Lieber Receives another POTW Award (1/17/06)

BILLINGS, MT – For the second time in as many weeks—and the third time this season—Montana State-Billings junior Michelle Lieber has been named the Heartland Conference player of the week.  The award was the fifth player of the week award received by an MSU Billings player this season.

Lieber, a 6-foot-0 forward from Gillette, WY, had yet another big week posting three-straight double-doubles on the road to help the Lady Yellowjackets stretch their current winning streak to 10 games.  On Wednesday she scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a Heartland Conference win at Incarnate Word.  On Thursday Lieber had 16 points and 11 boards at UIW.  Saturday she scored 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Jackets to a win at St. Mary's that moved MSU Billings into first place in the conference standings. 

For the week she averaged 18.7 points and 12.3 rebounds a game while shooting 71 percent from the field.  She was also 12-of-15 from the free throw line (80%).  On the season Lieber leads the conference in rebounding (9.9) and field goal percentage (67.5).  She also ranks fifth in the HLC for scoring (14.0) and sixth for blocked shots (0.60).

The Lady Yellowjackets, 11-4 overall and 4-1 in the Heartland Conference have one road game this week.  They will play at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO, on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. MST.  The game will be carried live in Billings on AM 970.  The Jackets return home to host St. Edward’s (TX) on January 28.