Box Score

Box Score

Coach Woodin Post-Game Interview             Knudsen Post-Game Interview

Photo Gallery

Billings, Mont. – In an exciting thriller in the second contest of the 2012 Yellowjacket Women's Basketball Classic, Montana State Billings defeated Dixie State College of Utah for the second consecutive time in a week. With junior guard and co-captain Bobbi Knudsen scoring a career high 33 points, the Yellowjackets captured their third victory, downing the Red Storm 91-87 in overtime.
 
MSUB had four players in double figures, with Knudsen leading all scorers with 33 points on 12-23 shooting. She also tallied eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Sophomore forward Kayleen Goggins played great in the front court scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
 
Senior guard and co-captain Brooke Tolman registered a double-double, scoring 11 points and snatching a team high 10 rebounds. The Yellowjackets also had great performances from their reserves. Sophomore guard Annie DePuydt came off the bench to record one of her best outings in an MSUB uniform. She finished with 13 points, six rebounds, one steal and one block.
 
Dixie State proved to be a formidable opponent as they had three players score in double digits. Johnna Brown led the Red Storm in scoring and rebounding notching 23 points on 10-17 shooting, and grabbing a game high 13 rebounds. Kaylah Miller shot the ball well from behind the arch scoring 15 of her 17 points from three point territory. Erica Hayes had a solid outing off the bench, tallying 19 points, five rebounds and two steals.
 
MSUB was out rebounded by the opposition only nabbing 44 rebounds compared to Dixie State's 54. The Yellowjackets did however win the turnover battle forcing the Red Storm into 16 turnovers compared to their nine.
 
Both teams shot the ball evenly on the night. MSUB went 41 percent from the field, 30 percent from behind the arch and 70 percent from the free throw line. Dixie State was 40.5 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from three point territory and 77.3 percent from the free throw line.
 
The tempo of the game was intense from the opening tip. In the first half there were 13 lead changes and four times the score came to a tie. MSUB and Dixie State went back and forth early and the Jackets held a two point advantage, 20-18, at the 9:29 mark. Three free throws and a Hayes lay-up helped the Red Storm recapture the lead at 8:06, 23-22.
 
With 5:09 remaining in the half Dixie State held a three point lead, 31-28; but MSUB battled back to take the lead at 3:02 off layups from Knudsen and Goggins. The Yellowjackets pushed their lead to four, 40-36, at the 1:36 mark. As the half came to a close, the Red Storm used a 6-0 run to take the 42-40 lead going into the half.
 
“Tonight was a great game, we had great tempo in the first half but Dixie State played right with us,” stated head coach Kevin Woodin. “They were faster to the ball than us in the first half and got some easy baskets in transition.”
 
The Yellowjackets came out on fire in the second half, recapturing the lead and building their advantage to eight, 56-58, at the 15:07 mark. Staying in rhythm MSUB used a 19-5 run to push their lead to 12, 75-63, with 7:31 remaining.
 
With a commanding lead it seemed as if the Jackets would cruise to an easy victory. Dixie State fought back strong and put together a 17-7 run to come within in two of MSUB, 82-80. With 59 seconds left in the half, Brown sank two free throws to notch the score at 82 all.
 
With tough defense by both teams neither would be able to take the lead and MSUB and Dixie State ended regulation even 82-82. Knudsen and Tolman both had looks in the closing seconds to win the game for the Jackets but neither attempt would find success.
 
The Jackets came out determined in the extra period, taking the early lead and never looking back. MSUB scored nine points compared to the opposition's five and went on to capture the 91-87 victory.
 
Dixie State falls to 1-3 overall on the season, as the Yellowjackets advance to 3-2 overall.
 
“In the second half we tightened up our defense and made them work harder,” Woodin said. “I felt we had a good control of the game in the second half but they were able to shift momentum with some big shots. We were fortunate to get into overtime, and I liked how our team tightened up and made a couple baskets and free throws to win the game.”
 
MSUB will play their final game in the Yellowjacket Classic Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. against Notre Dame de Namur University. The Argonauts were defeated by Colorado State-Pueblo 59-38 in the first contest of the event. Dixie State will compete against Colorado State-Pueblo in the 5:00 p.m. matchup tomorrow night.
 
Yellowjacket fans are encouraged to bring can goods to tomorrow nights event to receive half off general admission.