BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings women's basketball team looks to get back on the winning track this week as it hosts Western Oregon and Saint Martin's, Thursday and Saturday evening, respectively, at 7 p.m. in Alterowitz Gymnasium. MSUB enters the week with a 7-8 record overall and a 3-4 mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Jackets are coming off two tough road losses at Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington last week.
Leading the way for the Jackets this season is senior Beata Bak, who leads the team averaging 15.3 points per game. She ranks third in the GNAC in scoring. Bak leads the team with 86 made field goals, 46 made free throws and 19 blocks. Her 19 blocks ranks her sixth in the league.
Second on the team in scoring is senior Kayla Ryan. Ryan is just five points away from becoming the 19th player in MSUB women's basketball history to reach 1,000 career points. She is averaging 10.4 points per game this season and leads the team at 7.4 rebounds per game. Ryan ranks fifth in the league in rebounding. Senior Shantell Marquis leads the team in assists and steals with 34 and 42, respectively. Her 42 steals ranks her first in the league and 36th nationally.
As a team, the Jackets are shooting 37.8 percent from the field for the year. They have knocked down 94 triples for a .292 average and are shooting at a 73.4 clip from the charity stripe. MSUB is averaging 64.9 points per game and 36.7 rebounds per contest.
Conversely, the opposition is shooting 37.1 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from beyond the arc and 69 percent from the line. The opponents are scoring 62 points per game and outrebounding MSUB by exactly four rebounds per game (40.7).
Western Oregon enters the week with a 7-8 record overall and a 5-2 record in conference play. The Wolves are led by 13.9 points a game from Rylee Peterson. She also leads the team with 74 made field goals and averages a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game. Sara Zahler is second in scoring at 13.8 points per contest. Zahler leads the team with 33 made 3-pointers, and is second in rebounding at a 5.3 clip.
The Wolves are shooting .402 from the field for the year, .312 from beyond the arc and .738 from the line. WOU is averaging 37.8 rebounds per game, and 67.6 points per contest. The opposition also is shooting .402 from the field, .297 from beyond the arc and .709 from the charity stripe. They are averaging 42.2 rebound and 72.4 points per game.
The Yellowjackets lead the all-time series with WOU 12-4, and 6-1 in Billings. The Jackets also lead 6-3 in Monmouth. WOU's lone win in Billings came on Jan. 17, 2009, in a 68-64 decision. MSUB and WOU have split the past four meetings. MSUB had won the previous eight straight.
Saint Martin's enters the week with a 9-6 record overall and a 4-3 mark in the GNAC. The Saints are scheduled to play at Seattle Pacific prior to coming to Billings. SMU pulled off a thrilling 61-53 victory over No. 11 Alaska Anchorage Saturday.
The Saints are led by Dara Zack who leads the team averaging 15.5 points per game ranking her second in the league in scoring. She also leads the team with 80 made field goals and is third in 3-pointers with 17. Zack also leads the team averaging 6.3 rebounds per game. In addition, she leads the team with 65 made free throws and 28 assists.
As a team, the Saints are shooting .375 on the year from the field, .337 from beyond the arc and .740 from the charity stripe. SMU is averaging 40.1 rebounds per game and 63.3 points per game. The opposition is shooting .388 on the year, but just .257 from beyond the arc and .665 from the charity stripe. SMU is holding its opponents to 35.5 rebounds per game and 58.8 points per game.
The Jackets lead the all-time series with SMU 14-7 and 6-2 in Billings. MSUB also leads 8-5 in Lacey.
