2007-2008 Women's Basketball Weekly Release #6 (January 7)

This Week's Schedule

Click HERE for live stats of both Thursday and Saturday's games.

Week in Review

The Lady Jackets made their debut in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a pair of games in Alaska over the weekend.  MSUB split the pair taking a 60-51 come-from-behind win over the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  The Jackets fell 68-66 against No. 7 ranked University of Alaska Anchorage in game one.

Through the first half of play the Seawolves held a 44-31 advantage over the Lady Yellowjackets heading into the locker room.  By the 16-minute mark of the second half, UAA had stretched their lead to 18 in what seemed like a sure victory.  With 12:25 to play the Jackets’ Jetton Meadors (Billings) drilled a 3-pointer to spark a 12-2 run that brought the Lady Jackets within one possession of the lead.  

Handing buckets back and forth in desperation for the important conference win, the Jackets and Wolves fought spiritedly.  Despite three Yellowjacket three-pointers in the final three minutes of play, the Seawolves held on for the nail-biting win.

The Lady Jackets’ Alira Carpenter (Lewistown) put on a scoring clinic for the fans netting a game-high 26 points.  Carpenter shot 9-of-15 from the floor and connected on a game-high 6-of-9 from long range.  Shantell Marquis (Cascade) tallied 16 points, tying her career-high.  Marquis was 6-of-11 from the field and matched her career-high from the perimeter draining three 3-pointers.  She handed out a game-high eight assists.

The team’s 14 three-pointers ranks third in the record books for most threes scored in a single game.  Overall, the Lady Jackets shot 24-of-52 from the floor for 46 percent, while the team was a blistering 52 percent from behind the arc.  The Yellowjackets were out-rebounded 38-23 in the game.

On Saturday the Nanooks jumped out to a quick start over the Lady Yellowjackets, leading by six with 4:08 to play.  Back-to-back free throws by Alira Carpenter (Lewistown) brought UAF within four, and with less than three minutes left on the clock, Kayla McPherson (Glendive) hit a pair of free throws and a duo of three-pointers to catapult the Jackets into the lead.  MSUB held a 27-24 edge at the buzzer.

UAF came out of the gate on fire in the second half retaking the lead by five at the 14-minute mark, but four Yellowjacket 3-pointers in a span of 2:15 put the Jackets up by nine giving them a lead they would never relinquish.  MSUB went on an 18-0 run midway through the half icing the important conference win by nine as time expired.

Carpenter led all scorers netting 27 points on 10-of-23 shooting from the floor.  Carpenter hit three 3-pointers, all coming in the second half, and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.  McPherson tallied 13 points off 4-of-8 shooting.  Draining three very timely three-pointers for the Jackets in the game, McPherson increased her career 3-point total to 98 ranking her in the top ten in Yellowjacket history.  Dani Henderson (Reed Point) posted a solid showing for the Jackets chipping in 11 points.  Henderson also had five rebounds in the game.

As a team the Yellowjackets shot 23-of-61 from the floor for 38 percent and connected on just 6-of-22 from behind the arc for 37 percent.  The team was 8-of-11 from the line and outrebounded the Nanooks 40-37.

