Yellowjackets Dominate Eagles on the Road, 68-41

Box Score

CHADRON, Neb. – In a game in which they never trailed, the Montana State Billings women’s basketball team dominated the Chadron State Eagles Sunday afternoon at Armstrong Gymnasium on the campus of Chadron State, 68-41. The Yellowjackets won their second consecutive game and wrapped-up the non-conference season.

“Any time you can go on the road and get a win, it’s big,” head coach Kevin Woodin said. “Our offense was very balanced today and was able to take care of the ball. The defensive communication today was tremendous which led to a lot of scoring opportunities.”

The Yellowjackets had four players in double figures, led by junior Kayla Ryan, scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Fellow junior, Callie Kautzmann, recorded career-highs with 14 rebounds and nine assists. Adding to the scoring with a career-high 12 points was Ashley Reed, while Mandy Jacobs scored 10 and Kalli Stanhoped chipped in 12.

“Kayla Ryan did a great job today with another double-double,” continued Woodin. “As a team we played a lot better than the past couple games. Melissa Porter and Ashley Reed both gave us solid minutes off the bench.”

MSUB started the game on a 9-0 run during the first five minutes, then took the lead to 21-9 after Reed knocked down a jumper in the paint with 10:36 to go in the half.

The Eagles were able to cut into the Yellowjackets deficit, getting the lead down to 10 with 4:04 to go, but Reed again hit a jumper at the 1:03 mark and knocked down a pair of free throws at the buzzer to give MSUB a 15 point lead at the half, 39-24.

The Yellowjackets only flexed their muscle more in the second half, building its largest lead of the game at 29, 60-31, with 9:09 to go when Ryan knocked down a jumper. The Yellowjackets maintained the lead the rest of the way, shooting 45.2 percent in the half and created nine Eagle turnovers.

For the game, MSUB went 27-of-61 from the field and were 10-of-12 from the free throw line. They turned the ball over just 13 times and outrebounded the Eagles 43-39. The Yellowjackets scored 18 points off of 18 turnovers and outscored the Eagles in the paint 28-20.

Chadron State (1-10) was led by Kaitlin Petri, scoring eight points and six rebounds. Coming into the game, Petri was averaging 18.1 points per game. Three other Eagles scored six points while Samantha Arkulari recorded six boards.

The Yellowjackets now turn their focus toward conference play. MSUB will have its conference opener on Thursday, January 7, at home against Saint Martin’s University. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.