Billings, Mont. – After playing on the road for the first two weeks of the regular season, Montana State Billings women's basketball team is anxious to return home for their next pair of games. The Yellowjackets will host their annual holiday tournament Nov. 23-24 sponsored by the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.
 
Including MSUB, the 2012 Yellowjacket Women's Classic features four teams, representing three conferences. Dixie State College of Utah and Notre Dame de Namur University hail from the Pacific West Conference, Colorado State University-Pueblo heads into the Magic City from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and the Jackets will be representing the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
Thus far on the year MSUB 2-2 overall is averaging 65.8 points per game and 33.5 rebounds per outing. The Yellowjackets have also been solid in taking care of the ball, forcing their opponents to 20.3 turnovers per game compared to their 13.8 average.
 
While MSUB traditionally shoots the ball well from the field, they have been inconsistent early in the season and have a .369 field goal percentage. Despite this inconsistency, the Yellowjackets have been tenacious on defense, averaging 11.3 steals per match.
 
Knudsen has started the 2012-13 season similar to last year's campaign as she leads the team in scoring with 70 total points and a 17.5 per game average. She also leads the team with 23 assists. Peoples and Kayleen Goggins are also averaging in double figures with 13.0 and 12.3 averages respectively.
 
Staying consistent with her trend from 2011-12, Janiel Olson leads MSUB in rebounding with 30 total, 7.5 per contest.
 
In order for the Yellowjackets to be successful this weekend they will need to put together two complete team efforts against two very good opponents.
 
The Red Storm and MSUB will be very familiar with each other as the two squared off in St. George, Utah at the Dixie State Tip-Off Classic last Friday, Nov. 16. In a highly competitive match, the Yellowjackets defeated Dixie State 74-71. Quinn Peoples led all scorers with 23 points, while Bobbi Knudsen added a solid 18 on 8-15 shooting.
 
Dixie State is currently 1-2 overall with their only win coming against California State Poly-Pomona on Nov. 12, 2012. Despite losing two straight games, Kaylah Miller and Johnna Brown are having strong starts to the 2012-13 season. Miller, a sophomore guard, is leading the team in scoring with a 12.3 per game average. Brown is averaging a double-double with 11 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game.
 
The Red Storm will look to change the outcome from their first game against the Jackets, and also avoid losing three straight games to GNAC opponents. Dixie State lost to Simon Fraser 74-52 in their last outing on Nov. 17.
 
MSUB and the Red Storm will play their rematch on Friday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 p.m. Notre Dame de Namur and Colorado State-Pueblo will start the Yellowjacket Classic with their matchup at 5:00 p.m.
 
Following their game against Dixie State, MSUB will compete against Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 7:00 p.m. The Argonauts have split their first two matchups of the season with their most recent victory coming against Pacific Union College on Nov. 17. Notre Dame convincingly won the matchup 67-46.
 
Hilary Perry-Smith led all scorers with 16 points, while also grabbing eight rebounds and two steals. She is tied for the team lead in scoring with 9.0 points per game. Savannah Shelby is also averaging 9.0 points for the Argonauts. Charnisha Bradley has been active on the glass leading the team in rebounding with 7.5 per game.
 
Colorado State-Pueblo is off to a 2-0 start in the 2012-13 season. Last season the Thunderwolves went 21-7 overall and 18-4 in the RMAC, en route to their fifth NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. All NCAA births have come under coach Kip Drown who is the most accomplished coach in the school's history.  With a 137-79 record, Drown has lead Colorado State-Pueblo to four RMAC championships.
 
Laurel Kelsey is off to a great start this season with a 17.0 point per game average and 11.0 rebounds per game. Katie Nehf is also playing solid with 11.0 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game averages.
 
Following their Friday matchup against Notre Dame de Namur, the Thunderwolves will play their final game of the Yellowjacket Classic against Dixie State at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24.  
 
“This year's Yellowjacket basketball classic will be a very good one,” stated head women's basketball coach Kevin Woodin. “We have four quality teams from three different conferences. The games should be very exciting and I am looking for improvement from my team this weekend. We are very excited to play at home after being on the road the past two weekends.”

The Billings Hotel and Convention Center will be sponsoring the event and Yellowjackets fans who donate can goods will receive half off their general admission. If fans are unable to attend the game, you can catch the action (web streaming and live stats) live through our multimedia links on the www.msubsports.com website.