Season recap: 2016-17 MSUB women’s basketball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu March 9, 2017 Season recap: 2016-17 MSUB women’s basketball MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | MSUB Record Books

The 2016-17 MSUB women’s basketball team following the last game of the season.

The MSUB women’s basketball team says good-bye to one senior, but is ready to work hard during the summer to be ready for a return to the top of the conference next season.

BILLINGS, Mont. – The 2016-17 season may not have gone according to the original plan, but the women’s basketball program at MSUB learned a lot during a year that saw adversity sometimes overshadow team goals.

“Our team had a lot of adversity this year,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “It started with Vanessa Stavish missing the entire season and redshirting due to her mom’s illness. I was very proud of how she continued to work through that; she inspired us throughout our season. Shortly after, Alisha Breen was injured and she was not only the Preseason Player of the Year but our best returning player and the leader of our team. Our team had to do a lot adjusting throughout the year.”

“Alisha continued to give us all she had off the court but definitely it was a learning experience for us and I am very grateful both she and Vanessa will be back next year,” Woodin continued on the team. “This year we also had Taylor Edwards and Grace Weeks missing games early and then Taylor later with the season-ending injury. We had over 90

missed games on our team this year due to injury, twice as many as my previous 12 years combined. Because of all those injuries we had our younger players gain a lot of experience.”

With the loss of Breen, senior Tiana Hanson become the only active senior on the roster. The 6-foot forward from Shepherd, Mont., was a transfer from Sheridan College last year. Hanson had one year in the GNAC prior to this season to prepare her for taking on an extended role as a leader.

A second team all-conference honoree this year, Hanson finished the regular season the only player in the league to be top-4 in both points (4th, 17.4 pg) and rebounds (3rd, 7.2 pg). She was third in blocked shots at 1.2 per game and eighth in shooting percentage at 50.3 percent.

From the free-throw line, Hanson shot 157 for 181 on the season, ending the year fourth in the GNAC at 86.7 percent.

Hanson concluded the year sixth in Division II in free-throws made with 157 and 18th nationally in free-throw percentage. She was also eighth in conference minutes played, averaging 33.0 per game.

Hanson notched seven double-doubles this year, including a career-high 29 points at home against Simon Fraser (12 rebounds). She recorded the third-best GNAC game this season with a career-high 14 rebounds (17 points) at Saint Martin's. From the free-throw line, Hanson holds the top-2 spots in the GNAC for this season's single-game highs. She posted 15 (18 attempts) at Western Oregon and 14 (15 attempts) during Senior Night against Northwest Nazarene. She had four perfect outings from the charity stripe with a high 10 for 10 against Concordia Ore. on Jan. 12.

Hanson posted a career-high five blocks on Senior Night, which is the second-best game total in the GNAC this season.

Hanson's seven double-doubles are the second highest in the conference this year.

“Tiana’s progress after one season was really amazing,” Woodin said. “She developed all aspects of her game over the summer to become one of the top players in our league. Her post play was critical to the success we had and her performance in the classroom showed how great of a competitor and hard worker she is. She also did a great job in earning the Academic All-American honor.”

The starting point guard in every game for the ‘Jackets this season, Rylee Kane posted a GNAC third-best 5.4 assists per game and was fifth in assist to turnover ratio at 1.7. Kane was 16th overall in points, averaging 11.4 and ninth in steals with 1.7 per game. The third-year starter for the Yellowjackets averaged the second-highest minutes on the court per contest with 35.2. Nationally in Division II, Kane was 27th overall in total assists with 150 and 24th in assists per game.

This season, Kane increased her scoring average by four points (7.4-11.4). She earned a career-high 25 points against Western Oregon on Jan. 14, on the third-highest field goals made in the GNAC this season at 12.

Kane recorded two games in double-digit assists this season. She notched 10 in the win over Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 19, and tied the MSUB single-game best 13 at home against Central Washington on Feb. 23.

In career assists, Kane has amassed 384, which moves her to No. 6 all-time at MSUB and has her tied for 11th in GNAC history. Her last weekend at home, Kane improved her career steal total to 123 which puts her at No. 9 at MSUB. This year, Kane accumulated 144 assists, which is the seventh-highest season at MSUB. Kane is also fifth all-time at MSUB with last year’s total of 150.

“Rylee took a major step forward on our team,” Woodin said on Kane’s junior campaign. “She had a very good season this year to earn honorable mention honors. I thought she was much more aggressive and I think she will return as one of the top point guards in the league next year.”

In the classroom, Kane and Hanson were both named academic all-conference honorees. With a 4.00 cumulative grade point average in elementary education, Hanson was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® NCAA Division II team becoming just the third Yellowjacket in MSUB women's basketball history to garner the accolade. She joined previous honoree Alira Carpenter and Robyn Milne on the list, joining an elite list of seventh student-athletes all-time at MSU Billings to earn the prestigious All-American title.

As a team, MSU Billings finished with an 8-20 record overall and was 5-15 in the GNAC. The Yellowjackets kicked off their season with a 67-61 exhibition win at the Fortin Center against rival Rocky Mountain College. The ‘Jackets concluded their sweep over the Battlin’ Bears with a second win at home in December.

During the home-hosted Yellowjacket Classic, MSUB earned a big 64-50 win over west region opponent Cal Poly Pomona. The Yellowjacket made a season-high 11 3-pointers in the game, shooting 45.8 percent (11-24) from outside.

MSUB opened conference action with a road trip to Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. The ‘Jackets defeated the Wildcats 65-62 behind 17 points from Hanson. The team also shot 41.3 percent from the field and limited their turnovers to nine in the first GNAC win of the season.

