Yellowjackets Look Pretty in Pink

Box Score

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BILLINGS, Mont.– The programs and stats were printed on pink paper, the workers wore pink shirts and shoelaces and even the players were wearing pink uniforms. In the end, Montana State Billings was feeling pretty in pink with a 67-62 win over Western Washington. Tonight’s game was part of the WBCA Pink Zone promotion to battle breast cancer. MSUB remains at home, Saturday, Feb. 21 to take on Central Washington. The game is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.

Montana State Billings came out of the gates like it was the Kentucky Derby. Willow Cabe drove the lane and scored 17 seconds into the game. Jen Smith countered twenty seconds later by banking in a triple.

After that the Yellowjackets were off and running. Alira Carpenter dropped in a long range bomb to make it 15 unanswered points. That put the score at 17-2 in favor of the Jackets at the 12:23 mark.

“We played really well at the start of the game,” said head coach Kevin Woodin. “Our team defense was excellent. Because of that, we were able to get our transition game going.”

Western Washington came back with a run of its own. Liz McCarrell hit two free throws followed by buckets from Amanda Dunbar and Jessica Summers. All of a sudden, the Vikings were down nine, 17-8 with 11:09 to go.

Kayla Ryan drove the lane and scored off a no look pass from Shantell Marquis. MSUB was on top by 12 with 6:50 to go. WWU came back with three buckets to cut the margin to six, 26-20 at the 4:56 mark.

Montana State Billings pushed the lead to eight, 30-22 with 2:28 to go. The Vikings countered with a triple by Dunbar and a jumper from India Soo. That made it a three point game with 1:55 to go.

Smith banked in another trifecta to go back up by six. WWU got buckets from Soo and Claire Pallansch to make it 33-31, MSUB at the half. The Vikings outscored the Yellowjackets 9-3 over the last two minutes of the half.

“I thought we struggled late in the half with our passing,” said coach Woodin. “Western does a great job of defending you.”

Western Washington came out in the second half reenergized. Pallansch drove around the defenders and scored to tie the game at 33 with 19:10 left. Carpenter hit a charity toss but missed the second.

The Vikings grabbed the board and got a lay-up from Dunbar. That gave WWU its first lead of the game since the 19:43 mark of the first half. Thirty seconds later, Carpenter hit a jumper to make it 36-35, MSUB with 16:44 to go.

Marelle Moehrle hit a driving lay-up with 13:50 to go to make it 41-37. Montana State Billings called time to settle themselves down. After the time out, Carpenter hit three free throws, Jen Smith had a jumper and Ryan nailed a 10-footer.

“Coach Visger did a great job of talking to the team,” said coach Woodin. “She told them they needed to play to win rather than being afraid of losing. They responded appropriately.”

MSUB had scored seven straight points and now led by 11, 48-37 with 10:12 left in the game. Western Washington could never get closer than eight points until they hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds left.

“My assistant coaches and players did a great job of preparing for this game,” said coach Woodin. “Alira made some key shots and Kayla was tough all night. Shantell created a lot of things for us and played solidly. Jen and Jetton (Meadors) were defensive leaders as usual. Western is a great team and this was an important win for us.”

For Montana State Billings (5-6 GNAC, 13-10), Carpenter had 24 points, two steals and shot 8-of-15 from the floor while Ryan had 17 points, eight rebounds and blocked three shots. Smith had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Marquis had 11 assists eight rebounds and five steals.

For Western Washington (7-4 GNAC, 15-7), Dunbar had 18 points while Pallansch and Moehrle scored eight points each.