Three Yellowjackets Receive NCAA Scholarships

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State University Billings student-athletes, Alira Carpenter (women’s basketball), Jessica Lechner (volleyball) and Jen Smith (women’s basketball), have been awarded NCAA Division II Degree Completion Scholarships.  The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who have exhausted athletic eligibility, but have a few credits left to complete their degrees.

Carpenter, a molecular biology major, finished the 2008-09 season averaging 22.3 points and 3.6 rebounds a game while shooting 43.8% from the floor, 43.1% from 3-point range and 88.3% from the line.  She was named to the All-GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) first team, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Region 7 first team, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American third team and State Farm Coaches and NCAA DII Bulletin all-American teams.  Against Alaska Anchorage on Mar. 7, Carpenter became the fourth female collegiate player in the state of Montana to score 2000 in a career.  She finished ranked among the top 25 in NCAA Division II in four categories; scoring (8th), three-pointers made per game (13th – 2.90), free throw percentage (17th) and three-point percentage (21st).

Carpenter leaves Montana State Billings with her name all over the record book.  She is the all-time leader in points (2000), field goals made (700), field goals attempted (1628), three-pointers made (294), three-pointers attempted (712) and free throw percentage (86.2%).  In addition Carpenter ranks among the top 10 in three-point percentage (2nd – 41.3%), free throws made (4th – 306), games played (5th – 113) and free throws attempted (9th – 355).  She won the Little Sullivan Award, awarded to the top male and female amateur athlete in the state of Montana.

Lechner, a math education major, led the squad in 2008 in total blocks with 66.  She finished her career third in games played with 416 and ranked among the top 10 in hitting percentage, block assists and total blocks.  Lechner earned academic all-conference honors in each of her last three seasons.

Smith, a health and human performance and elementary education major, finished the 2008-09 season averaging 9.4 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.  She ranked among the top 10 in the GNAC in rebounding and ended her career as one of only 17 players to record 500 career rebounds.  Smith earned academic all-conference honors in each of her last three years.