Box Score
Box Score
 
Woodin Post-Game Interview                  Tolman Post-Game Interview
 
Photo Gallery
 
Billings, