FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu January 7, 2017 Comeback falls just short in 64-57 loss at Saint Martin’s MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook | MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU | Box Score
MSUB’s Rylee Kane matched a career-high 17 points in a conference game at Saint Martin’s.
MSU Billings erases a 12-point deficit in the opening half to tie the game at 32, falling just short in the final two minutes of a GNAC road contest at Saint Martin’s. LACEY, WASH. – The Yellowjackets erased an opening 12-point deficit at Saint Martin’s to tie the game at half-time as both teams stayed even until the end of the fourth quarter when the Saints were able to pull away, handing MSUB a 6457 loss in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game Saturday at Marcus Pavilion. Tiana Hanson notched her second double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, including six offensive boards in 39 minutes on the court for the ‘Jackets. The senior from Shepherd, Mont., shot 5 for 14 from the floor and was 7 for 9 from the free-throw line with two steals, one block, and one assist. Rylee Kane matched her career-best, tying the game-high with 17 points on 6 for 15 shooting from the floor and 5 for 6 from the free-throw line. Kane finished with a game-high five assists and collected three rebounds. Junior Marissa Van Atta also had double-digit points at 10 with four rebounds.
The Yellowjackets rebounded after being down 20-11 in the first quarter by outscoring the Saints 21-12 in the second period to tie the game at 32 heading into half-time. Out of the break, the ‘Jackets kept it close, but couldn’t quite take the lead in the back half of the game. Van Atta pulled the Yellowjackets to their closest chance, 41-40, with MSUB’s only 3-pointer of the night at 3:24 remaining in the third period. Another scoring lull, and a 3-pointer from Hannah Rodrigues pulled the Saints up by nine, 55-46, as SMU held off for the win down the stretch. “I was proud of our players tonight as they fought hard, but just fell a little short at the end,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “Give credit to Saint Martin’s as they played well down the stretch. The critical point was the 3-point area. We shot 1 for 15 while they were 6 for 16. On both games this trip, that was the decisive factor in our losses.” Outside shooting was a big factor in the MSUB offensive game as the ‘Jackets finished the night shooting 33.9 percent from the field (19 for 56), but a season-low 1 for 15 from outside. MSUB was 18 for 22 from the free-throw line at 81.8 percent for their second-best showing of the season. SMU outrebounded the Yellowjackets 35-29, but MSUB collected double-digit offensive rebounds 11-9. “The game got off to a good start from both teams, but Saint Martin’s played well at the end of the first quarter to take the lead,” Woodin commented. “I thought we played the best quarter of the season in the second period tonight to tie the game. In the second half, we were always within a couple of possessions, but at the end they were able to ice the game at the free-throw line.” The Yellowjackets forced 18 turnovers on SMU, created nine steals, converting those to 21 points. MSUB finished with more points in the paint (28-22) and second chance points (15-8). With the loss, MSUB falls in their fourth straight game and sits at 4-10 overall and 1-5 in the GNAC. Saint Martin’s improves to 5-9 overall, earning its first conference win for 1-5 in league action. For SMU, Rodrigues finished with 17 points on 6 for 7 shooting. She had four assists and two rebounds. Off the bench, Shelbie Drey had a season-best 10 points on a perfect 5 for 5. Mercedes Victor had eight rebounds. It was a good offensive opening start to the game by both teams. A 3-point play from Van Atta gave MSUB a 9-8 lead in the opening three minutes of the game. The ‘Jackets began to falter on the offensive end, and the Saints were able to capitalize, using man-to-man defense to push momentum to their side. A layup from Reynolds kicked-off a 15-2 scoring run that gave the Saints a 23-11 lead at the start of the second quarter. MSUB erased the 12-point deficit in the second quarter with an 11-3 run. The Yellowjackets began to whittle away at the SMU lead, completing seven straight points starting with a layup from Kane as she dribbled around two defenders. A steal from Jeanann Lemelin gave the Yellowjackets a chance and Taylor Edwards hit 1 of 2 at the foul line to drop the deficit under double-digits. Hanson and Edwards both added jumpers to close the gap to five points, 23-18, with 6:42 left in the first half. A 3-pointer from Reynolds broke-up the MSUB run. Hanson countered with a 3-point play aided by a layup from Kane to close to within two, 26-24. Good defense followed from Hanson in the paint as she intercepted a pass, throwing the ball out to Kane who passed the ball down to Grace Weeks at the other end for a layup to tie the game at 26. Shyler Sullivan shot back-to-back 3-pointers for the Saints. MSUB’s Lexi Prevost collected a steal and was fouled, making both freethrows at the line. Kane fired in a shot with her left hand and Van Atta found the rim on a banked shot just inside the key to tie the game at 32.
In the third quarter, Van Atta cleared MSUB’s 3-pointer to close out a 5-1 run. Kane was fouled on a rebound attempt, sinking both free-throws at the line to keep the score within a possession at the end of the third quarter. Weeks earned two points and Van Atta finished a pair of free-throws to close within two, 48-46. The Saints pulled away scoring nine straight to hold a 55-46 advantage with five minutes remaining. Hanson was sent to the free-throw line for six shots in the next minute, making five to draw the gap back down to two, 55-53, at 2:46. Down the stretch, the Saints were able to hold off MSUB with shots from the free-throw line. THE BUZZ: Hanson named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game. UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets return home to host their only pair of conference games at Alterowitz during the month of January. MSUB welcomes Concordia Portland on Jan. 12, and Western Oregon on Jan. 14. Both games begin at the early time of 5:15 p.m. in the first part of a double-billing with the MSUB men’s team. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--