Career Resume
Michelle (Lieber) Rodgers competed for MSUB's women's basketball team from 2004-07 and is the most recent recipient of a Daktronics NCAA DII All-American award during her senior season after being named to the All-South Central Region second team.
She was a two-time Heartland Conference Player of the Year as well as a two-time All-Heartland Conference first team selection (2005-06, 2006-07).
Rodgers finished her career with 1,115 points which is good enough for 18
th all-time in school history and still holds school records in career field goal percentage (.665) while also holding the top-two season records for field goal percentage. Her 2006-07 season completion percentage of .681 remains tops in school history which broke the record she set the previous year of .671.
She finished her career sixth all-time in free throws made in a career with 289.
Feature Story: MSUB's Record-Setting Lieber Makes Every Shot Count (By: Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette, 2/7/2007) - Original Publication
Around the basket, Michelle Lieber is money.
And any time money is involved, a crowd is bound to attract.
But Lieber shrugs off any extra attention every time she touches the basketball.
"It's not frustrating," she said. "If I'm surrounded, I know somebody else is going to be open."
Even with a blanket of opposing jerseys around her, Lieber makes almost every shot count.
The 6-foot senior from Gillette, Wyo., ranks 1-2-3 in the Montana State-Billings women's basketball history for single-season field goal percentage. There probably would have been a fourth, but Lieber started her collegiate basketball career at the University of Wyoming.
"Around the basket, I just feel comfortable in certain spots," she said. "I know I can score when I get the ball in those spots."
Her current rate of making 68.2 percent of her shot attempts ranks her No. 1 for all of NCAA Division II.
"She likes being around the basket," said Kevin Woodin, the MSUB head coach.
In just three seasons with the Yellowjackets, the go-to Lieber already ranks among the top 10 for career rebounds, blocked shots, points per game,, rebounds per game, free throws made with her signature one-handed free throw shot, and free throw percentage.
She recently became the 18th player in the program's history to go over the 1,000-point mark for a career.
"I am surprised by the numbers," Lieber said.
Lieber has also posted 29 double-doubles (points and rebounds) during her three seasons at MSUB.
This season, the smooth left-hander is averaging 16.1 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. "They probably don't see a lot of left-handers," Lieber said of opposing teams.
Those numbers coincide with more important numbers for Lieber and her teammates. The Yellowjackets are 56-20 since her arrival with one NCAA tournament appearance and a regular-season Heartland Conference championship. She was the HLC MVP last season.
"That came as a huge surprise," said Lieber. "There were so many great players … so many great players just from our own team."
This year, MSUB is 17-6 and leads the HLC standings again.
"I'm very competitive," Lieber admitted with a smile. "I can't lose in any game, it doesn't matter what it is."
Lieber didn't lose much in high school, helping Campbell County in Gillettte, Wyo., to three straight state championships. She was the state tournament MVP as a senior, scoring 27 points - on 13 of 14 shooting from the field - in the title game.
As a freshman for Wyoming, Lieber started in all 29 games, averaging 6.9 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. She led the Mountain West Athletic Conference in field goal percentage for league games and recorded six double-doubles, two in the MWC tournament.
But she wasn't happy and left the Cowgirls late that summer.
"It was for personal reasons," Lieber said.
Woodin was hired at MSUB in late July and just a few weeks later, Lieber called him about playing. Yellowjacket point guard Lisa Jellum was a former high school teammate and Lieber knew about the success two other Gillette players - Natalie Visger and Jessica Bachmann - had for the Yellowjackets.
"We are very fortunate to have her," said Woodin. "Gillette has been a good connection for Montana State-Billings."
Lieber was a little concerned about joining a program so late. Those fears quickly vanished after a few pick-up games.
"My teammates were quick to welcome me," said Lieber. "I couldn't have come into a better situation. It was a good fit from the start. These are friends I will have forever."
Lieber also has a strong support system with her parents - father Mel, mother Maxine and brother Ryan. "They come to every game," Lieber said proudly.
Lieber was part of a powerful post trio with Robyn Milne and Tanya Petersen her first season at MSUB. Last year, Lieber and Petersen developed an uncanny on-court chemistry as the two played their own personal games of pitch-and-catch en route to the basket.
"We played two years together," said Lieber. "We just clicked. We knew where each other was going to be on the court."
Lieber averaged 8.9 points and 8.9 rebounds as a sophomore and bumped those numbers to a double-double of 15.6 points and 10.2 rebounds a game last season.
"What's really impressive for Michelle is she has had to change her game three consecutive seasons and her productivity has remained constant," said Woodin. "She brings a lot of intangibles to the court. I've never seen anybody who understands angles for rebounding than her.
"Michelle's work ethic is second to none. Every day, she is ready to play. She never takes a play off. She is blue collar all the way. She is a tremendous team player. She doesn't care about her points … just the wins."
Overshadowed by Lieber's metronomic offensive game is the defensive presence she provides around the basket, according to her coach.
"If the other team has a good post player, Michelle takes care of that option right away," Woodin said.
"Defense, I like it," Lieber agreed. "I like to push and shove. I like to rebound more than anything."
And she likes routine. Before every home game, she has to have a chicken tender melt sandwich. "That started in high school," she said with a soft laugh.
And if one isn't available?
"I try not to think about it," she finished.
Lieber's role has changed this season.
One of only two seniors - Jennifer Skrifvars is the other - the coaches have leaned on Lieber a little harder for leadership.
"I've tried to become more vocal this year," said Lieber, who is a business management major. "That means coming to practice every day and going hard. You try to show by example."
Lieber doesn't have to look far for her motivation. Last year's painful 80-71 home loss to Oklahoma Panhandle State is enough.
"I remember that," she said. "It hurt. You don't ever want to have your season end like that. You don't ever want to end like that as a senior.
"Just getting to the NCAA tournament would be big for us. The big thing is to make sure everyone stays motivated … to go 100 percent all the time.
"That means you have to make it count. You play every game as if it's your last."
