Yellowjackets Back on Road against Nationally Ranked Falcons

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Back on the winning track since defeating Alaska Fairbanks at the Patty Center last Saturday evening, Montana State Billings heads to Seattle for an important matchup against the 18th ranked Falcons of Seattle Pacific University. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at Royal Brougham Pavilion in Seattle and can be seen through webcast via the SPU website. There will also be live stats available through the website.

The Yellowjackets (9-5, 2-1) enter their contest with Seattle Pacific after earning a split on the Alaska road trip. The Jackets fell to then, 12th ranked Alaska Anchorage, 85-63 despite out shooting the Seawolves in the game.

MSUB rebounded on Saturday night with a 67-49 drubbing of Alaska Fairbanks to earn their second victory of the season in GNAC play. The Yellowjackets took the lead for good with just over three minutes to play in the first half when Callie Kautzmann hit a runner in the paint to put MSUB up 24-22.

MSUB led by three, 31-28, at the half and continued to pour on the offense in the second half, building their largest lead of 24 with 4:53 to play. The Jackets rolled the rest of the way, winning by 18 and earning the Alaska split.

Kayla Ryan led the way with 16 points and 13 boards while Sarah McNamee chipped in 15 points of her own. The Jackets outscored the Nanooks in the paint, 22-10, and turned 23 turnovers into 16 points. Off the bench, MSUB outscored UAF 12-9 as the lead changed three times.

Seattle Pacific (12-2, 3-0) enters the contest as one of the hottest teams in the GNAC, winning a pair of games last week over Saint Martin’s (80-54) and Northwest Nazarene (63-61). The Falcons jumped three spots in this week’s USA Today/ESPN D-II Coaches Poll to number 18 after the wins.

Daesha Henderson leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game with 40 assists and 40 steals. Megan Hoisington leads the team in rebounds with 8.9 per game and is averaging 10.4 points a game.
Entering Thursday’s contest, Seattle Pacific holds a slight edge in the series history against the Yellowjackets, leading 18-14. The Falcons have beatin the Jackets in eight consecutive games including all of their GNAC matchups. MSUB is just 3-14 at Brougham Pavilion and last won there on Feb. 10, 1996, 83-72. The Jackets are 10-3 in Billings and 1-1 on a neutral court. The last victory for MSUB was Jan. 6, 2001, 83-72, at Alterowitz.

Following Thursday’s contest, the Yellowjackets wrap-up their road trip in Nampa, ID on Saturday, taking on the Crusaders of Northwest Nazarene at 7 p.m.

Air Miles
The Yellowjackets are in the midst of their longest stretch of road games this season, four in two weeks. Paired with the SPU matchup, MSUB travels to Nampa, ID to take on Northwest Nazarene. The Yellowjackets will return next week against Western and Central Washignton.

Charity Seekers
Callie Kautzmann and Kayla Ryan have both taken advantage of their free throws this season. The duo are one and two in the GNAC in free throw percentage as Kautzmann is 10th in the nation, making 89.7 percent, as Ryan is 13th nationally, converting 88.5 percent

Off the Bench
With the amount of injuries this season, coach Woodin has looked to his bench for solid play, enter Ashley Reed. The freshman is converting 58.0 percent of her shots from the floor, going 29-of-50. She also averages 3.6 boards per game in her 15.1 minutes

Playing with a Lead
MSUB has been quite comfortable when playing with a lead this season. The Jackets are 8-0 in games when they’ve led with five minutes remaining in the game. When leading at the half, MSUB is 8-1.

You Can Have It
The Yellowjackets are 5-1 this season when losing the opening tip. If they win the tip, the Jackets are just 4-4 this season.

You Can Have It
The Yellowjackets are 5-1 this season when losing the opening tip. If they win the tip, the Jackets are just 4-4 this season.

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