Women's Basketball - Weekly Release - December 3, 2008

Complete Release

THIS WEEK:  Montana State Billings returns home for a single game this week.  Saturday, Dec. 6, the Yellowjackets will take on Metro State.  The game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.

METRO STATE:  The Roadrunners are 1-4 on the season coming off a 71-62 win over Lewis, Nov. 29.  Megan Sinclair leads the team in scoring with 10.8 points a game.  Chelsea Williamson has had the hot hand shooting 57.1% from the floor and 55.6% from behind the arc.

Jasmine Cervantes is the quarterback of MSU with 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game.  The Yellowjackets lead the series 13-4.  MSUB won the last meeting 87-62 in Denver on December 2, 2005.

PROBABLE STARTERS

MSUB (3-2)
G -     Alira Carpenter (5-8/Sr.)
          27.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 47.2%FG, 88.6% FT
G -     Shantell Marquis (5-10/Jr.)
          10.3 PPG, 6.5 APG, 3.75 SPG, 87.5% FT
G -     Jetton Meadors (5-8/Sr.)
          8.2 PPG, 3.2 APG, 52.2% FG
F -     Kayla Ryan (6-1/So.)
          10.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG
F -     Jen Smith (5-10/Sr.)
          10 PPG, 7.8 RPG

METRO STATE (1-4)
G -     Jasmine Cervantes (5-8/Fr.)
          9.5 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.1 SPG, 55.6% FG
G -     Chelsea Williamson (5-9/Jr.)
          10.2 PPG, 57.1% FG, 55.6% 3PT
G -     Leandra Sands (5-4/Jr.)
          5.2 PPG
F -     Chelsea LeFebre (6-0/So.)
          6.2 PPG, 63.6% FG
F -     Megan Sinclair (5-11/Sr.)
          10.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.0 APG

COACH WOODIN’S COMMENTS:  “We are looking forward to playing Metro State.  They are a perennial power in the RMAC.  It should be a great test for us as we play them twice this month.”

LAST WEEK:  Montana State Billings pulled off a split at the University of Mary Classic, Nov. 28-29 in Bismarck, N.D.  Friday, Nov. 28, the Yellowjackets held off a last minute rally to beat Minnesota-Crookston 93-81.  The Golden Eagles rallied from 18 down to close the gap to five with just under six minutes to play.  MSUB then hit free throws to pull it out.

Alira Carpenter hit for 30 points while Shantelle Marquis had 13 points, nine assists and three steals.  Kayla Ryan scored 14 points and Jen Smith added 11.

Despite a record breaking performance, MSUB fell 84-73 to Mary, Saturday, Nov. 29.  The Jackets made several runs in the second half but precision free throw shooting by the Marauders pull the win out. 

Carpenter tie a school and GNAC record by hitting 16 free throws in the contest.  She would finish 16-of-17 from the line and score 31 points.  Marquis added nine points.

QUEST FOR #1:  Alira Carpenter already has two career records under her belt and is looking at a third.  She needs 86 points to pass Tera Silvius (1992-95) as the all-time leading scorer.  Carpenter is currently fourth with 1535 points. She hold the records for three-pointers made (226) and attempted (557).  Carpenter is also taking aim at field goals made (546) and attempted (1270).  She needs 135 and 120 respectively.

THE 400 CLUB:  Jen Smith is closing in on joining the 400 club.  No it is not any kind of social group.  She needs seven rebounds to become the 21st Yellowjacket to pull down 400 career boards.

NO LOVE FOR COLORADO:  The last time a team from Colorado beat MSUB at home?  Let’s say George Bush was President of the U.S.  Senior that is.  On Feb. 24, 1990, Denver beat the Jackets 66-65.  Since then, the Yellowjackets have won nine straight games against Colorado opponents.

GNAC POLL:  Montana State Billings received 37 points to place sixth in the GNAC Pre-Season Poll.  Complete poll is below.
1.    Alaska Anchorage (8)                                86
2.    Seattle Pacific (1)                                       67
3.    Northwest Nazarene                                  65
4.    Western Washington                                  55
5.    Saint Martin’s                                             40
6.    Montana State Billings                              37
7.    Central Washington                                   28
8.    Western Oregon                                          22
9.    Alaska Fairbanks                                       17

80 IS GOOD:  Montana State Billings does not fear 80.  In fact, we embrace it.  In the history of women’s basketball, 100 times the Yellowjackets have scored 80+ points at home and have never lost.  Yes you heard me correctly.  MSUB is 100-0 when scoring at least 80 points in Alterowitz Gym.

COUNTDOWN TO 100:  Kevin Woodin is on track to becoming the third coach in school history to win 100 games.  He is currently the third winningest coach in terms of victories with 75.  Woodin trails Frank McCarthy (191) and Ted Anderson (102).

LITTLE MISS CHARITY:  We’ll just call Alira Carpenter, Little Miss Charity.  She is 39-of-44 from the line this season and has hit 21 of her last 22 attempts.  Against Mary on Nov. 29, she tied the school and GNAC record by making 16 free throws.

ONE FOR 600:  Montana State Billings is closing in on a milestone.  The Yellowjackets are just one win away from 600 career victories.

THIS WEEK IN MSUB HISTORY:
Dec. 4-5, 1987 - The Yellowjackets beat Lewis & Clark 72-53 and Carroll 70-48 to win the EMC Tip-Off.

Defensively, the Yellowjackets held their opponents 70 50.5 points per game and just 26.7% shooting from the floor.

Becky Mateja was named the MVP averaging 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and two steals while shooting 50% (12-24) from the floor.  Joining her on the all-tournament team was Mary Anderson and Evonne Goroski.