BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings women's basketball team heads on its first road trip of the season at the Notre Dame de Namur Tournament, beginning Friday at 5 p.m. versus Cal State Dominguez Hills at 5 p.m. local time in Belmont, Calif. The Jackets then face Cal State Monterey Bay at 5 p.m. on Saturday and are scheduled to play host Notre Dame de Namur Monday at 5 p.m.
“We are looking forward to our trip as we play three quality opponents – two from the California Collegiate Athletic association and one from the Pacific West Conference,” seventh year head coach Kevin Woodin said. “It has been quite awhile since we have travelled to California to do that.”
The Yellowjackets enter the weekend with an 0-1 record after a hard-fought 49-46 setback in the season opener Nov. 13 to Metro State. As a team, the Yellowjackets struggled shooting to the tune of 15 of 47 from the field for 31.9 percent. MSUB shot just 6 of 21 in the second half alone for 28.6 percent. The Jackets knocked down 4 of 14 from deep, and were 12 of 14 from the charity stripe.
MSUB senior transfer, Beata Bak, led the way with 17 points and six rebounds. Senior Kayla Ryan tallied eight points and six rebounds.
The Jackets cut a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes and a 10-2 run capped by a layup in the lane by Bak with 34 seconds left.
The Yellowjackets went 1-2 in three exhibition games prior to the Metro State game. MSUB defeated Montana Western 77-73 in the first exhibition game, then dropped two, tough decisions at Montana State (81-71) and at Rocky Mountain College (68-65). In both the Montana State and Rocky games, the Jackets were right there at the end, but couldn't quite close the door.
Woodin, beginning his seventh season at the helm of the Yellowjacket program, is going for his 100th win this weekend. He is 99-70 at MSUB, and is the third winningest coach in school history. Woodin has a .588 winning percentage, and only trails Ted Anderson (102) and Frank McCarthy (191) in wins.
The Yellowjackets were selected preseason fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic conference last month by the league's coaches. MSUB returns second team all-conference selection in senior Kayla Ryan. Ryan averaged 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season. She was 10th in scoring and led the league in rebounding. Ryan went to the charity stripe 138 times making 114, which was good for third-best in the league in attempts.
Also returning for the Yellowjackets this season is senior Sarah McNamee who was the squad's second leading scorer in her first year as a Yellowjacket as she averaged 12.6 points and averaged three rebounds per game. She led the team in steals with 41. Multi-sport athlete, junior Kalli Stanhope, averaged 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds last season as a sophomore. She averaged 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds as a sophomore and tallied 69 assists. Stanhope also plays on the women's golf team. Senior Mandy Jacobs also returns as she contributed 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds to go along with 20 blocks last season.
Bak, who hails from Stalowa Wola, Poland, played in 31 games as a junior for Montana State. In addition, junior multi-sport athlete Brooke Tolman also joins the teamtransfer from Central Wyoming College as well as five freshmen. Tolman currently is playing on the Yellowjacket volleyball team.
The five freshmen include Lisa Laslovich from Anaconda, MT, Bobbi Knudsen from Malta, MT, Corie Smith from Belgrade, MT, Amanda Proefrock from Belle Fourche SD, and Kelsey Armstrong from Buffalo, WY.
“We have had a very good week of practice,” Woodin said. “I expect us to play our best basketball of the season thus far. Two areas we must improve upon are rebounding and consistency. We have been emphasizing those areas this week.”
Cal State Dominguez Hills opens its 2010-2011 regular season with the Yellowjackets Friday. The Toros are coming off of a 10-18 record in 2009-2010 and a 9-13 mark in the CCAA. CSUDH returns seven players from last season, including senior duo of Neka Mixon and Brandie McCann. Mixon led the team in scoring last season at 17.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. She was second on the team in field goals made (105) and knocked down 17 triples. Mixon led the team in steals (44) and was third in blocks (10). Mixon is a two-time first team all-conference and second team all-region selection.
The Toros were picked seventh in the preseason CCAA coaches' poll this season.
McCann averaged 11.2 points which was good for second on the team. She led the team with 91 made free throws (.771) and 55 assists.
The Yellowjackets are 5-0 all-time versus Cal State Dominguez Hills. MSUB is 4-0 in neutral site contests and 1-0 on the road. MSUB last defeated CSUDH 75-49, Nov. 16, 2001, at Dominguez Hills. The Jackets have won every game in the series by 10 or more points.
Cal State Monterey Bay enters with a 1-0 record after a 71-49 home victory over Hawaii Pacific. The Otters had a balanced scoring attack with 12 of the 14 players who played scored. However, the interesting statistic is not one CSUMB player was in double figures.
In exhibition play, the Otters defeated Division I UC Santa Barbara, 53-49. CSUMB was picked fifth in the preseason CCAA poll. Last season, the Otters finished 18-9 overall and 14-8 in conference play.
This is the first meeting between MSUB and Cal State Monterey Bay.
Host Notre Dame de Namur opens the 2010-2011 season with Cal State Monterey Bay Friday. The Argonauts finished the 2009-2010 season with a 16-11 record and a 12-4 mark in the Pacific West Conference. Notre Dame de Namur opened last season with an 0-4 record, but went 16-7 the rest of the way, including winning its last five.
Two of the top three scorers are back for the Argos this season in Katie and Laura Zasly. Laura led the team averaging 15.1 points, while Katie tallied 13.3. The duo combined for 292 of the 618 made field goals for the Argos last season.
“Our depth will be very important this weekend as we play three games in four days,” Woodin added. “We need solid contributions from all players.”
This also is the first meeting between MSUB and Notre Dame de Namur. Fans can access live stats and live streaming of all three games by logging on to msubsports.com and clicking on the women's basketball schedule.
