No. 3 Lady Yellowjackets Stunned at Western New Mexico (January 23, 2003)

SILVER CITY, NM – The MSU Billings women’s basketball team had its NCAA Tournament hopes damaged, if only slightly, Thursday night as the Lady Jackets lost at Western New Mexico, 54-47.  The Yellowjackets shot just 34% from the field in the game and scored a paltry 20 points in the second half.

In what turned out to be a defensive battle, Western New Mexico forged a 30-27 halftime lead behind 18 points from center Ivana Stojkovic.  Stojkovic finished the game with 22 points and 17 rebounds.

The Yellowjackets were led by freshman Jenny Langford’s 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range.  Senior shooting guard Joan Langford missed the game due to a shoulder injury suffered in Monday’s game against Montana Tech.  Senior guard Jessica Bachmann added 11 points and six assists.

The Mustangs were able to shut down the inside game of the Yellowjackets for the most part.  Leading scorer Natalie Visger managed just seven points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field.  Center Jessica Henigman scored eight points and blocked three shots.  MSU Billings committed a season-high 23 turnovers in the game.

The Mustangs’ Elyza Schafer added 12 points and three assists in the winning effort.  Western New Mexico shot 40% from the field in a game that saw the defenses dominate. 

The Yellowjackets fell to 13-4 and suffered their third loss against a West Region team.  Western New Mexico improved to 5-10.  MSUB entered the game ranked No. 3 in the West Region, but the loss to a sub-.500 team will most likely drop them in the next poll.  Unlike Division I and the NAIA, Division II schools do not have conference tournaments to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.  The qualification process is based on a strength-of-schedule points system.  Conference regular season champions earn automatic berths to the tournament, but MSU Billings competes as an independent in women’s basketball.

The Yellowjackets and Mustangs will square off again on Friday at 4:00 p.m.