Box Score Box Score
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Five players in double figures sparked visiting Montana State Billings to an 81-60 victory Thursday evening over Alaska Fairbanks in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game. With the win, the Yellowjackets improved to 10-8 overall and 6-4 in conference play, while the Nanooks fell to 1-16 overall and 1-9 in league play.
“We got off to a really good start tonight,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “We passed the ball very well early and got Jenny (Heringer) some looks as she was hot from beyond the arc. We made the extra pass and we got a lot of baskets in transition and we played well as a team.”
Senior Jenny Heringer led the way with 15 points for the Jackets. She also led the team from beyond the arc with three triples. Senior Kayla Ryan finished with 14 points, while seniors Sarah McNamee and Beata Bak came off the bench for 13 and 10 points, respectively. Freshman Bobbi Knudsen chipped in 11 points.
The Jackets shot 50 percent for the game from the field on 28 of 56. MSUB struggled a bit from beyond the arc to the tune of 5 of 17, but was helped out by converting 20 of 31 free throws, including 13 of 18 in the second half.
Alaska Fairbanks was led by 14 points from starter Nicole Bozek. She was the only starter in double figures. However, the Nanooks also had good bench play as Autumn Greene also had 14 points, while Ciara Patton chipped in 11 points.
MSUB's defense held UAF to 20 of 60 from the field for 33.3 percent. The Nanooks were 5 of 14 from beyond the arc and 15 of 18 from the line.
The Jackets dominated the Nanooks in the paint, doubling them up in points, 36-18. MSUB forced UAF into 23 miscues leading to 28 points, while MSUB committed 18 turnovers leading to 18 points for the Nanooks.
After UAF scored the first points of the game on a layup by Bozek, the Jackets went on a 15-9 run through the first seven minutes of the game for a 15-11 lead. Freshman, Lisa Laslovich, nailed a triple, followed by a layup from Knudsen as the Jackets built a 28-15 lead courtesy of a 13-4 run over the next five minutes.
McNamee hit a triple with 4:37 left in the half as MSUB swelled the lead to 18 points at 37-19. Heringer would hit a late triple as well for a 42-21 advantage at intermission. The Jackets shot 46.9 percent in the opening half on 15 of 32 from the field. They were 5 of 11 from range and were just 7 of 13 from the line.
The Jackets' stifling defense held UAF to just 8 of 27 from the field (29.6 percent), 1 of 5 from beyond the arc and the Nanooks were 4 of 4 from the line. MSUB forced UAF into 12 first half turnovers leading to 18 points.
MSUB scored the first six points of the second half for a 48-21 lead. However, the Nanooks continued to fight and went on a 22-9 run to pull within 59-45 with 11:12 left. A layup by Jessica Harrison pulled the Nanooks within 61-50 with 9:11 left, but the Jackets would build the lead back to 20 points capped by a pair of charity tosses from McNamee for a 71-51 lead with 3:32 left. During the six minute stretch, the Jackets outscored the Nanooks 10-1 and went on for an 81-60 win.
“We made the first couple of baskets in the second half, but you have to give them credit they made a nice run and we got a bit complacent,” Woodin added. “We were able to regroup and we got a lot of key free throws down the stretch and came away with a good team win.”
UAF would score just 10 points over the final 9:11 of the game.
MSUB continues on the road Saturday at 5:15 Alaska time at Alaska Anchorage, before returning home for Hall of Fame Weekend, Saturday, February 5 at 5:15 p.m. versus Seattle Pacific.
