MSUB challenge No. 5 UAA, fall late 70-50 in Anchorage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu December 31, 2015 MSUB challenge No. 5 UAA, fall late 70-50 in Anchorage MSUB Women’s Basketball on Facebook MSUB Women’s Basketball on ISSUU Interactive Box Score

Alisha Breen scored 14 points in the loss to No. 5 Alaska Anchorage.

MSUB took an early lead and kept the game close for 55 minutes, but No. 5 Alaska Anchorage pulls away in the final five minutes for the conference win in Anchorage.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska. – MSU Billings kept No. 5 Alaska Anchorage within reach for 55 minutes of the game, but a late surge from the Seawolves pushed the Yellowjackets back as UAA handed MSUB a 70-50 conference loss at the Alaska Airlines Center Thursday.

Solid defense kept Montana State University Billings (6-5, 2-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) to within one or two possessions in the second half, but the No. 5 Seawolves found a way to push the tempo in the final four minutes, utilizing a 15-4 run down the stretch for the 20 point win.

MSU Billings closed the score to six, 50-44, on a 3-pointer from Monica Grimsrud with six minutes remaining, but the Yellowjackets struggled from the free-throw line and were unable to convert in transition, as UAA broke away from MSUB in the conference contest.

Alisha Breen was the high-scorer for MSU Billings. She finished with 14 points and five rebounds. Grimsrud recorded 11 points, making two 3-point baskets, two blocks and three steals in the game. She also tied point guard Rylee Kane for a team-high four assists.

The MSUB season average from the free-throw line is 75.0 percent, but today the Yellowjackets were 12-21 from the charity strip for 57.1 percent. Junior Tiana Hanson at 4-4 and senior Janiel Olson with 2-2 were the lone players not to miss a free-throw when at the line.

MSU Billings fell behind in points off of turnovers (25-12) and second chance points (18-6) as the Seawolves collected points from their pressure defense and rebounding. Alaska Anchorage won the battle on the glass by a 46-24 margin, including 23-8 in offensive boards.

“Anchorage is a very good team,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “I thought we made several nice runs at them and were able to get the lead into single digits several times, but were unable to get over the hump. I thought one of the keys tonight was the pressure, especially in the second and fourth quarters. We turned the ball over too many times that led directly to points. I also thought we gave up too many offensive rebounds tonight.”

“I like the fight in our team though,” Woodin continued. “Several times they had us down in double-digits and we kept coming back and making a game of it. I really like how hard we played and I think if we clean up a few things we can learn from this experience and be better the next time we play.”

For Alaska Anchorage (16-1, 3-1 GNAC) Megan Mullings scored 20 points and collected seven rebounds. Kiki Robertson and Jenna Buchanan each scored 11 points. Robertson had seven steals in the game and Alysha Devine grabbed a gamehigh 10 rebounds.

In the first quarter, MSUB played steady offense and solid defense, taking an early 5-point lead. Olson was the first player to put points on the scoreboard as she drew a foul on the offensive rebound and put-back. She made both shots to open the scoring for the Yellowjackets. Mullings needed three tries, but she fought for a layup to take the lead back for Alaska Anchorage. On the MSUB possession, Kane dished a ball to Hanson who slid under the basket and was fouled on her attempt. Hanson made both of her shots to even the score.

Kane scored with a 3-point basket. Grimsrud made a basket and a great steal which led to an open 3-point shot from Breen to give MSUB a 12-9 advantage. Hanson stretched the lead with two more free-throws. A good dish from Grimsrud to Breen down low gave the Yellowjackets two more points. Alaska Anchorage picked up points from Mullings and long 3-point shot from Robertson to knot the score at 16. A turnover from MSUB led to a 3-pointer from Madison to pull UAA ahead 19-16 to end the first quarter.

Alaska Anchorage opened the second quarter with a 12-0 run, building some distance as the Seawolves pounded the paint, picking up inside shots from four players for a 31-16 lead. Kane broke the Yellowjacket scoring drought with a free-throw and freshman Taylor Edwards picked up her first points of the game with a deep 3-point basket.

Edwards made a steal on a short pass from UAA. MSUB’s Marissa Van Atta closed the gap to 10 points with a long 3point shot with just under a minute left in the first half to end the score at half-time 33-23.

Grimsrud kicked off the second half with a 3-point bucket to drop the deficit down to seven. Mullings made a layup for UAA. Kane tried a drive to the basket that missed off the rim. Breen made a nice move down low, twisting off the right side for a shot. Sophomore Vanessa Stavish kicked in a turn-around jump shot and Grimsrud closed out a 6-0 run on her own jump shot to pull to within a possession at 35-32.

Back-to-back 3-point shots from Madison and Keiahnna Engel pushed the Seawolves back up to a nine-point spread.

Robertson gave UAA a double-digit lead on a shot from inside the key.

Kane made a free-throw, and Grimsrud a steal on the UAA possession. The Seawolves stole the ball back, but good defense from the ‘Jackets kept Alaska Anchorage from getting a shot off in the final 15 seconds of the third quarter.

Breen hit a 3-point shot at the top of the arc and Olson made one from the outside. Olson picked off a pass down low and Breen finished the play with a layup to close to within six, 46-41 with seven minutes left in the game.

Buchanan connected on a long ball, but Grimsrud made good on a three for MSUB to keep the ‘Jackets within reach.

Devine made a 3-point shot for UAA and a 55-44 lead. Breen was fouled on her attempt, she made both of her shots.

The Seawolves defense pressed hard down the stretch.

Quick hands and timely shots from UAA finished out the game on the largest margin of the night. MSUB did increase its shooting percentage from 27.27 percent in the first half to 39.13 percent in the second half, but dropped in free-throws falling from 70.0 percent (7-10) to 45.54 percent (5-11) to close out the game. MSUB was 8-24 from the 3-point arc for 33.3 percent.

Alaska Anchorage finished the game shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. The teams were even in 3-point percent as the Seawolves were 8-23 from outside. Both teams were close in turnovers as MSUB committed 26 with UAA at 25. Alaska Anchorage was able to convert those to 25 points as MSU Billings finished with 12.

THE BUZZ: For the second straight contest Grimsrud earned St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game honors…MSUB picked up 10 points from its bench – four from Van Atta and three each from Stavish and Edwards.

UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets continue their time in the state of Alaska heading to Fairbanks for a GNAC contest against the Nanooks. MSUB tips-off against Alaska on Saturday, Jan. 2, at the early time of 2:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time.

“We are looking forward to playing Fairbanks on Saturday afternoon in another tough GNAC game,” Woodin said. “We will need to protect the ball better and be fundamentally sound in order to come out on top.”

--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--