Lady Jackets Tame Mustangs,
Await NCAA Tourney Pairings (Mar. 5, 2005)
Box Score

SILVER CITY, NM – The Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team most likely punched its ticket to the Big Dance Saturday afternoon, leading wire-to-wire to defeat Western New Mexico, 65-50.  The Yellowjackets finished the regular season at 21-6 after closing with a four-game winning streak. 

“We’re playing some of our best ball, especially defensively, right now,” said head coach Kevin Woodin.  “I think it started with the big win at St. Martin’s in February, and we played well against North Dakota State and gained a lot of confidence.  I’m pleased with our depth and the way we’re playing.  I think we deserve to be in the tournament.  We’ll find out tomorrow night.”

MSU Billings was ranked seventh in the most recent NCAA West Region poll.  This weekend the No. 6, No. 8 and No. 9 teams in the region each lost.  The top eight teams in each of the eight NCAA Division II regions receive invitations to the NCAA Tournament.  The NCAA Tournament selection show will air live at 8:00 p.m. MST on the internet at www.ncaasports.com.  The media are invited to join the Lady Jackets in HPE 121 where they will watch the selection show and be available for interviews.

After having an off night on Thursday, the Jackets’ top two scorers came up big in Saturday’s critical game.  Robyn Milne (Sr., Richey, MT) and Tanya Petersen (Jr., Billings, MT) netted 17 points apiece to combine for just over half of the team’s points.  Milne was 5-of-7 from the field, and 7-of-8 from the line.  Petersen hit 8-of-16 from the field and also added seven rebounds.

Milne grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots, giving her the career school record in each category.  She now has 941 rebounds and 274 blocked shots.  By passing Jessie Henigman for the school blocks record, Milne also moved up to No. 14 in the all-time NCAA Division II record book.  She will have an opportunity to climb higher at the NCAA Tournament next week.  She needs to reach 275 to move to No. 13, and 279 to move to No. 12.

The Yellowjackets never trailed in the game, breaking away from a 4-4 tie in the opening minutes to lead by as many as 21 in the first half.  They settled for a 40-24 halftime advantage behind 21 combined points from Milne and Petersen.  Petersen scored 13 of her 17 points in the first half. 

The Mustangs battled back early in the second half, using a 15-6 run to cut the Jackets’ lead to 46-39.  Milne took over from that point.  During one stretch she scored 10 of the team’s 14 points, and her basket with four and a half minutes to play gave MSUB an 18-point lead. 

“You have to give Western a lot of credit for the way they came out in the second half,” added Woodin.  “We had the 16 point lead at halftime and thought we could put them away in the second half, but they did a good job.  We’re certainly happy to come away with a win.”

Eight of the ten Yellowjackets who saw playing time scored.  Lisa Jellum (Jr., Gillette, WY) had seven points and a team-high four assists.  Jennifer Skrifvars (So., Brea, CA) and Shannon Harvey (So., Billings, MT) added six points apiece.  Harvey hit 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.  Jenny Langford (Jr., Reedpoint, MT), Michelle Lieber (So., Gillette, WY) and Kayla Frize (Jr., Miles City, MT) added four points apiece.  Lieber also had six rebounds.

The Mustangs were paced by Whitney Card’s 17 points.  She made three of the team’s five 3-pointers.  Natalie Lara and Janel Joy added 10 points apiece.  Western finished its final season as an independent at 5-21.  The Mustangs and Yellowjackets will each join the Heartland Conference beginning next season.