BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings women's basketball team looks to build on its current winning streak as it travels to Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage this week. MSUB plays at UAF Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Alaska time and then at UAA at 5:15 p.m. Alaska time Saturday. The Yellowjackets enter the week with a 9-8 record overall and a 5-4 mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
MSUB is coming off of a thrilling 62-61 win over Saint Martin's this past Saturday in Alterowitz Gymnasium. Senior Mandy Jacobs hit an off-balance, game-winning 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining against the Saints in an exciting game from start to finish.
The Jackets were led by 19 points from senior Kayla Ryan who was honored before the game as the 19th player in MSUB women's basketball history to eclipse the 1,000 career point total. She scored 12 points in the Jackets' previous outing (an 82-55 win over Western Oregon last Thursday) to break the mark. Ryan has 1,026 career points.
MSUB is led by senior Beata Bak who leads the team averaging 14.8 points per game. She also leads the team with 94 made field goals, 51 made free throws and 22 blocks. Second on the team in scoring is Ryan at 11.0 points per game. Ryan leads the team averaging 7.2 rebounds per game. She had a .717 free throw percentage and is second in made field goals with 70 and second in blocks with 16. Senior Jenny Heringer is third in scoring at 10.2 points, while freshman Bobbi Knudsen leads the team with 23 made 3-pointers.
As a team the Jackets are shooting .387 percent from the field. They are .306 from beyond the arc and .730 from the line. MSUB is averaging 36.6 rebounds per game and allowing 40.1 a game. The Jackets are averaging 65.1 points per game and allowing 61.5.
Alaska Fairbanks enters the week with a 1-15 record overall and a 1-8 mark in league play. The Nanooks are led by Nicole Bozek who leads the team averaging 14.6 points per game. Autumn Greene is second in scoring at 10.7 points and leads the team at a 6.8 rebounding average. Bozek leads the team with 65 made field goals and 20 made 3-pointers.
As a team, the Nanooks are shooting .351 from the field, .268 from beyond the arc and .708 from the line. UAF is averaging 39.4 rebounds per game, while the opposition is averaging 42.2. The Nanooks are averaging 59.1 points per game and giving up 76.2 per contest.
The Jackets had one of their most dominating performances of the season in a 90-45 win over UAF, Jan. 3 in Billings. MSUB had five players in double figures and held UAF to just 29.5 shooting from the field for the game and 1 of 17 from beyond the arc. Knudsen led the way with 14 points, while Bak chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds.
MSUB leads the all-time series 41-11, including 19-7 in Fairbanks. The Jackets have won eight-straight in the series and all seven since MSUB joined the GNAC in 2007-08. In addition, the Jackets have won the past four meetings in Fairbanks and haven't lost there since a 76-67 overtime setback Dec. 21, 2001.
17th-ranked Alaska Anchorage enters the week with a 15-5 record overall and a 6-3 mark in the GNAC. The Seawolves have struggled a bit as of late, dropping two of their last three. The Seawolves are ranked fifth in the initial NCAA Division II West Region Top-10 poll released Wednesday.
Leading the way for UAA this season is Hanna Johansson who leads the team averaging 13.9 points per game. She is second in rebounding at 6.4 'boards per game. Nikki Aden is second in scoring at 11.9 points and leads the team from beyond the arc with 26 made triples. Alysa Horn is third in scoring (10.6) and leads the team averaging 7.0 rebounds per game.
As a team the Seawolves are shooting .392 from the field, .275 from beyond the arc and .709 from the line. They are averaging 41.1 rebounds per game and allowing just 32.8. UAA is averaging 70.9 points and surrendering 53.2 points a game.
MSUB leads the all-time series 24-20, but the Seawolves have won seven-straight and eight of 11. The series is tied 11-11 in Anchorage. MSUB's last win in Anchorage came in a 62-54 victory Dec. 19, 2003. UAA has won three-straight at home.
The Jackets then return home to begin a three-game, home stand with nationally ranked Seattle Pacific Saturday, February 5 at 5:15 p.m. in the first game of a Hall of Fame Weekend doubleheader.
