Lady Jackets Streak Continues (1/4/06)
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BILLINGS, MT – After a two-week hiatus, the Lady Jackets hosted Heartland Conference opponent Western New Mexico earning the teams fifth “W” in a row.  The Jackets downed the Mustangs 78-42 climbing to 6-4 overall.  The loss drops the Mustangs to 0-8.

The Mustangs were out-shot right from the start with their largest lead of the game coming from a made field goal on the first possession.  The Jackets then went on a shooting tirade sparked by a Michelle Lieber (Jr., F, Gillette, WY) lay-up at 16:47 of the first half.  The Jackets had 10 unanswered points before the Mustangs Crystal Smith made a lay-up to bring the team back within eight.  The first of Kayla McPherson’s (Fr., F, Glendive, MT) six 3-pointers came with 1:57 left in the half taking the Yellowjackets into the locker room with a 37-13 half-time lead.

After shooting a cool 25 percent from 3-point range in the first half, the Jackets came alive shooting nine of 19 and 47 percent in the second.  In the next nine minutes, McPherson would knock down five 3-pointers to help seal the game for the Jackets.  The Yellowjackets were also able to capitalize on the Mustangs turnovers netting 20 points off the teams 22 turnovers. 

In the game, the bench combined for 37 of the Yellowjackets' 78 points.  All four of the team's freshmen broke personal bests with McPherson falling one 3-pointer short of Shannon Harvey’s (Jr., G, Billings, MT) single game record seven 3-pointers.  McPherson went six of seven from behind the arc, pulled down four boards and led the Jackets in scoring with 18.  Lieber and Jenny Langford (Sr., G, Reed Point, MT) each contributed 14 and 13 points respectively.  Langford shot 4 of 4 from the line.

"It was a nice win for us," said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  "I felt the game started pretty slow.  Neither team really took advantage of things very well.  I thought we stayed consistent defensively in the first half.  In the second half we needed a little spark and Kayla hit a couple threes.  Our depth was a big factor.  All of our players really contributed."

The Lady Jackets continue their conference play hosting Oklahoma Panhandle (6-6) Friday at 6 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.