Cats Claw Back to Edge Lady Jackets (11/1/06)
Box Score
Coach Woodin post game audio

BOZEMAN, MT – After trailing by double digits in the first half, the Montana State Bobcats women’s basketball team rallied Thursday to escape an upset bid by Montana State-Billings, 75-69.  The exhibition game was the first of the 2006-2007 season for both the Jackets and the Cats.

“Overall I was really pleased with our effort,” Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin said afterward.  “In the first half we got after people on the defensive end.  We played with a lot of passion and were able to disrupt their offensive flow.  We got points off turnovers and hustle plays.”

The Yellowjackets led by as many as 16 points in the first half and didn’t relinquish the lead until the final minutes of the game.  The Bobcat offense finally found its stride in the late going behind 12 second half points from Rebecca Mercer.  After trailing most of the night, the Cats gained the lead with less than four minutes to play when senior center Whitney Connolly stepped out to hit a 3-pointer, giving the Bobcats a 59-58 lead.  The Yellowjackets led again briefly at the 3:40 mark when Kayla McPherson (Glendive, MT) knocked down one of her three 3-pointers, but the Cats quickly regained the lead and held on down the stretch. 

Sophomore Alira Carpenter (Lewistown, MT) led all players with 24 points.  Michelle Lieber (Gillette, WY) and McPherson each finished with 14 points.  McPherson was 3-of-6 from behind the arc while the rest of the Jackets were a combined 1-of-10.  Lieber fouled out of the game with about eight minutes to play.  Jen Smith (Belgrade, MT) led the Jackets with eight rebounds and also handed out three assists.

The Bobcats had four scorers in double figures led by Mercer’s 15 points.  Nubia Garcia added 14 points and eight rebounds.  Connoly finished with a dozen points, and freshman Erica Perry added 10.

“In the second half their pressure bothered us, and we turned it over too many times,” said Woodin of the Jackets’ 25 turnovers.  “I also made a couple decisions that hurt us.  I went back with Michelle with her fourth foul, and she got her fifth right away.  But overall I was happy with the way our young players battled down the stretch.  It’s a good opportunity for us to play this game.  It’s going to make us better.  We’re definitely not satisfied that we played Bozeman close, though.  We had a chance to win tonight, and hopefully the next time we get in that situation we can finish the game.”

The Yellowjackets will play two more exhibition games before opening the regular season on November 17.  MSUB plays at Rocky Mountain College at 7:00 p.m. on November 7.  The Jackets will play their final exhibition game at University of Montana on November 12 at 2:00 p.m. 

MSU Billings opens the 2006-2007 regular season with the Holiday Inn Grand Montana/Chinook Wireless Yellowjacket Classic on November 17 and 18.  North Dakota will take on Metro State in the first game of the tourney at 5:00 p.m. on the 17th.  The Jackets will face Western Oregon at 7:30 p.m.  The losers of the two games will play at 5:00 on the 18th followed by the championship game between the winners at 7:30.