Yellowjacket Tidbits:
Several Lady Yellowjackets are making a name for themselves in the Yellowjacket record books as well as in the conference and the NCAA statistical rankings...Alira Carpenter ranks 53rd in the nation for points per game (17.7), 37th for three-point percentage (44.7), 15th for free throw percentage (91.3) and 11th for three-pointers per game (3.2)...Shantell Marquis ranks 53rd in the nation for steals per game (2.9)...As a team, the Yellowjackets rank 99th in the nation for three-point percentage (33.2), 62nd for free throw percentage (72.0), and are 39th for three-pointers per game (6.7)...All NCAA rankings are through games as of 12/16/07...In the GNAC Carpenter continues to lead all scorers averaging 19.2 points per game and those from the perimeter with 3.18 three-pointers per game...Carpenter also ranks fifth in free throw percentage with 0.833...Marquis ranks sixth in the conference for assists per game (3.82) and first for steals with 2.82 per game...Dani Henderson ranks 14th in the GNAC for rebounds pulling down 5.8 boards per game...Kayla McPherson also holds her mark in the conference ranking 12th for three-pointers averaging 1.40 per game...The squad is heating up the Yellowjacket record books and are led by Carpenter's 1.069 points that currently ranks her 18th in school history...Carpenter needs just 47 points to overtake former teammate Michelle Lieber who scored 1,115 points in three seasons...Carpenter is ranked 4th for career three-pointers with 168...she is just four three's shy of breaking into the top three in Yellowjacket history...McPherson, who just moved into 10th for career three's, needs five more to tie for 9th with Teri Silvius...Silvius, who played from 1991-1995 still holds the record for career points scored (1,630)...Marquis has tallied 104 career steals, ranking her 11th....Two more steals for Marquis will move her into the top 10.

From the GNAC:
Division II Games: Seattle Pacific 10-0,  Central Washington 8-0, Alaska Anchorage 9-1, Seattle 7-1, Alaska Fairbanks 7-3, Northwest Nazarene 5-3, Saint Martin’s 5-3, MSU Billings 3-7, Western Oregon 2-6, Western Washington 3-10. 

West Region Games: Seattle Pacific 8-0, Central Washington 6-0, Alaska Anchorage 6-0, Seattle 7-1, Saint Martin’s 5-2, Northwest Nazarene 5-3, Alaska Fairbanks 4-3, *MSU Billings 3-5, Western Oregon 2-6, Western Washington 2-8.   (*MSUB region record includes games against schools in states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Western New Mexico and Colorado).

LAST WEEK: Monday   – College of Idaho 64 at Northwest Nazarene 79. Thursday – MSU Billings 66 at Alaska Anchorage 68; Seattle 75 at Alaska Fairbanks 57; Northwest Nazarene 84 at Western Oregon 71; Seattle Pacific 79 at Saint Martin's 52.  Saturday – Seattle 44 at Alaska Anchorage 69; MSU Billings 60 at Alaska Fairbanks 51; Central Washington 86 at Western Washington 69; Northwest Nazarene 51 at Saint Martin's 73; Seattle Pacific 73 at Western Oregon 56.

THIS WEEK: Thursday – Alaska Anchorage at Northwest Nazarene; Alaska Fairbanks at Seattle Pacific; Central Washington at MSU Billings, 5:30 p.m.; Western Washington at Seattle, 5:30 p.m.  Saturday – Alaska Anchorage at Seattle Pacific; Alaska Fairbanks at Northwest Nazarene; Central Washington at Seattle, 5 p.m.; Western Washington at MSU Billings, 5 p.m.; Western Oregon at Saint Martin's.

POLLS: WBCA (Jan. 1) - 7. Alaska Anchorage; 8. Seattle Pacific; 47. Central Washington.  NCAA West Region – The first NCAA West Region weekly poll will be released Wednesday, Jan. 30.  GNAC Coaches Pre-Season: 1. Seattle Pacific (5) 99; 2. Alaska Anchorage  (4) 95; 3. Western Washington (1) 80; 4. Seattle 71; 5. Northwest Nazarene 57; 6. Montana State Billings 56; 7. Central Washington 43; 8. Saint Martin's 24; 9. Western Oregon and Alaska Fairbanks 19. (Note: First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 11-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.).

