Lady Jackets face Bobcats in Exhibition (10/31/06)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team will start its preseason schedule on Thursday with an exhibition game at Montana State University in Bozeman.  The game will be the first of a three-game exhibition season that will include games at University of Montana and at Rocky Mountain College. 

Tip off for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Worthington Arena.  The Yellowjackets are coming off an 18-9 season in which they shared the Heartland Conference regular season title.  Five players graduated off that team, but MSUB returns reigning Heartland Conference Player of the Year Michelle Lieber (Gillette, WY).  Head coach Kevin Woodin begins his third season at the helm after posting an overall record of 39-16 in his first two seasons.

The Bobcats went 3-23 last season under first-year coach Tricia Binford.  Nine returning letter winners are on the Cats’ roster this year, including leading scorer Scotta Morton.  Thursday’s exhibition game will be the Bobcats’ first contest of the preseason.  Last year the Cats handled the Jackets 74-54 in an exhibition game in Bozeman.

Following Thursday’s game, the Lady Jackets play an exhibition game at Rocky Mountain College on November 7 and an exhibition game at University of Montana on November 12.  MSUB opens the regular season on November 17 when the Yellowjackets host the Holiday Inn Grand Montana/Chinook Wireless Yellowjacket Classic.  The tournament will include North Dakota, Western Oregon, and Metropolitan State.