Yellowjackets Look to End 2009 on Winning Note against Rocky

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Montana State Billings is coming off of the holiday break looking to snap a two game losing skid that also includes losses in four of the last five contests. On tap is the 70th meeting between the Yellowjackets and the cross-town rival Rocky Mountain Battlin’ Bears. MSUB also finishes its home non-conference schedule with the game.

The Yellowjackets enter the contest with a 5-4 record overall after dropping an 89-64 decision at Metro State before the Christmas holiday. This is the second time these two teams have seen each other this season as the two squared off in an exhibition contest for MSUB (a counter for Rocky) on Nov. 10 at the Fortin Center. The Yellowjackets dropped the Bears 87-75, eventually pulling away down the stretch. The Bears have taken some hits this season, dropping their first eight games of the season, but have won two of the last three.

Looking back at the Metro State game on Dec. 19, the Yellowjackets would like nothing better than to put that game as far back in the memory bank as possible. MSUB shot a season-low 0-for-14 behind the three-point line and were 11-of-32 in the second half from the floor. The Roadrunners had put the game well out of reach going into the half, using a 22-7 run to take a 43-28 lead into the halftime break. On the positive side of things, junior Kayla Ryan turned in one of her best performances of the season and her career. Ryan scored a career-high 25 points and tied her season-high of 12 rebounds. With those numbers she recorded her team-leading seventh double-double of the season. Ryan was 8-of-10 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Callie Kautzmann chipped in with 17 points, while Sarah McNamee scored 14 with five assists and three steals.

Rocky Mountain College is currently led in scoring by Tana Stewart who is scoring 11.8 points per game and pulling down 7.0 rebounds per game. Dani Henderson is leading the team in rebounds with 7.4 per game, while Molly Schenderline has been adding 9.6 points per game in the scoring department. As a team, RMC is averaging 65.0 points per game and are being out rebounded by their opponents, 40.8 to 36.1 per game. Rocky is shooting 38 percent from the field and are 66.3 percent from the charity stripe on the season.

Montana State Billings leads the overall series against their cross-town rival with 55 wins against just 14 losses. The Yellowjackets are a dominating 32-5 at Alterowitz Gymnasium and are a stout 22-8 at the Fortin Center on the Rocky campus. In neutral site games, the teams are even at 1-1. The Yellowjackets have ten straight against the Battlin’ Bears, including 26 of the last 28 games. MSUB has not lost to Rocky since Jan. 7, 1998, a 78-67 loss at Rocky. RMC hasn’t beaten the ‘Jackets at Alterowitz since Jan. 13, 1982, 63-57 in double overtime.

Theme Night
The theme for tonight’s game is Realtors night while the game is being sponsored by Fun Foto. All Billings area realtors get free admission with their business cards. All theme nights can be viewed by clicking on the theme night tab located on the left hand side of the athletics webpage.

On the National Scene
As a team, the Yellowjackets are in the top-25 of four statistical categories in the nation out of 300 Division II teams. MSUB ranks 16th in rebounding margin with an 8.4 advantage over its opponents, and in assists, the Yellowjackets are ranked 20th, dishing out 18.6 per game. MSUB is 12th in fewest turnovers with 14.4 per game and rank in the top-ten in assist/turnover ratio at sixth with 1.29 per contest.

Thriving on the Three
MSUB has done its fare share of shooting the three-ball this season. After the record setting performance against UC-Colorado Springs on Nov. 15, MSUB has outshot the opponent from beyond the arc 61-43 and are shooting close to 30.0 percent from deep. The Yellowjackets have gone slightly cold from deep in the past few games, going 2-for-28 in two games.

New Year’s Resolution
The Yellowjackets are looking to send off 2009 with a victory. Even so, MSUB will suffer its second losing record in the month of December for only the second time in six seasons. In the past five seasons, MSUB has a 22-5 record in the month of December. During that stretch, 2007-08 was the only year the ‘Jackets suffered a losing record, 2-3.

Double Dip
Junior center, Kayla Ryan, has turned up her production since the beginning of the season.  Ryan has recorded six double-doubles in the first nine games of the season and  is close to averaging a double-double on the year with 15.6 points per game and 9.7 boards. Ryan has also scored in double figures in seven of the nine contests this season.

Milestone Watch