Lady
Yellowjackets Fall in Puerto Rico (February 14, 2003)
BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO – The
MSU Billings women’s basketball team, ranked No. 4
in the West Region, was upset by the University of
Puerto Rico-Bayamon 72-56 Friday afternoon. The
Jackets were scheduled to play the University of
Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, but learned of the schedule
change after arriving in Puerto Rico. They will
reportedly not play Mayaguez on the trip as planned,
but will face UPRB twice. The Cowgirls were 22-4
last season. Their current record was not reported.
The loss dropped the
Yellowjackets’ record to 15-5. While the game does
not affect MSUB’s West Region record or
strength-of-schedule ranking, it will hurt the
Jackets’ overall strength-of-schedule ranking.
Puerto Rico-Bayamon and Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, who
the Jackets face tomorrow, are provisional NCAA
Division II members. Although the games against
them are counted toward the required minimum of 22
games a team must have against Division II or higher
competition, they count the same as NAIA games in
the regional power rankings. A win against an NAIA
or NCAA II provisional is worth seven points in the
power rankings. A loss is worth zero points.
UPRB pulled away from a 26-25
halftime lead by shooting 57 percent from the field
in the second half. The Cowgirls shot 41 percent
for the game and connected on 12-28 free throw
attempts.
The Yellowjackets shot just 33
percent from the floor in the game and made 4-of-6
from the line. Natalie Visger notched a double-double with 12
points and 16 rebounds. Joan Langford hit four three-pointers for 16
points.
Jessie Henigman pulled down a career-high 17
rebounds and blocked five shots. Those blocks give
her 69 for the season, setting a new single-season
school record. They also give her 240 career
blocked shots, moving her to No. 20 in NCAA II
history for blocked shots in a career.
The Jackets will face Puerto
Rico-Rio Piedras on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. MST. They
are then scheduled to take on UPR-Bayamon again on
Sunday at noon MST. |
