Grimsrud scores career-high 18 points in 61-50 win over Seattle Pacific

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu January 9, 2016 Comeback complete: Grimsrud scores career-high 18 in 61-50 win over Seattle Pacific MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU Post-game Interviews with seniors Monica Grimsrud, Janiel Olson, and head coach Kevin Woodin Interactive Box Score

Senior Monica Grimsrud scored a career-high 18 points in the conference win over Seattle Pacific.

Senior Monica Grimsrud pumps in 18 career-high points as the Yellowjackets mount a big comeback after a deficit of 238 in the first quarter for the Great Northwest Conference win over Seattle Pacific.

BILLINGS, Mont. - After being down 23-8 in the first quarter, the MSU Billings women's basketball team scored 17 and held the Falcons to just five points in the second quarter as the Yellowjackets went on to finish the last three quarters outscoring Seattle Pacific, 53-27 for the final 61-50 conference win Saturday.

Senior Monica Grimsrud pumped in a career-high 18 points and led the team in assists with four. Alisha Breen scored 13 points and Vanessa Stavish 11 while Janiel Olson pulled in 14 rebounds in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory.

The Yellowjackets showed a lot of fight in the last three quarters of the game to stay unbeaten in conference games at Alterowitz. After being overrun in the first quarter, MSUB allowed SPU a layup and a 3-pointer in the sixth minute of the second quarter and bounced back with 17 team points to draw the deficit down to a single possession at half-time.

Continuing their explosive offensive run, at the start of the third quarter the Yellowjackets took the lead on a free-throw from Breen and layup from Grimsrud to cap a 21-5 run to move ahead 29-28.

Seattle Pacific pushed back with 15 points in the third quarter, but MSUB kept pace and outscored the Falcons by three to tie the game at 43. In the final 10 minutes, the ‘Jackets kept up their defensive pressure while matching their scoring, finishing on an 18-7 point spread for the 11-point win.

Grimsrud was 6-13 from the field with a 3-pointer, five free-throws and a game-high six assists in the win. Breen finished the game with 13 points and nine rebounds. Olson finished the night with consecutive double-digit rebounding contests as she collected 14 overall.

With the win, Montana State University Billings moves to 9-5 overall and 5-1 in the GNAC. Seattle Pacific drops to 6-7 and 3-3 in the GNAC. “Seattle Pacific was well-prepared and jumped on us early, give them all the credit,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “I thought we were ready but we weren’t, a lot of that is on me. It was crucial for us to play better in the second quarter and we did. We finally got some offensive rhythm. Defensively, we played very well the final three quarters and I need to give Coach Heringer kudos for her defensive game plan. I felt fortunate to only be down three at halftime as they had out played us.”

With a combination of smart shots and forced turnovers, Seattle Pacific scored 23 points in the first 10 minutes and held MSU Billings to eight. The Yellowjackets climbed back into the game in the second quarter with the opposite, scoring 17 points and holding the Falcons to five to close to within three, 28-25 at the break.

Seattle Pacific opened the game with eight straight points. Defense led to the first points for the Yellowjackets. Marissa Van Atta grabbed a steal and Breen finished with a layup. The Falcons continued with their run driving up the score to 14-2, forcing Coach Woodin to take his second timeout of the game. Another turnover from the ‘Jackets gave SPU a chance and Hannah Rodrigues collected her first 3-pointer of the game.

Grimsrud picked up two points on a short jumper in the key, but the Falcons came back. Brianne Lasconia ended the quarter with four points, picking up a free-throw and a 3-pointer to push the SPU lead to 23-8.

MSUB’s Tiana Hanson beat the shot clock with a twirl around the back court for a layup. Sophomore Rylee Kane stole the ball and followed through with a layup, but the Falcons countered with a long pass down the court for Jordan McPhee and a layup. Lindsay Lee then scored a 3-pointer for SPU. Needing another offensive basket, this time sophomore Vanessa Stavish drew the deficit down to under double-digits with a 3-pointer off a pass from Kane. Breen continued the run with a layup for 28-21. Grimsrud scored with a turnaround jump shot and Stavish pushed through a tough layup to close to within three, 28-25 to end the half.