ALL-TOURNAMENT:  Notre Dame (Nov. 16-17) – Shayla Corder, WOU. UAA Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 20-21) – Rebecca Kielpinski, UAA (MVP); Maria Nilsson, UAA; Kalhie Quinones, UAA.  Western Washington  (Nov. 23-24) – India Soo, WWU; Tara Holgate, WWU; Jamey Gelhar, SMU.  Northwest Nazarene (Nov. 23-24) – Jennifer Williams, NNU; Kristin Hein, NNU; Leada Berkey, WOU. UAA Glacier Classic (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) – Maria Nilsson, UAA (MVP); Dasha Basova, UAA; Rebecca Kielpinski, UAA; Cristina Bruketta, UAF; Sarah Herrin, UAA.  Seattle Pacific (Dec. 7-8) – Beth Christensen, SPU (MVP); Libby Magnuson, SPU; Kelsey Hill, SPU; Amanda Dunbar, WWU.   Western Oregon (Dec. 21-22) -  Kassie Ludeman, SMU (MVP); Amber Harmon, SMU; Leada Berkey, WOU; Katie Torland, WOU.  UC San Diego (Dec. 28-29) – Jackie Hollands, SPU (MVP); Kelsey Hill, SPU; Beth Christensen, SPU; India Soo, WWU.  Sonoma State (Dec. 28-29) – Alira Carpenter, MSUB.

DOUBLE DOUBLES: 6 – Kristin Hein, NNU.  3 – Claire Pallansch, WWU; Rebecca Kielpinski, UAA; Kelsey Hill, UAA.  2 – Five with.  1 – Ten with.

GNAC PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK: Alira Carpenter, Montana State Billings (G, 5-8, Jr., Lewiston, MT – Fergus County) scored 53 points as the Yellowjackets had two second-half comebacks in Alaska.  Carpenter had 27 points against Alaska Fairbanks including 11 in a 18-0 run as MSUB rallied for a 60-51 win.  She netted 26 points against Alaska Anchorage, including 10 in the second half when the ‘Jacks rallied from a 49-31 deficit before losing by two. In the two games, Carpenter accounted for 42 percent of MSUB’s point total, making 19 of 38 shots, nine of 20 from the arc.  She also converted all six of her foul shots.

HONORABLE MENTION:  Ashley Thompson, Alaska Anchorage (F, 5-10, Jr., McCammon, ID – Marsh Valley) scored 24 points, including two key baskets in the final two minutes as the Seawolves kept alive their home winning streak with a two-point win over Montana State Billings.  She made nine of 13 shots in two games, scoring 12 against the Yellowjackets and 12 against Seattle University.  She made three of four three-pointers and had eight rebounds. . .Kelsey Hill, Seattle Pacific (C, 6-2, Jr., Portland, OR – Portland Christian) made nine of 12 shots and had 15 rebounds to lead the Falcons to their 10^th and 11^th wins in a row.  Hill had 19 points in the two contests. . .Kassie Ludeman, Saint Martin’s (F, 6-2, Sr., Waterville, WA) led the Saints to a home split with 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.  Ludeman made 13 of 23 shots.  She also had two blocks.

AROUND THE GNAC:  Hanna Hull of Central Washington became the 29^th member of the GNAC 1000-Point Club Saturday scoring 10 to increase her total to 1,007 in a 86-69 win over Western Washington. . .The next in line to reach that coveted total are Kari Reabold of Alaska Fairbanks and Laina Sobczak of Seattle University, who have 944 and 921, respectively.  Rebecca Kielpinski of Alaska Anchorage needs 13 more rebounds to become the ninth player to reach 700 in that category.

NON-CONFERENCE RECORDS: Through the non-conference portion of the schedule, this season has been the most successful in GNAC history.  GNAC teams posted a conference-record .723 winning percentage.  Three teams completed their non-conference schedule unbeaten.  Only three  teams in GNAC history – Seattle Pacific in 2002-03 and 2003-04 and Alaska Anchorage in 2006-07 – had previously accomplished that feat. . Conference teams ended up 50-25 record in Division II games and 37-17 in West Region games (21-0 against the PacWest, 16-17 against the CCAA).

