Bearcats Down Lady Jackets in Shootout (11/30/06)
Box Score

MARYVILLE, MO – The Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team traveled to Northwest Missouri State for their first road game of the regular season Thursday.  In this first meeting between the two teams, the Bearcats and Jackets combined for 177 points with the Bearcats prevailing 95-82.  The Bearcats improve to 5-1 overall, while the Lady Jackets fall to an even 2-2 on the early season.

After averaging a 20.75 point margin of victory over opponents early in the season, the Bearcats came out sluggish allowing the Lady Jackets to control the tempo of the game for most of the first half.  Jetton Meadors (Billings, MT) forced a Bearcat turnover just 12 seconds into the game getting the Jackets on the board with a layup.  Following four ties over the next 10 minutes the Lady Jackets pulled ahead on back-to-back three-pointers by Meadors.  Alira Carpenter (Lewistown, MT) drilled a three of her own at the six minute mark giving the Lady Jackets their largest lead of the game at seven. 

Two Bearcat free throws and a three-pointer by Kelli Nelson surged the Cats into the lead with 4:37 left to play in the half.  The Jackets and Bearcats exchanged buckets and went into the locker room 41-35, Jackets trailing.

“The Bearcats are a quality team and they shot extremely well tonight,” said head coach Kevin Woodin.  “We got off to a good start in the first half and played pretty well but they went on a run that proved crucial in the game.”

Michelle Lieber (Gillette, WY) cut the Cats lead to four on a layup at the 18:05 mark of the second half.  Both teams battled offensively with the Bearcats building their lead to as many as 16 with 7:46 to play.  Hitting from three-point range, Carpenter ignited a 20-12 run over the next seven minutes bringing the Lady Jackets within eight.  The Bearcats’ Nelson was sent to the charity stripe three times in the final 46 seconds where she went 5-of-6, icing the win for Northwest Missouri State.

“We struggled to defend the Bearcats all night as they were able to spread us out,” added Woodin.  “They had multiple three-point shooters and Shumacher was tough on the inside.  We kept fighting in the second half and got it under 10 a couple of times but we were unable to convert on some opportunities and it cost us.”

As a team the Lady Jackets shot 32-of-73 from the field for 39 percent.  The Bearcats had held their opponents three-point percentage to just 21.8 percent but the Jackets 10-of-26 from three-point range was good enough for 43.8 percent in the game.  The Jackets totaled 44 rebounds and 12 steals but 23 turnovers led to 34 of the Bearcats points off their 16 steals.

The Jackets were led by Carpenter with 20 points.  Carpenter shot 6-of-10 from the field and tied her career-high knocking down four threes.  Meadors recorded career-highs with 14 points and four steals.  Lieber notched a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds on 6-10 shooting from the field.  The Bearcats had six players score in double figures and were led by Mandi Schumacher with 21 points and 14 rebounds.  Nelson scored 19 points while teammate Lauren Wilson added 18 points and two blocks.

“We will take this game as a learning experience and know that we need to be better down the stretch,” said Woodin.  “If we can perform when our opportunities present themselves, I think we can get a win against a quality team on the road.”

The Lady Jackets play Missouri Western State on Saturday, December 2 in Saint Joseph, Missouri.  The Griffons are 4-0 and have posted 24 straight non-conference wins at home.  Tip off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CST.