“The third quarter was a battle as both teams were fighting hard,” Woodin said. “Our players played a great fourth quarter and our defensive execution was very good down the stretch. Offensively, we made some big shots in the fourth quarter and we were able to make some important free throws too.”

Breen continued the MSUB offensive run with a layup to open the second half. Grimsrud completed the comeback with a spin move and layup for 29-28 and the first lead of the game for the ‘Jackets. Lukasiewicz pulled SPU back ahead with a layup, but a free-throw from Kane and two from Grimsrud gave MSUB the lead back 32-30.

The teams traded baskets before Stavish scored six straight points for MSUB on a layup and free-throw, and then a 3pointer to give MSUB a 2-point, 38-36, lead. With under three minutes in the third quarter, Lee hit her second 3-pointer of the game and Erica Pagano made both of her free-throws to push SPU ahead by one, 39-38.

At the end of the third quarter Van Atta drained her first 3-pointer of the game to knot the score at 43. Grimsrud opened the final quarter with a huge defensive block. On the other end of the floor, Olson grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled on the put-back. She sank both free-throws. Another free throw from Olson pushed the ‘Jackets ahead by three, 46-43. An open look layup from Breen continued the run as the Yellowjacket finished their run with the lead back.

The first basket for SPU in the fourth quarter came with under five minutes left in the game as Courtney Hollander made a layup.

Grimsrud countered with two huge plays for MSUB as she scored with a 3-pointer and then took a big defensive charge.

Kane gave MSUB its first double-digit lead with two free-throws for 55-45 with under four minutes left in the game.

MSUB lost the ball, but Van Atta recovered the possession with a steal. Seattle Pacific missed its attempt at a 3-pointer, but Rodrigues slipped the deficit down to 10 with a pair of free-throws.

Seattle Pacific needed to foul and Grimsrud made a pair of free-throws and Van Atta added one to finish the game.

MSU Billings shot 39.6 percent in the game. The Yellowjackets were 4-16 from the 3-point arc and 15-24 from the freethrow line, but solid defense and pressure on the inside helped lift MSUB to the win.

Seattle Pacific shot 31.6 percent for the game. MSUB limited the Falcons to just six baskets in the second half. SPU shot 3-18 from 3-point territory and 11-16 from the free-throw line.

Both teams were even on rebounds at 38. The Yellowjackets outscored the Falcons 32-24 in the pain. The team were almost even in points off of turnovers (19-18) and second chance points (10-10).

“Monica Grimsrud played the best game of her college career tonight,” Woodin said. “She impacted the game at both ends. Alisha and Marissa had some important hoops in the second half and Janiel’s rebounding was critical to our win.

Vanessa and Tiana gave us a needed lift in the first half off the bench and Vanessa had a couple important hoops in the second half too. I was also proud of Rylee Kane. She made important plays when we needed them most. She didn’t start well but she finished well and that is when it most counted.”

“Overall to be down 15 early and battle back is a tribute to our players,” Woodin continued. “This was a great team win for our program.”

THE BUZZ: Grimsrud’s 18 career points tops her previous best of 15 which she accomplished against Seattle Pacific in 2013…this is a consecutive double-digit performance in rebounding from Olson – she pulled in a career-high 18 boards in MSUB’s last contest against Saint Martin’s on Thursday.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings heads out onto the road for two GNAC contests. The Yellowjackets tip-off against the GNAC’s newest member, Concordia (Ore.), on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. Pacific time followed by a contest against Western Oregon on Saturday, Jan. 16 at the early time of 2:00 p.m. Pacific time.

“Next week represents a new challenge,” Woodin said. “Our league is so balanced so we will have to play well to win on the road. We look forward to that challenge.”

--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--