Sharp Shooting Lifts Wildcats Past Jackets, 83-64

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BILLINGS, Mont. – Central Washington University used 49.2 percent shooting from the floor, including 6-of-15 from beyond the arc, to hand the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets their fourth straight loss Saturday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium, 83-64. The loss dropped the Yellowjackets to 9-9 on the season and 2-5 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

“I give Central Washington a lot of credit for their victory tonight,” Head Coach Kevin Woodin said. “Coach (Jeff) Whitney had them very well prepared and they out executed us on both ends. We failed to make some key stops over the final ten minutes and struggled with our open perimeter looks. Mandy Jacobs and Callie Kautzmann had solid games for us and I thought Rachel Hansen gave us some very good minutes off the bench.”

The first half saw Central control the ball inside and out, shooting 53.6 percent from the field, going 15-of-28, and knocking down 4-of-8 shots from deep. MSUB was able to keep pace by going 9-of-26 from the floor and shooting 70.0 percent from the line.

Kautzmann kept the Jackets close headed toward the break, scoring 10 points in the first half, going 4-of-7 from the field. Central, however, was able to push lead going into the locker rooms, leading at the half 34-28.

The Yellowjackets heated up in the second half, but were unable to close the gap on the Wildcats. MSUB shot 40.6 percent from the field but were just 4-of-14 from deep. CWU was able to extend the lead as the second half wore on, building a double digit lead.

Central Washington hit 19 free throws in the second half, as a majority came within the final two minutes. The Yellowjackets were unable to get the Wildcats lead back to single digits, dropping the 19 point decision.

Kautzmann ended the night with 20 points and seven rebounds to lead the Yellowjackets. Mandy Jacobs had one of her best performances of the season, dumping in 18 points, while Sarah McNamee scored 11 to round out players in double figures.

Central Washington got a game-high 24 points from Brittany Duerr, going 9-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the line. Sophie Russell and Sara Bergner combined to score 30 points and 11 boards, while Shaina Afoa had a game-high 12 rebounds. The win was the first for the Wildcats in Billings in the series history.

For the game, MSUB shot 37.9 percent from the field, including 30.4 percent from deep and 68.4 percent from the line. The Yellowjackets turned the ball over just 14 times and forced 19 Central turnovers in the game.