AGAINST THE WEST REGION: GNAC (16) vs. CCAA (17)  - SPU 5-0, CWU 2-0, Seattle 1-0, SMU 2-1, NNU 3-2, WOU 2-4, WWU 1-7, UAF 0-1, MSU Billings 0-2.   GNAC (21) vs. PacWest  (0) -  Seattle 5-0, UAA 4-0, UAF 4-0, CWU 3-0, SMU 2-0, SPU 1-0, NNU 1-0, WWU 1-0.  CCAA (17) vs. GNAC (16) -  CSU Dominguez Hills 1-0, Chico State 4-1, Sonoma State 2-1, CSU San Bernardino 2-1, UC San Diego 3-2, Cal Poly Pomona 2-2, San Francisco State 1-2, CSU Stanislaus 1-2, Humboldt State 1-3, CSU Monterey Bay 0-2.  PacWest (0) vs. GNAC (21)  -  Dixie State 0-2, Hawaii Hilo 0-2, Notre Dame de Namur 0-3 Hawaii Pacific 0-4, Chaminade 0-5, BYU-Hawaii 0-5.

TEAM NOTES
Alaska Anchorage: Rebecca Kielpinski had 28 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists and recorded her 32^nd career double-double as the Seawolves extended their school-record home winning streak to 27 games, including 23 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex. Kielpinski made 10 of 16 shots, including her only three-point attempt.

Alaska Fairbanks: Kari Reabold had 28 points and Cristina Bruketta scored 22 in home losses to Seattle and MSU Billings.  Joscelyn Shumate had a team-best 14 rebounds.  UAF was outshot 38.9 to 32.4 and outrebounded 96-71.

Central Washington:  The Wildcats extended their winning streak to nine and snapped a nine-game losing streak to their arch-rivals with a 17-point road win over Western Washington Saturday.  It was CWU’s first win over the Vikings since 2003 and their first at Bellingham since 2002.

Montana State Billings: Shantell Marquis scored 18 points and led MSUB with 12 assists and five steals.   Dani Henderson had 17 points and tied Kayla Ryan for rebound honors with 11 each.

Northwest Nazarene:  Kristin Hein had team-bests of 39 points, 21 rebounds and five blocks and also had six steals as the Crusaders won two of three games, including a non-conference contest Monday against College of Idaho (formerly known as Albertson).  Lindsay Brady also had 39 points in the three contests.

Saint Martin’s:  In addition to Ludeman, the Saints got double-figure scoring from six other players, including 16 from Amber Harmon and 15 each from Krissy Bassett and Michelle Short in their two-game home stand.  

Seattle:  Laina Sobczak led the Redhawks with 31 points and 13 rebounds on their road trip to Alaska.  Sobczak made 12 of 18 shots and had seven offensive rebounds. 

Seattle Pacific:  The Falcons outshot their opponents 51.2 to 31.9 in a pair of double-digit road victories.  Nine players scored between 11 and 25 points in the two contests.  SPU shot 50 percent from the arc (16-32), while holding Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon to eight treys in 31 attempts.

Western Oregon:  Katie Torland had 35 points and Alison Crumb had 20 for the Wolves in their home losses to Northwest Nazarene and Seattle Pacific.  The Wolves were outshot 50.8 to 42.2 percent and turned the ball over 55 times in the two losses.

Western Washington:  Claire Pallansch and Amanda Dunbar each had 16 points and Gabby Wade had 12 rebounds for the Vikings in their home loss to CWU.  The Vikings have lost four straight and eight of their last nine.

Upcoming Opponents

(webpage) - Central Washington is enjoying a perfect start to the 07-08 campaign posting a 9-0 record thus far.  The Wildcats recorded a 86-69 GNAC win over Western Washington University last week to stand at 1-0 in the league.

The Wildcats have five players averaging in double figures for scoring and are led by Hanna Hull.  Hull is posting 14.3 points per game and leads the team from beyond the arc knocking down 22-of-45 for 49 percent.  Hull is averaging 4.8 boards per game.  Teammate Jenn Jacobs has tallied 11.4 points per game off 66 percent shooting from the floor.  Jacobs leads the Cats from the charity stripe connecting on 13-of-14 attempts for 93 percent.  Kristina Klapperich and Brooke Fernandez are each chipping in 10.8 points per game while teammate Shaina Afoa leads the team with 8.6 boards per game and has blocked a conference-leading 2.11 shots per game.