In January, the Yellowjackets were named the GNAC Red Lion Team of the Week after consecutive home wins over conference opponents Concordia Portland and Western Oregon. Against the Cavaliers, MSUB shot 23 for 24 from the free-throw line to finish with a program second-best 95.8 percent on the night. Hanson was 10 for 10 from the freethrow line in the win, and Marissa Van Atta provided a season-best 17 points, including 5 for 5 from the charity strip.

The Yellowjackets poured in a season-high 74 points in the win against the Wolves. Kane led the charge with a careerhigh 25 on 12 for 24 shooting from the field. MSUB escaped a barrage of 3-pointers from WOU by winning almost every other statistical category, including a season-low seven turnovers. The ‘Jackets concluded their season sweep of the Wolves with 64-60 win on the road in February. Hanson had 15 made free-throws in the win, earning a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds.

MSUB concluded the season with four home games, beginning with nationally-ranked Western Washington during the 11th Annual Think Pink Night with St. Vincent Healthcare’s EVA Project. Lexi Prevost posted a career-high 15 points in the win with four 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Vikings in the loss at home. In Bellingham three weeks prior, the Yellowjacket pushed WWU to the wire. In what was one of the most exciting games of the season for MSUB, the ‘Jackets battled back from an 11-point half-time deficit (34-23) to move within striking distance at three points after the third period. A 3-pointer from Prevost, followed by a layup from Weeks and one from Kane tied the game at 51 at the start of the fourth quarter. A possession later, a layup from Prevost gave MSUB the lead at 53-51.The two teams traded baskets over the next four minutes. A jumper from Hanson had the Yellowjackets ahead, 59-57, with 1:51 remaining. GNAC Player of the Year Taylor Peacocke came up big in the final minute with a four-point play for the Vikings.

From the free-throw line, Van Atta shot 90.2 percent (46-51) for the season, with a stretch of 12 games where the junior didn’t miss an attempt, going 26 for 26 over the span. A local product of Senior High School, Van Atta was third on the team in scoring at 9.0 points per game and second in rebounds at 4.2 per game. The forward was second on the team in steals at 1.7 per game and third in minutes played with 28.8 per game.

For her career, Van Atta has amassed 536 points, 287 rebounds, and 94 steals. At MSUB, Van Atta needs an additional 26 steals to break into the Yellowjacket top-10.

Prevost started 23 games for MSUB this season. The 5-foot-7 junior guard from Sidney, Mont., led the team in 3-pointers made with 25. She was 12th in the GNAC in 3-point baskets made per game at 1.3. On the season, Prevost averaged 6.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Prevost leapt from a total of 196 minutes played last season to 745 this year. In career marks, Prevost has 229 points and 99 rebounds. She had 22 steals this season and 36 assists.

Prevost recorded career-highs in almost every category this season. She scored 15 points twice, including a game against Western Washington when she had four 3-pointers.

New to the team this season as a transfer from Casper College, Weeks played in all 28 games for MSUB starting 21. The post player from Rapid City, S.D., averaged 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She posted a season-high 17 at home against Simon Fraser on 8 for 15 shooting from the field.

“Marissa, Grace, and Lexie are a very strong class for us,” Woodin said. “Marissa’s free-throw shooting was simply outstanding. She continues to provide our team with a lot of the intangibles on the court to be very good. Both Lexie and Grace gained a lot of experience this year improving throughout the season, and I look forward to their continued development.”

Sophomores Edwards and Brina Hull made big strides on the team this season. Edwards started all 11 games she participated in this season. The guard from Great Falls had to sit out three games in California and then sustained a season-ending injury that sidelined her in January. Prior to that, Edwards was averaging 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She posted 18 points in a GNAC game at Northwest Nazarene, recording 13 3-pointers on the season.

From Colstrip, Mont., Hull played in all 28 games for MSUB this year. She amassed 514 minutes on the court with 96 points and 55 rebounds. Against Saint Martin’s at home, Hull shot 5 for 8 from the field finishing with a career-high 14 points.

“When Taylor was injured she was just starting to be more consistent for us, but I know she will back strong,” Woodin commented. “Brina had several good games for us, especially in the second half of the season.”

Joining Hanson and Kane on the all-GNAC academic team this season were Edwards, Hull, Prevost and Van Atta.

Honorees for the GNAC All-Academic teams must be in their sophomore year of eligibility or greater and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better.

Rounding out the roster MSUB, Jeanann Lemelin, Taylor Cunningham, Abbie Lohof, and Janessa Williams provided key moments in the season as all four opened their collegiate careers as a Yellowjacket. Lemelin and Cunningham found court time in all 28 games this season. Also from Senior High School, Lemelin had five points and two assists in a seasonbest 19 minutes against Alaska Anchorage. Cunningham had three starts during her first year with the Yellowjackets. The 5-foot-11 guard from Spokane, Wash., scored nine points in a game against Northwest Nazarene and six rebounds in California at Cal State San Marcos. From Laurel, Mont., Abbie Lohof participated in 15 games for MSUB this season.

Williams, a walk-on addition to the team from Clancy, Mont., recorded minutes in six games this season with a careerhigh six minutes at home against Alaska.

“Our freshman class is a much improved group,” Woodin said. “They had a lot of chances to play this year in practices and games and that experience should transfer to a good offseason for them.”

“In spite of not winning as many games as our team and staff would have liked, I still see this as a positive season,” Woodin continued. “We learned a lot as a group. Sometimes you just have to deal with the hand you are dealt and I think we will be stronger in the future because of it. It was a pleasure to coach this team.”

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