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BILLINGS, Mont. – In one of its most dominating performances of the season, the Montana State Billings women's basketball team doubled-up visiting University of Alaska Fairbanks Monday evening 90-45 at Alterowitz Gymnasium. With the win, the Yellowjackets improved to 6-6 on the year and 2-2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Nanooks fell to 0-10 and 0-3 in conference play.
“I was pleased with the way we played tonight,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “I thought we got off to a much better start than a couple of days ago. We shared the ball effectively and I thought our passing was very good.”
The Nanooks were led by 10 points from Jessica Harrison as the lone player in double figures.
The Jackets dominated the game from start to finish and the Yellowjacket defense clamped down for 40 minutes. MSUB went 28 of 60 from the floor for 46.7 percent. The Jackets tied their season-high going 12 of 31 from beyond the arc. Seven different Yellowjackets made a triple. They were 22 of 27 from the charity stripe, including 18 of 20 in the second half after starting the game 4 of 7.
Alaska Fairbanks was 18 of 61 from the field for 29.5 percent. The Jacket defense held the Nanooks to just 1 of 17 from beyond the arc and UAF was 8 of 14 from the line. MSUB forced UAF in 19 miscues and led 21-14 in points off turnovers.
MSUB also tallied a season-high 13 steals on the night as Stanhope led the way with four while senior Shantell Marquis had three as did Heringer. In addition, the Jackets won the battle of the boards, 45-32. Both teams scored 28 points in the paint.
The Jackets got off to a hot start as they jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, started by a hoop-and-harm foul on Knudsen. MSUB then swelled the lead to 22-9 with 9:28 to play in the first half. The Nanooks made just one of their first six shots and went just 3 of 16 to start the game.
MSUB held a 22-10 lead with 8:42 left as it finished the half on a 22-12 run for a 44-22 lead at intermission. The Jackets were 16 of 32 from the field in the first half and 8 of 18 from deep. Conversely, the Nanooks were just 8 of 32 (25 percent) from the field and 1 of 12 from beyond the arc.
“Several players made 3's in the first half and I thought that opened it up for us,” Woodin added. “I thought our team defense was pretty solid and I thought we rebounded as a team very well.”
The Nanooks pulled within 54-33 with 13:48 left on a layup by Autumn Green, but the Jackets then went on a 13-2 run over the next five minutes for a 67-35 lead with 8:04 left. MSUB pushed the lead over 40 points on a triple from Stanhope for a 78-37 lead with 4:49 left.
Two free throws by senior Sarah McNamee gave MSUB an 88-43 lead with 1:01 left and the Jackets settled for a 90-45 win.
“Our players remained focused and we got some great play from our bench tonight,” Woodin said. “Anytime your bench can score 50 points in a game, that's very impressive. It was nice they kept the pressure out with good team defense and we extended the lead.”
MSUB now heads on the road for three games beginning with a 2 p.m. Pacific start Saturday at Seattle Pacific. The Jackets return to Alterowitz Gymnasium Thurs., Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. versus Western Oregon.
“Overall it was an excellent team performance for us,” Woodin said. “We needed to get a win before head out on the road in the GNAC for the next three games.”
