Yellowjackets Bury Nanooks, 65-49

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Montana State Billings women’s basketball team rebounded from Thursday night’s setback, dominating the Nanooks of Alaska Fairbanks, 67-49, Saturday evening at the Patty Center. The Yellowjackets improved to 9-5 on the season and 2-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

“Tonight was a very good win for us,” said head coach Kevin Woodin. “We played a lot better as the game progressed. We had a slow start but were able to chip away and grab the lead at halftime. I thought the key to the game was the way we played in the second half. We played very well on the defensive end tonight and bounced back in a great way.”

The Yellowjackets had three players in double-figures, including Kayla Ryan, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 boards in 30 minutes of play. Sarah McNamee turned in 15 points and six boards, while Callie Kautzmann added 14 points, going 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.

The Jackets played from behind most of the first half, closing out on a 16-8 run to go in the locker room with a 31-28 lead.

MSUB carried momentum into the second half, jumping on the Nanooks with a 19-6 run to start the half, getting seven points from Ryan over that span.

The Yellowjackets built their largest lead of the game to 24 with 4:53 remaining when Rachel Hansen dropped in two of her six points in the paint. The Jackets would run out the remainder of the clock for the 18 point victory.

MSUB created 23 turnovers while turning the ball over just 14 times after turning it over a season-high 34 times Thursday night. The Yellowjackets shot 39.0 percent from the field including 31.8 percent from deep. UAF out rebounded the Jackets 42-41, but MSUB outscored the Nanooks in the paint, 22-10 and off the bench, 12-9.

UAF was led by Lakeshia Levi, scoring 16 points and 12 boards. UAF shot 33.3 percent from the floor and just 18.8 percent from the three-point arc.  

The Yellowjackets return to the road next Thursday night, traveling to Seattle to take on the 21st ranked Falcons of Seattle Pacific University. The tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Royal Brougham Pavilion and can be seen through the Seattle Pacific website.