January 3, 2008
 

Seawolves Escape Lady Yellowjacket Attack
   Box Score
   MSUB Season Stats

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Montana State Billings women’s basketball team narrowly missed handing No. 7 nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage an upset Thursday night, but the Seawolves were able to hold on for the 68-66 conference win.

Through the first half of play the Seawolves held a 44-31 advantage over the Lady Yellowjackets heading into the locker room.  By the 16-minute mark of the second half, UAA had stretched their lead to 18 in what seemed like a sure victory.  With 12:25 to play the Jackets’ Jetton Meadors (Billings) drilled a 3-pointer to spark a 12-2 run that brought the Lady Jackets within one possession of the lead.  

Handing buckets back and forth in desperation for the important conference win, the Jackets and Wolves fought spiritedly.  Despite three Yellowjacket three-pointers in the final three minutes of play, the Seawolves held on for the nail-biting win.

The Lady Jackets’ Alira Carpenter (Lewistown) put on a scoring clinic for the fans netting a game-high 26 points.  Carpenter shot 9-of-15 from the floor and connected on a game-high 6-of-9 from long range.  Shantell Marquis (Cascade) tallied 16 points, tying her career-high.  Marquis was 6-of-11 from the field and matched her career-high from the perimeter draining three 3-pointers.  She handed out a game-high eight assists.

The team’s 14 three-pointers ranks third in the record books for most threes scored in a single game.  Overall, the Lady Jackets shot 24-of-52 from the floor for 46 percent, while the team was a blistering 52 percent from behind the arc.  The Yellowjackets were out-rebounded 38-23 in the game.

Three Seawolves scored in double figures and were led by Rebecca Kielpinski’s 14 points.  Kielpinski pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.  Teammates Dekel and Ashley Thompson netted 11 and 12 points respectively.

The Wolves were 26-of-53 from the field and were a very efficient 11-of-17 from the perimeter for 65 percent.  The team made 11 steals in the game.

The Lady Yellowjackets remain in Alaska for a conference game against the University of Alaska-Fairbanks on Saturday, January 5.  Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. AST.  Live stats for the game can be found by accessing the Nanooks website.