Lady Yellowjackets Sign Transfer from Wyoming (Aug. 19, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings head women’s basketball coach Kevin Woodin announced Thursday that former University of Wyoming standout Michelle Lieber has signed a scholarship offer and will play for the Yellowjackets next season.  A native of Gillette, Wyo., Lieber started every game as a true freshman for the Cowgirls last season.

"Michelle is a great competitor and student-athlete,” said Woodin.  “I am confident she will make an immediate impact on our program and I look forward to working with her.  She has been tremendously successful in the past, and I know her skills and strength will compliment our team nicely this season."

The 6-foot-0 forward led Wyoming in rebounding, averaging 6.6 rebounds a game to finish the season ranked eighth in the Mountain West Conference.  Lieber averaged 29 minutes a game in starting all 29 games in her freshman campaign.  She was also fourth on the team for scoring at 6.9 points per game. 

Lieber led the Mountain West in field goal percentage in conference games, shooting 62.7 percent from the field.  For the season, she led the Cowgirls with a 58.8 percent field goal percentage.  She also ranked ninth in conference games for rebounding, averaging 5.4 rebounds a game.

Lieber recorded six double-doubles on the season with two of them coming in the Mountain West Tournament.  She scored 10 points with 11 boards in the Cowgirls’ win over Colorado State in the opening round of the tournament.  The win was Wyoming’s first ever in the conference tourney.  Lieber finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds in a semifinal loss to eventual MWC Champion New Mexico.

Lieber joins a long list of Lady Yellowjackets hailing from Campbell County High School in Wyoming.  In recent years, that list has included Natalie Visger, Jessica Bachmann and Heather Reiter.  Current Yellowjacket Lisa Jellum also played at Campbell County.

An all-conference and all-state player at CCHS, Lieber led the Camels to three consecutive Wyoming State 4A Championships.  She scored 27 points on 13-of-14 shooting from the field in the state title game as a senior, earning tournament Most Valuable Player honors for the third time.

Lieber will have three years of eligibility remaining.  The sophomore forward becomes the Yellowjackets’ third standout post player.  She will join All-West Region selection Robyn Milne (Sr., C, Richey, MT) and team leading scorer Tanya Petersen (Jr., F., Billings, MT).