Lady Jackets Rally to Win Second Straight over UC-San Diego (November 23, 2002)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings Lady Yellowjackets came back from as many as 18 points down in the second half to defeat the University of California-San Diego for the second straight night.  Senior forward Natalie Visger made 9-of-12 free throws in the game to finish with a game-high 13 points.

After winning by ten points Friday night, MSU Billings struggled to put the ball in the basket Saturday.  The Yellowjackets didn’t score their third basket of the game until near the 10-minute mark of the first half.  The cold shooting continued for the entire first half as MSUB shot 21.4-percent from the field and only scored 18 points. 

UC-San Diego, meanwhile, found an offensive rhythm that was missing in Friday’s game.  The Tritons shot 30.8 -percent in the first half, scoring 32 points with a high-low attack similar to the one used by Sonoma State in last year’s West Region win over the Jackets.  UCSD continued its disciplined attack in the second half, pulling away to a 38-20 lead with 17:56 remaining in the game.

The Yellowjackets battled back behind Visger’s foul shooting and some timely baskets.  Senior Joan Langford’s 3-pointer with 12:13 remaining reduced the Jackets’ deficit to less than ten for the first time, making the score 44-36.  Lisa Jellum’s jumper with 8:33 on the clock erased the deficit, tying the game at 47 apiece.

MSU Billings finally took the lead for the first time with just 2:46 remaining on Jessica Bachmann’s two free throws.  After trading baskets, Bachmann then hit a jumper with 2:16 left, giving the Yellowjackets the lead for good.  Bachmann finished with 10 points in the game.

UC-San Diego was paced by Margaret Johnson and Ali Ginn for the second night in a row.  Johnson made 5-of-8 free throws to finish with 13 points.  Ginn made 4-of-12 field goal attempts to finish with 12 points. 

MSU Billings will next face the University of Montana Lady Griz on Monday in Missoula.  The Yellowjackets will return home on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving to take on St. Martin’s College in a pair of games.