Second Half Surge Propels ‘Jackets in Rout over Rocky, 78-58

Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings women’s basketball team used 55 second half points, including going 9-of-16 from beyond the arc, to dominate cross-town rival, Rocky Mountain College, 78-58 on Wednesday evening at Alterowitz Gymnasium. The Yellowjackets improved to 6-4 on the season and snapped a two game losing skid in the process.

“Rocky is always a fun game for our players to be in,” said head coach Kevin Woodin. “Both teams played extremely hard, and you could definitely see the results of a long break for both teams. This was a much needed win for our team. With both of our seniors injured, I am proud of our team for how they are responding.”

Five players scored in double figures as Sarah McNamee led the way for the Yellowjackets, scoring 17 points, four boards and four assists. Callie Kautzmann had one of her best performances of the season with a double-double, scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes.

After an ugly first half performance that saw both teams struggle from the field, MSUB opened the second half on a 12-2 run to go up by seven, 35-28. During the run, Kalli Stanhope hit three of her 12 points, which gave the Yellowjackets the lead for good.

The Battlin’ Bears cut the ‘Jackets lead back down to four, 41-37, when Molly Schenderline drove to the rack and laid-in two of her game-high 20 points at the 12:53 mark.

At the 6:49 mark, junior Mandy Jacobs knocked down a deep three from the left wing to extend the Yellowjackets lead back to nine, 59-50. From there, MSUB closed out the game on a 19-8 run and extended its largest lead of the game to 22, 78-56.

Kayla Ryan, who had scored a double-double in six of the nine games this season, narrowly missed her seventh, finishing the game with 14 points and eight rebounds.

“Offensively, we moved the ball much better in the second half,” Woodin said. “It was nice to see a few shots go in. We attacked the glass better in the second half on both ends and made some critical free throws down the stretch.”

The Yellowjackets shot 40.3 percent from the field during the game, but were 52.8 percent in the second half, including 56.3 percent from deep and a perfect 8-of-8 from the line.

MSUB out rebounded Rocky 49-38 during the game, including 30 defensive rebounds and were able to created21 RMC turnovers. Despite the win, MSUB was outscored off the bench 21-5 and were outscored in the paint, 30-26.

Rocky Mountain College (2-10) was led by Schenderline’s 20 points and seven rebounds. Jennifer Orchard and Adrienne Green both chipped in eight points apiece. Rocky shot 35.4 percent from the field and were just 15.0 percent from three point distance.