watch Prevost’s buzzer-beater here.) The Wolves tied the game at the top of the second quarter on a 3-pointer from Conrad. Prevost made her second consecutive 3-point bucket followed by a jump shot from Kane to move the ‘Jackets back ahead by five. Staying hot on the outside, the Wolves earned two 3-point baskets from Ristau and Conrad to close the gap to one point, 26-25. Hanson kicked of an 11-2 point spread for the ‘Jackets with a 3-pointer at the top of the arc from a Prevost assist. On the offensive end, Hanson was fouled on a layup attempt, making one of two and on the defensive end added a block and rebound under the rim in heavy traffic. Van Atta curled a reverse layup in from a no-look Kane bounce pass to drive the lead up by five, 32-27. After a timeout, Hull finished good Yellowjacket ball movement with long a 3-point basket. Van Atta gave the Yellowjackets a double-digit lead on a pair of free-throws for 37-27.
Into the break, the Wolves halved the MSUB lead with a jumper from Brianna Kusler and the second 3-point basket of the night from Conrad. Northern State continued their scoring run, making it eight straight points with a layup from Ristau at the opening of the third period. Kane took advantage of a miss-match under the basket, driving-in for her third layup. Ristau made a layup and Conrad a pair of free-throws. Kane earned two more points to keep MSUB ahead by three. Northern State tied the game for the first time in the second half on a 3-point basket from Larimer with 4:31 left in the third frame. Weeks scored five straight for MSUB with a 3-point basket and a jump shot at the top of the key. Van Atta was fouled on a jump shot attempt, sinking both free-throws. Hull came through with a big 3-point basket off a Van Atta screen and Weeks made it consecutive 3-point shots with her second of the night to make it an 8-point, 60-52, advantage. Erasing their second 8-point deficit of the game the Wolves took the lead, 65-64, with three minutes left in the game on a layup from Ristau off an assist Conrad. The Wolves increased their lead. Hanson made it a one possession game with a 3-point basket with 13 seconds remaining. Ristau finished the game on two free-throws. THE BUZZ: Weeks named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game shooting 5-6 from the field and 2-2 from the 3point arc. “Tomorrow night represents a great challenge for us,” Woodin said. “Cal Poly Pomona likes to play fast and I was very impressed with how they played in the second half against Black Hills State tonight.” UP NEXT: On Saturday, Nov. 19, MSUB is hosting a basketball triple-header. The women’s basketball Yellowjacket Classic concludes with a 3 p.m. game between Northern State and Black Hills State followed by a game between Cal Poly Pomona and MSU Billings at 5 p.m. The MSUB men’s team wraps up the evening with a 7 p.m. tip-off against west region opponent Cal State East Bay at 7 p.m.
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