MSUB drops exhibition to Rocky 73-69

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu

November 3, 2015 Rocky topples ‘Jackets in exhibition game 73-69 MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook MSUB Women’s Basketball on Twitter MSUB Women’s Basketball Stack on ISSUU Box Score

Janiel Olson reaches for a rebound in the MSUB exhibition game at Rocky Mountain College.

At the Fortin Center, MSU Billings drops a 73-69 exhibition game to crosstown rival Rocky Mountain College.

BILLINGS, Mont. - It came down to the final minute, but Rocky Mountain College fought for possession down the stretch, ending with a 73-69 victory over MSU Billings in an exhibition game at the Fortin Center Tuesday night.

Down to the last minute, MSU Billings had a chance, but couldn’t convert under the basket and Rocky’s Destiny Amzequita closed the door with two free throws in the final seconds for a 4-point win over the Yellowjackets.

MSUB’s Alisha Breen ended the contest just under a double-double, finishing as the team’s high-scorer with 20 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Janiel Olson ended the game with 15 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Rylee Kane added 12 points, including a team-high two 3-point baskets.

MSU Billings dominated the glass, overpowering Rocky 41-28, including a 21-10 edge on the offensive boards. The Yellowjackets shot a steady 36.1 percent (26-72) from the field, but struggled on shot selection and were rushed throughout the game turning the ball over 17 times during the contest.

By contrast, Rocky Mountain College (7-1) shot 49.1 percent (27-55) from the floor and 40.0 percent from long-range while MSUB ended the night at 19.4 percent (6-31) from beyond the arc.

Four players for the Battlin’ Bears tallied points in the double-figures. RMC was led by senior Tenika Capouch who was a staggering 90.0 percent (9-10) from the field finishing with a game-high 21 points. Amzequita added 16 points and was 4-8 from the 3-point arc. Whitney Mitchell recorded 15 points and Hailee Farstveet ended the night with 10, adding in a team-high six rebounds.

MSU Billings was stronger from the free-throw line, shooting 11-14 for 78.6 percent. Rocky finished 11-14 at 40.0 percent and missed several shot in the winding minutes, leaving the door open for MSUB. MSUB opened the game cold, but used its defense to pick up some momentum. Under seven minutes into the game, the ‘Jackets forced a shot from Rocky that went under for an air ball. Breen came down the floor on the response with a 3point play, engaging under the basket under pressure for two, and then converting on the extra point on the foul.

Olson got into the action with a basket on a great feed from Monica Grimsrud. Kane drained a 3-point shot to draw the deficit down to two, 12-10, but Amzequita responded with her own 3-point bucket to put the Battlin’ Bears back up by five.

Amzequita made her next 3-point shot under three minutes to increase the point spread to eight, 18-10. MSUB’s Marissa Van Atta hung tough under the basket, getting an offensive rebound and the put-back for her first points of the game.

In traffic, Grimsrud fought hard for a basket in the paint and after getting fouled, added one to move the Yellowjackets to within three, 18-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Breen added three points to her total with a great shot at the top of the 3-point arc to open the scoring in the second quarter. Rocky added two, but on another foul, Breen made both of her shots to keep MSUB within a basket. On a MSUB turnover, Sam Harper laid in a shot for two and on another ‘Jacket turnover Rocky converted for two more to open-up a 29-24 lead.

Junior Tiana Hanson tied the game on her first MSUB 3-point basket of the game, but Mitchell came back with a last second shot to give Rocky a 31-29 lead at the half.

Breen opened the second half with a missed lay-up, but caught her own rebound and the offensive put-back to tie the game. Rocky replied with two on a foul. The teams traded baskets ending with a well-timed jump shot from Olson in the paint for another tie game at 37 points.

With time winding down to one on the shot clock, RMC’s Bridger Rice sent a shot up from the 3-point arc for a 45-41 Rocky advantage. On another pass to Harper under the basket, MSUB went down by eight, but the ‘Jackets went on a run.

At the end of the third quarter, MSUB went on an 8-2 rally to catch-up, pulling to within two, 49-47.

Kane tied the game at the top of the fourth quarter with a layup. Capouch scored the next eight points for Rocky, including six points on 3-point plays from layup shots off assists from Rice. Grimsrud came up clutch on her sixth 3-point attempt, tying the game at 54.

Rocky stayed close, pushing points from inside the paint. Capouch recorded her 10th consecutive points with another layin under the hoop. Breen countered with a foul shot.

Amzequita hit back-to-back deep 3-point baskets in the middle of a 13-3 run from the Battlin’ Bears for the first doubledigit lead by Rocky. Widening the gap, Mitchell made one of her two foul shots for a 68-57 advantage.

Kane shortened the lead to eight on the next possession with her second 3-point basket of the game. Closing to within five, Olson made two free-throws and Grimsrud one.

Breen tried to keep MSUB under five points, but missed two opportunities under the basket. Alecia Chamberlin missed both of her free throws giving the ‘Jackets back the window. Breen scored the next four points closing the score to two, 69-67.

Capouch was fouled, missing both of her shots, but on the rebound after the second shot, Mitchell grabbed the ball for Rocky getting a foul called, but she missed both of her shots.

With under 40 seconds on the clock, the ‘Jackets had possession, but lost the ball on a turnover. Needing to foul, MSUB sent Farstveet to the line. She missed her first shot, but made her second for a 71-69 lead.

MSU Billings put the ball in the hands of Breen for the last shot, but she was called for an offensive charge. Icing the game, Amzequita sank both of her free-throw shots for a 4-point 73-69 lead and the winning score.

THE BUZZ: Breen named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Grimsrud finished the game with a team-high four assists…Van Atta had seven rebounds in the game, including five off the offensive glass.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings and Rocky Mountain College are scheduled for a rematch. One week from tonight, on Nov. 10, the Yellowjackets open their 2015-16 home season with a second exhibition game against the Battlin’ Bears. Tip-off is schedule for a 7 p.m. start and the Tuesday night game has been designated this year’s “EMC Throwback Night.”

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