Turnovers Cost Lady Jackets at St. Martin’s (Jan. 22, 2004)
Box Score

LACEY, WA – Twenty-nine turnovers neutralized an otherwise good shooting night Thursday as MSU Billings lost, 84-63, at St. Martin’s.  The game was a clash between two teams battling for the final West Region tournament slot.  The Yellowjackets entered the week ranked No. 9 in the region, while the Saints were No. 10.  The top eight teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament in March.

Thirteen of the Jackets’ turnovers came in the first half as St. Martin’s built a 39-32 lead at the break.  Six first half 3-pointers, two from Jenny Langford, helped offset the turnovers, but the Yellowjackets still attempted 14 fewer field goals than the Saints in the first half. 

St. Martin’s took 23 more field goal attempts in the game thanks to the Yellowjackets’ turnovers.  MSU Billings shot 51-percent from the field in the game—compared to the Saints’ 44-percent—but St. Martin’s still made seven more field goals. 

The Yellowjackets never led in the game, starting in a 4-0 hole after turning the ball over on their first two possessions.  MSU Billings was able to tie the game at 6-6 on Sophia Forney’s jumper at the 16:52 mark of the first half, but that was the last tie of the game.

Tanya Petersen scored a team-high 19 points for the Jackets, pulling down ten rebounds for a double-double.  She also blocked three shots.  Langford finished with four 3-pointers and 14 points.  Robyn Milne added eight points and ten rebounds.

The Saints were led by 22 points from Julia Eisentrout and 20 from Stephanie Colbo.  The pair combined for four of the Saints’ nine 3-pointers.

MSU Billings will face Northwest Nazarene Friday night.  The game, another important West Region match up for the Yellowjackets, will be played at St. Martin’s in Lacey.