MSUB women's basketball heads to Rocky

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 2, 2015 Women’s basketball headed across town to face Rocky in exhibition Women’s Basketball on Facebook 2015-16 MSUB Women’s Basketball Schedule 2015-16 MSUB Women’s Basketball Roster MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU

Juniors Tiana Hanson, Alisha Breen, and the MSUB women’s basketball team have an exhibition game against RMC this week.

This week the MSU Billings women’s basketball team plays an exhibition game against Rocky Mountain College at the Fortin Center.

BILLINGS, Mont. –The MSU Billings women’s basketball team plays one of its two exhibition games against Rocky Mountain College this week. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Yellowjackets head to the Fortin Center for a 7 p.m. game against the Battlin’ Bears.

“We are looking forward to the game,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “It will give us an opportunity to evaluate a lot of players. Rocky should be very strong this year. They return the majority of their key players from a year ago, and I am sure the players are more comfortable with Coach Keller’s system this year too.”

Rocky Mountain College has been playing games since Oct. 8, and has collected a 6-1 overall record to open the season.

The Battlin’ Bears lost a game against Jamestown 64-57 last Friday before rebounding with a win against Valley City State on Saturday, 62-58.

In the early season Rocky has three players averaging double-digit points in Tenika Capouch (14.8), Whitteny Mitchell (14.2), and Destiny Amezquita (11.2). Capouch leads the team off the glass averaging 9.0 rebounds per game. Amezquita heads up the assist column with 2.50 per contest.

The Battlin’ Bears are shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from the 3-point arc. From the charity strip, RMC is 93-145 at 64.1 percent.

The Yellowjackets return two starters from a year ago, and with the reintegration of senior Janiel Olson to the lineup, have three players with significant minutes coming back to the floor.

Olson and junior Alisha Breen were both named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason all-conference team. Her junior season, Olson averaged 9.7 rebounds and 7.8 points. She was the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and was ranked as high as No. 15 in nation in rebounds. Breen finished last season second on the MSUB team in points (15.5 per game), and first in rebounds (7.6 per game). The forward from Choteau, Mont., was a team-leading 83.4 percent shooting from the foul line.

Sophomore point guard Rylee Kane started all 28 games for MSUB last year. The Red Lodge, Mont., native finished the season with 90 assists and a 1.5 assist/turnover ratio.

Also, back this season is senior captain Monica Grimsrud. The forward made 18 blocks last year and finished the season ranked No. 15 in the league. Added to the roster this year is junior Tiana Hanson. The transfer from Sheridan College averaged a double-double of 20.2 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Generals last season.

Along with the four upperclassmen, MSU Billings has eight underclassmen on its roster. The Yellowjackets finished with a 14-14 overall record last season.

MSUB won both games against Rocky last year. The first was a 74-64 exhibition win at the Fortin Center, while the second was a 64-54 victory at home. Both games against Rocky will be exhibition match-ups this season.

The Yellowjackets will host RMC next Tuesday, Nov. 10, for their season-opener.

“I believe the intercity game is a positive for our Billings community,” Woodin said. “I know our players enjoy playing this game. It should be a fun atmosphere.”

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