The Wildcats are shooting 49 percent as a team from the floor and have connected on 73-of-163 attempts from long range for 45 percent.  The team is 73 percent from the line and has outrebounded their opponents 48-33.  Central Washington holds a 24-point margin of victory over their opponents.

All-time Series:  MSUB leads the series 10-3
Last Meeting: CWU def. MSUB 81-63 on Jan. 22, 2005 in Ellensburg

Western Washington University (webpage) -Western Washington has seen their share of struggles this season and find themselves 3-10 overall and 0-1 in conference play.  The Vikings have lost their last four straight and eight of their last nine.  WWU's last win was Dec. 18 against Cal State Monterey where the Vikings won 87-72.  Western Washington lost their conference opener last week against the perfect Wildcats.  The Vikings are scheduled to play a GNAC counter against Seattle University on January 10 before making the trip to Billings.

The Vikings' Amanda Dunbar leads all scorers averaging 13.4 points per game.  Dunbar is shooting 36 percent from the field and has knocked down 19 three-pointers for WWU.  Dunbar is averaging a team-leading 1.23 steals per game.  Claire Pallansch is tallying 11.1 points per game and leads the team with 7.8 boards per game.  Pallansch has been effective in the lanes shooting 58-of-128 for 45 percent and leads the team averaging 1.53 blocks per game.

As a team the Vikings are shooting 40 percent from the floor and are 72-of-216 from long range for 33 percent.  WWU is 73 percent from the free throw line and has outrebounded their opponents 40-37.  Four different players have scored at least 10 three-pointers totaling all but seven of the Vikings 72 threes. The team has allowed their opponents a five-point margin of victory.

All-time Series:  The series is tied 7-7
Last Meeting: MSUB def. WWU 88-78 in overtime on Nov. 20, 2005

The Standings

2007 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Standings
(Through games of Jan. 6, 2008)

The Polls

NCAA West Region (first poll released January 30)

The GNAC Leaders

HERE for 2007 GNAC stats leaders.

The Players

The Last Time in Yellowjacket Volleyball

A player scored at least 30 points — Feb. 24, 2007 (Michelle Lieber, 32 vs. St. Edward's)

A player made at least 15 field goals — Feb. 19, 2000 (Codi Schmitz vs. SEattle)

A player made seven 3-pointers — Dec. 30, 2006 (Alira Carpenter vs. Oklahoma Panhandle)

A player made six 3-pointers— Dec. 5, 2007 (Alira Carpenter vs. Great Falls)

A player made five 3-pointers — Feb. 17, 2007 (Alira Carpenter vs. Texas - Permian Basin)

A player made at least 15 free throws — Nov. 30, 2002 (Natalie Visger vs. St. Martin's)

A player made at least 10 free throws— Feb. 24, 2007 (Michelle Lieber, 12/15 vs. St. Edward's)

A player had at least 20 rebounds — Dec. 20, 2003 (Robyn Milne, 22 vs. Alaska-Fairbanks)

A player had at least 15 rebounds— Nov. 17, 2006 (Michelle Lieber, 16 vs. Western Oregon)

A player had at least 10 assists— Feb. 19, 2000 (Deena Bartu, 13 vs. Seattle)

A player had at least 5 assists — Nov. 24, 2007 (Shantell Marquis, 5 vs. Regis University)

A player had a least 5 blocked shots - Feb. 18, 2006 (Tanya Petersen, 6 vs. St. Mary's)

A player had at least 5 steals— Dec. 1, 2007 (Shantell Marquis, 5 vs. Colorado School of Mines)

A player had a double-double — Dec. 1, 2007 (Shantell Marquis, 10pts/10reb vs. Colorado School of Mines)

The team scored at least 100 points — Jan. 18, 2005 (100 vs. Western new Mexico)

The team scored at least 90 points— Dec. 5, 2007 (92 vs. Great Falls)

The team allowed at least 100 points — Jan. 22, 1998 (102 by Seattle Pacific)

The team made at least 40 field goals — Feb. 19, 2000 (44 vs. Seattle)

The team shot over 60% from the field— Dec. 2, 2005 (62.1% vs. Metro State)

