Yellowjackets Drop Tough 64-60 Decision to Wildcats 

Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State Billings women’s basketball team wrapped-up the 2009-10 season with a 64-60 defeat at the hands of the Central Washington Wildcats on Saturday evening in Ellensburg. The Yellowjackets finished the season 11-16 overall and 4-12 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

“Central Washington did a great job of controlling the ball tonight,” said head coach Kevin Woodin. “They were able to get to the free throw a little bit more than we were and I think that’s where the game was won. Kayla Ryan and Rachel Hansen both had great game tonight and gave us quality minutes in the game. It hurt that Callie Kautzmann was unable to play tonight, but I’m proud of the team sticking through the season and working very hard as the season progressed.”

Ryan led the Yellowjackets with a career-high 18 rebounds and seven points in the loss. Hansen also had a career-high with 14 points, while three other players scored in double figures. Sarah McNamee had a team-high 16 points, while Mandy Jacobs and Kalli Stanhope scored 10 and 11 points, respectively.

The Yellowjackets shot 38.3 percent from the field including shooting 40.9 percent from the three point line. MSUB was 50.0 percent from the free throw line, making just five free throws compared to the 18 by Central Washington.

Sophie Russell scored 20 points to lead the Wildcats, grabbing five boards as Sara Bergner and Shaina Afoa combined to score 29 points and nine rebounds in the game.

As a team, the Wildcats (7-19, 4-12) shot 36.4 percent from the field and were 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Wildcats were 90.0 percent from the line and managed to pull out the win despite being outrebounded 48-26 overall by the Jackets.

MSUB turned the ball over 27 times in the game, leading to 17 Wildcat points, while forcing just 13 turnovers. The Yellowjackets were outscored in the paint, 20-18 and on the bench, 7-2. The Yellowjackets managed to top the Wildcats in second chance points, 16-5.

The game concluded the 2009-10 season for the Yellowjackets as MSUB will return all but one player from this years’ squad for next season.