FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 1, 2017 MSUB at home against SMU and SPU MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | GNAC Standings Preview Interviews with Jeanann Lemelin and head coach Kevin Woodin
Jeanann Lemelin and the Yellowjackets begin February hosting Saint Martin’s.
After four straight GNAC road games, the MSUB women’s basketball team returns home to host Saint Martin’s and Seattle Pacific. BILLINGS, Mont. – After being on the road for six of the last eight conference games, the Montana State University Billings women’s basketball team will be at home in Alterowitz Gym for six of eight games to finish out the regular Great Northwest Athletic Conference season. Hoping to capitalize on a winning record at home this season, the Yellowjackets will be at Alterowitz for a game against Saint Martin’s on Thursday, Feb. 2, followed by a contest against Seattle Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 4. Montana State University Billings (6-14, 3-9 GNAC) is on a four game skid, but won both home games the ‘Jackets had in January.
HOME AT LAST: After being on the road for two straight weeks, the Yellowjackets open the month of February at home. MSUB has six of eight games at Alterowitz and closes with a four game home stretch. SENIOR LEADERSHIP: As the one active senior on the roster, Tiana Hanson has been an instrumental leader for the Yellowjacket squad. The 6-foot forward from Shepherd, Mont., is fourth in the GNAC in points with 15.7 per game and fifth in rebounds at 6.8. Hanson is also fifth in the GNAC in free-throw percentage at 85.1 percent (103-for-121). Hanson had 21 points and 11 rebounds last week. She is close to reaching the 500-career point mark at MSUB with 483. FLOOR GENERAL: Junior point guard Rylee Kane is averaging 12.0 points per game and is third in the GNAC in assists (5.2 pg). Kane finished with 16 points and seven rebounds last week. The graduate of Red Lodge High School is averaging 34.8 minutes on the floor for MSUB. CONSISTENT VAN ATTA : Marissa Van Atta finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for MSUB last week. At Alaska, Van Atta was the lone Yellowjacket in double-figures with 10 points. The junior is averaging 9.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. STARTING ROLE: Lexi Prevost was 5-for-6 at the free-throw line last week for MSUB and was the lone Yellowjacket to be at the foul line during the game at Alaska. Prevost finished with 10 points and is averaging 5.8 for the team. MSUB RESERVES: The Yellowjacket bench continues to provide their team with quality minutes. Brina Hull had two 3pointers against Alaska Anchorage finishing with seven points. Taylor Cunningham had three points and two offensive rebounds. Jeanann Lemelin recorded a season-high 21 minutes on the floor in the game against Alaska Anchorage and had 14 at Alaska. She posted three assists, two points and four rebounds for her best two-game stretch of the year. BY THE NUMBERS: MSUB is averaging 59.1 points per game and 29.5 rebounds. The ‘Jackets are shooting 37.8 percent from the field and 27.9 percent from outside. Thursday, Feb. 2 – Saint Martin’s University Saints– 7:00 p.m. Alterowitz Gym | Billings, MT | Live Stats | Live Video | Live Radio 2016-17 Record: 5-16, 1-12 GNAC Head Coach: Tim Healy, 24th season 2015-16 Record: 7-20, 5-15 GNAC, 9th In addition to live video and commentary, Thursday’s game will feature a live radio broadcast on ESPN 910. MSUB played a close game against the Saints in Lacey, Wash., during the team’s first game of the schedule. The ‘Jackets were within a possession with just over two minutes left when SMU pulled away down the stretch. SMU’s one GNAC win this season was against MSUB, but the ‘Jackets will look to even the season record with the game on Thursday. Elin Johansson is averaging 13.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-1 junior is shooting 50.7 percent from the field. Hannah Reynolds leads the team from the outside, shooting 38.3 percent. Baylee Olson is averaging 1.3 3-pointers per game. In the first game against the ‘Jackets, four SMU players hit double figures with Reynolds a proficient 6-for-7 from the field and 3 of 4 from outside for 17 points. The Yellowjackets struggled from the 3-point arc, finishing just 1 of 15 from outside.
All-Time Record (24-11, 13-2 Home): MSUB is 13-2 at home against Saint Martin’s with the two losses Feb. 6, 2005 (5950) and Feb. 2, 2008 (68-67). Last Game: MSUB played a tight game in Lacey against SMU. A free throw from Hanson had the Yellowjackets two points back, 55-53, with 2:46 left in the game before the Saints closed out the contest on a 9-4 run. Saturday, Feb. 4 – Seattle Pacific University Falcons – 7:00 p.m. Alterowitz Gym| Billings, MT| Live Stats | Live Video 2016-17 Record: 16-5, 8-5 GNAC Head Coach: Julie Heisey, 12th season 2015-16 Record: 12-15, 9-11 GNAC, 7th After opening with an 11-0 start, the Falcons have dropped five conference games and sit at 8-5 in the GNAC. The Falcons are on a 3-game winning streak, including a win over Northwest Nazarene two weeks ago to avenge the team’s first loss of the season in December. Seattle Pacific is third in the GNAC on defense, holding opponents to 37.2 percent. At the free-throw line, SPU is second at 77.5 percent. Courtney Hollander is averaging 12.4 points and Jordan McPhee 11.4. On the boards, Hollander is third in the GNAC at 7.4 per game and third in free-throw percentage at 88.1 percent. SPU held MSUB to nine points in the second quarter and a margin of minus-7 in the third to build a lead over the ‘Jackets in the teams’ first meeting. MSUB will be looking to be a consistent team against the Falcons and keep SPU from the free-throw line. Hollander had 17 points in the first game against MSUB. The Falcons shot 45.3 percent from the field and 50.0 percent (7-for-14) from the 3-point arc. The ‘Jackets did match SPU on points in the paint at 26, but shot 31.6 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from outside. All-Time Record (20-28, 14-6 Home): MSUB is eight games behind in overall contests against the Falcons. MSUB is 2-6 in the last eight games. Last Game: MSUB lost 67-50 on the road at Seattle Pacific. The ‘Jackets were four back, 27-23, just before halftime, when the Falcons made the deficit 10 points scoring six straight. Seattle Pacific continued to drive the margin up in the third quarter with a 10-0 run. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--