The team shot over 50% from the field — Jan. 27, 2007 (57.8% vs. Incarnate Word)

The team made at least 15 3-pointers - Feb. 17, 2007 (15 vs. Texas Permian Basin)

The team made at least 10 3-pointers— Jan. 3, 2008 (14 vs. Alaska Anchorage)

The team made 30 free throws — Jan. 7, 2007 (31 vs. St. Edward's)

The team made 25 free throws — Jan. 27, 2007 (26 vs. Incarnate Word)

The team had at least 60 rebounds— Nov. 17, 2006 (64 vs. Western Oregon)

The team had at least 30 assists — Dec. 16, 2005 (30 vs. St. Martin's)

The team had at least 25 assists - Feb. 17, 2007 (28 vs. Texas Permian Basin)

The team had at least 20 assists— Jan. 4, 2007 (21 vs. Texas A&M-International)

The team had at least 10 blocked shots — Jan. 3, 2005 (10 vs. Northwest Nazarene)

The team had at least 5 blocked shots — Feb. 2, 2007 (5 vs. Lincoln)

The team had at least 20 steals— Feb. 14, 1998 (20 vs. Montana Tech)

The team had at least 15 steals— Jan. 4, 2007 (17 vs. Texas A&M-International)

The School Records (records that include 2007-2008 in bold)

Points
Game - 1. Shelley Altrogge (43)
Season – 1. Shelley Altrogge (691); 5. Alira Carpenter (542)
Career – 1. Tera Silivius (1,630); 18. Alira Carpenter (1,069)

Field Goals
Game - 1. Evonne Goroski (16/26)
Season – 1. Shelley Altrogge (282); 10. Alira Carpenter (196)
Career – 1. Evonne Goroski (680)

Field Goal Percentage
Game - 1. Alicia Cahill, 100% (10/10)
Season – 1. Michelle Lieber (68.1)
Career – 1. Michelle Lieber (66.45)

3-Pointers
Game - 1. Alira Capenter, 7/11
Season – 1. Alira Carpenter (88); 4. Kayla McPherson (64)
Career – 1. Amy Winslow (194); 4. Alira Carpenter (168); 10. Kayla McPherson (98)

3-Point Percentage
Game - 1. Alira Carpenter, 100% (5/5)
Season – 1. Becky Jacobs (50.00); 9. Alira Carpenter (42.51)
Career – 1. Amy Winslow (43.30); 2. Alira Carpenter (40.30); 5. Kayla McPherson (39.81); 10. Jetton Meadors (36.27)

Free Throws
Game - 1. Shelley Altrogge (16/21)
Season – 1. Sherry McQuinn (184)
Career – 1. Sherry McQuinn (392)

Free Throw Percentage
Game - 1. Sherry McQuinn, 100% (13/13)
Season – 1. Alira Carpenter (88.57)
Career – 1. Lisa Jellum (84.50)

Rebounds
Game - 1. Grace Grabofsky (26)
Season – 1. Shelley Altrogge (376)
Career – 1. Robyn Milne (957)

Assists
Game - 1. Deena Bartu (13)
Season – 1. Amy Winslow (183)
Career – 1. Amy Winslow (585)

Blocked Shots
Game - 1. Jessie Henigman (9); 36. Shantell Marquis (4)
Season – 1. Robyn Milne (104); 20. Shantell Marquis (20)
Career – 1. Robyn Milne (278) No. 13 in NCAA DII History

Steals
Game - 1. Colleen Day Wiechman (9); 2. Shantell Marquis (8)
Season – 1. Amy Winslow (112); 4. Shantell Marquis (73)
Career – 1. Amy Winslow (343); 11. Shantell Marquis (104)

Schedule & Results

The Coaches

Kevin Woodin, Head Coach
Kevin Woodin enters his fourth season as the head women's basketball coach at MSU Billings in 2007-2008.  He has posted a 61-26 overall record in his first three seasons, capturing two Heartland Conference regular season titles and once conference tournament championship.  Two of Woodin's three teams have qualified for the NCAA Tournament.  His first win of the 2007-2008 season will move him to No. 3 in school history for career wins.

