Lady Jackets Escape Cardinals (1/27/07)
Box Score
Game Photos
Coach Woodin post game audio

BILLINGS, MT - A career-high 30 points from Alira Carpenter (Lewistown, MT) led Montana State-Billings to an 89-81 conference win over Incarnate Word Saturday night at Alterowitz Gym.  The Yellowjackets led by double figures at halftime but had to come from behind in the final two minutes to get their fifth conference win of the year.  The Lady Jackets hold onto first place in the Heartland Conference at 16-4 overall and 5-1 in the league, while Incarnate Word drops to 9-10 overall and 3-2 in the conference, holding onto second place in the standings. 

A three-point conversion by the Jackets’ Michelle Lieber (Gillette, WY) eight minutes into the half put MSUB up by four.  On the next possession the Cards’ leading scorer Nia Torru hit a 3-pointer to check the Jackets lead to one.  Trading buckets, the Yellowjackets steadily built their lead to 10 on back-to-back free throws by Shantell Marquis (Cascade, MT).  A Yellowjacket 3-pointer by Carpenter with four seconds remaining in the half sent MSUB to the locker room holding the 13-point advantage.

The Yellowjackets held onto the double-digit lead until the 11:38 mark of the second half when the Cardinals’ Danielle Farriel buried a 3-pointer to trim the Jackets’ lead to seven.  Incarnate Word went on an 8-0 run over the next two and a half minutes to come within one possession of the lead.  The final eight minutes of the game proved to be a nail biter as the Jackets and Cards knotted the score four times and traded the lead three times.

The Cardinals’ Ieasha Sledge put Incarnate Word up by one on a fast break layup with 7:04 to play.  Kayla McPherson (Glendive, MT), steady behind the arc, knocked down a 3-pointer and two free throws to tie the game at 76.  The Jackets’ Jennifer Skrifvars (Brea, CA) would score the eventual game-turning points for MSUB on a costly Cardinal foul with 2:46 to play in regulation.  Skrifvars hit a pair of free throws to take the lead by one.  Lieber netted five unanswered points and contributions by Marquis and Jetton Meadors (Billings, MT) down the stretch iced the important conference win for the Lady Jackets.

“It was a very hard fought victory,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  “I was very impressed with Incarnate Word.  They were well prepared and they played a great second half. Over the past few games, it seems like we have struggled early in the second half and that is something we need to fix.  I was very pleased with our team’s poise at the end.  Even though we lost the lead, I felt we didn’t panic and our players made some key plays down the stretch.”

Carpenter led all scorers with a career-high 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 from the perimeter.  This game marks the fifth time this season that Carpenter has hit five 3-pointers or more in a game.  Lieber notched her eighth double-double of the season netting 22 points and 10 rebounds.  Lieber was 7-of-8 from the floor and 8-of-13 from the line.  Marquis shot 2-of-3 from the field and was a steady 8-of-10 from the charity stripe to match her career-high 13 points.

“Alira shot the ball very well and at times I must admit she even amazes me,” said Woodin.  “Her teammates did a great job of finding her in transition and she has improved her game so much from a year ago.  Michelle played a gutsy game and it hurt us when she gets into foul trouble.  However, she delivered some clutch baskets down the stretch.  Jennifer played very consistent off the bench and has really improved her game over the past month.”

The Lady Jackets shot 26-of-45 from the field for 58 percent and were 11-of-18 from the perimeter for a sizzling 61 percent.  The Jackets were 26-of-36 from the line in the game for 72 percent.  The Yellowjackets out-rebounded the Cardinals 34-26.

Incarnate Word was 29-of-63 from the floor for 46 percent and a chilly 9-of-22 from 3-point range for 41 percent.  The shot 14-of-16 from the charity stripe for 88 percent and were able to convert 19 Yellowjacket turnovers into 23 points.

The Cardinals had three players score in double-figures and were led by Torru’s 24 points.  Torru was 9-of-23 from the field and 4-of-10 from long range.  She also grabbed five boards in the game.  Sledge was a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe netting 19 points while Farriel added 13 points and five rebounds.

“Tomorrow will be very tough,” added Woodin.  “It is hard for both teams to play back to back games but we are looking forward to the challenge.  Hopefully our depth will play a key role in tomorrow’s game and we definitely need to enjoy it especially since we only have two more home games left.”

The Yellowjackets meet Incarnate Word for a regional game Sunday, January 28 at Alterowitz Gym.  Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.  Following Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, the Lady Jackets will play five road games before returning home to host University of Texas – Permian Basin on February 17.