FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 31, 2016 Solid second half propels MSUB to 67-62 preseason exhibition win at Rocky MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | Box Score
Senior Alisha Breen posted a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds in the 67-62 win at Rocky Mountain College.
After being down at half-time by five, the MSUB women’s basketball team responds with a 10-point swing in the back 20 minutes for a 67-62 preseason exhibition win at Rocky Mountain College. BILLINGS, Mont. – Down by five points at half-time, the MSUB women’s basketball team responded with a 10-point swing in the last 20 minute of the game for a 67-62 preseason non-conference exhibition win at crosstown rival Rocky Mountain College on Monday. After sending the Battlin’ Bears to the free-throw line 16 times in the first half, the Yellowjackets cleaned-up their defense, allowing just six shots at the line in the second half. The MSUB offense also found better rhythm, improving their shots from 30.0 (9-30) to 46.4 percent (13-28) in the last 20 minutes. Senior Alisha Breen led the way for MSUB, posting a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds. The forward from Choteau also had three blocks, two 3-pointers, three steals, and an assist. Sophomore Taylor Edwards poured in 13 points, including shooting 3-6 from the 3-point arc with one block and an assist. Senior Tiana Hanson was clutch for the ‘Jackets down the stretch. Hanson was 2-4 from the field, collected seven rebounds, and was 8-8 from the free-throw
line, making a pair of free-throws in the final minute to ice the game for the Yellowjackets. Brina Hull made two 3pointers, Rylee Kane scored six points and led the game in assists with five. Grace Weeks had five rebounds and two points. The Yellowjackets were 16-19 from the free-throw line. The MSUB bench provided 21 points for the Yellowjackets. Keisha Engelhardt scored 21 points for the Battlin’s Bears with 11 rebounds. Mikayla Jones had 18 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Hailee Farstveet had 11 points and two steals. RMC shot 35.5 percent for the game and were 13-22 (59.1 percent) from the free-throw line. “Overall I was pleased with our win,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “It was a great environment for us to compete in for an exhibition game. I was impressed with how hard Rocky played, they really had us on our heels in the first half. We had a hard time stopping their penetration and we were in foul trouble. We allowed them to get to the line a lot and I felt fortunate to only be done by five in the first half. In the second half I thought we played better defense and I thought we did better on the boards.” In the first 10 minutes of the game, both teams struggled to find their footing. Lexi Prevost scored the first point for the ‘Jackets at the free-throw almost three minutes into the game. The Battlin’ Bears countered with a jump shot from Farstveet. A pair of free-throws from Engelhardt opened-up an 8-3 lead. Both teams went back to the free-line. Hanson drained two to pull MSUB to two points back, 9-7. Rocky went on a short run, before Edwards made a long 3-pointer from well beyond the arc to make it a 3-point game. After a good defensive set from the ‘Jackets, Edwards drove into the key to add two more points. In the second quarter, Taylor made her second 3-pointer of the night, keeping MSUB within a possession. Weeks finished a layup off an Edwards dish. Hanson made a reverse layup from a Kane assist. With the hot hand, Edwards completed her third 3-pointer of the night to tie the game at 24. Farstveet made a layup and MSUB’s Marissa Van Atta a counter to keep the score even. Breen provided MSUB the lead on a deep 3-pointer. Engelhardt on a 3-pointer of her own, shot the Battlin’ Bears back ahead 31-29 with 2:49 remaining in the first half. Breen stole the ball in the key and passed it back to Kane who dribbled down to half court before passing the ball back to Breen for a layup. With time winding down, Jones drove into the key, and made a move back out on a screen to sink a 3-pointer that put Rocky ahead 36-31 at the half. Rocky continued to draw its lead out in the opening five minutes of the second half, opening up its largest lead of the game by eight, on a layup from Farstveet at 6:47. Breen made a jump shot and the extra point to close the deficit to three, 43-40. Kane used a jump shot in the key to close to one point. At the top of the key, Breen drove to the basket and with a spin move in the paint, caught the ‘Jackets back up and gave them the lead at 46-45 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. RMC’s Justyn Juhl made a jump shot on an assist from Jones. Out of the far corner, Hull banked a 3-pointer from a Breen pass to end the third frame and keep the ‘Jackets ahead 51-49. This time it was Hanson that found Hull who scored back-to-back 3-pointers to keep MSUB ahead. Breen came up clutch, draining the third 3-pointer in a row for the Yellowjackets to push the lead to 57-51 with 7:16 left in the game. Driving into the key, Breen earned two more points. Under the rim, Jackson fought for a layup and the and-one. Hanson drew contact driving in for a layup. At the free-throw line, she made both to draw the lead back up by eight, 63-55, with three minutes left. Rocky’s Jayde LeFevre hit a 3-pointer off a laser pass from Jones. RMC used a run of five straight points to draw the MSUB lead down to five with a minute remaining. Engelhardt went to the line with 26 seconds left and made both free-throws to close the gap to three points, 65-62. The Battlin’ Bears had two fouls to give and sent Hanson to the
line with 16 seconds left. Hanson finished with game making both free-throws and a last minute shot by Engelhardt went wide as MSUB secured the opening exhibition game at the Fortin Center. “Alisha really took the game over down the stretch,” Woodin said on the senior. “She scored at all levels, in the key, outside, and at the free-throw line. I thought also we got some nice minutes from Taylor and Brina in the first half that helped us stay close and Tiana’s free-throw shooting tonight was exceptional, going 8- -8 which is great in the early season.” Up next, MSUB hosts Montana Tech during an exhibition at home on Friday, Nov. 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m. It is Throwback Night at Alterowitz when the Yellowjackets will wear black and gold EMC jersey’s. The MSUB men’s team will also host Montana Tech, with that game tipping-off at 7:30 p.m. “We are looking forward to our Throwback game on Friday,” Woodin said. “It is always nice to put on those uniforms and play in front of our home crowd. I was happy with how our players responded tonight after being down at half-time, and I thought they were able to come together as a team when they needed to. I look forward to seeing them improve this week as we get ready to host Montana Tech during our home opener.” --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--