Woodin became the Lady Yellowjackets' eleventh head women's basketball coach when he took over on July 23, 2004.  He had been the head girl’s basketball coach at Billings West High School for the past ten seasons.  In that time, he led the Lady Bears to a 138-81 record (.630), including back-to-back Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004.  Woodin’s Bears were a perfect 23-0 in 2004's title run and won the final 36 games Woodin coached at the school.  He earned Montana AA Coach of the Year honors in 2003 and 2004, and was a finalist for the award in 1999 and 2002.

A native of Libby, Mont., Woodin graduated with a degree in mathematics from Carroll College in 1987.  While teaching and coaching at O’Dea High School in Seattle, he earned his masters degree in Athletic Administration from Seattle Pacific University in 1992.  Woodin taught mathematics at O’Dea High School from 1987 to 1994 while also coaching boy’s basketball, golf and tennis.  He was named O’Dea’s Outstanding Teacher of the year in 1990-1991 and the Metro League Golf Coach of the Year three times.

Woodin moved to Billings in 1994 to take over the girl’s program at West High School where he has also taught mathematics.   Along with leading the Lady Bears to State AA tournament hardware in four of his last six seasons, Woodin was also an assistant coach on the Montana All-Star Team and an Executive Committee member and coach for the Treasure State Classic.  At West High, Woodin coached 19 players who went on to play collegiate basketball.

Before the Montana High School Association moved the girl’s basketball season to the winter, Woodin was a part time assistant coach at MSU Billings from 2000-2003.  Responsible for practice and game planning, recruiting, scouting, individual skill development, travel and coordinating the Billings Bees camps, Woodin helped the Lady Yellowjackets to two NCAA Tournament appearances in three seasons.

Woodin has been married to his wife Paula for 20 years, and they have three children (Kayleen, 14; Toria, 11; Garrett, 9).  His parents, Pete and Loretta Erickson, formerly of Roundup, Montana, reside in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Natalie Visger, Assistant Coach
The 2007-2008 season will be Visger's second as a full-time assistant for the Lady Jacket basketball team.  She is a 2003 graduate of Montana State University-Billings.  She earned a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a 3.91 GPA.  As a senior in 2003 Visger was named the Outstanding Biology Senior.

“I am very excited to have Natalie join our staff at MSUB,” said Woodin.  “She brings a tremendous amount of experience to the program, both as a player and as a coach.  We are very fortunate to have her, and I am confident she will have a positive impact upon our program.  Natalie’s duties will include directing and assisting with the pre- and postseason weight training and conditioning program, game and practice preparation, recruiting, film exchange, scouting, academic monitoring, travel arrangements, basketball camps and tournaments, and individual skill development.”

Visger was a four-year standout on the basketball court for the Lady Yellowjackets.  As a two-time team captain she helped the Yellowjackets reach three NCAA Tournaments in four years.  As a freshman and sophomore Visger was an All-Pacific West Conference selection.  As a senior she was named the Montana State University-Billings Outstanding Female Student-Athlete.

Known as a tenacious competitor, Visger made several impressions in the Yellowjacket record books.  She still ranks twelfth in school history for scoring with 1,219 career points.  She is also in the career top 10 for free throws made, free throw percentage, rebounds, and rebounding average.

After graduating in 2003, Visger played professionally in Europe for three seasons.  In 2003-2004 she played for TV-Langen in Langen, Germany.  She finished the season ranked second in the league for scoring average at 20.7 ppg. 

In 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 Visger played for ASG Theresianum Mainz in Mainz, Germany.  In the ‘04-‘05 season she was again second in the league for scoring at 18.5 ppg and led her team to a second place finish in the league.  Last year along with playing for the Women's first team, which again finished second in the league, she was the head coach for the Women's third team.  In addition to playing professional basketball, Visger, who speaks fluent German, worked as a document translator for STI Security Training International GmbH in Wiesbaden, Germany.

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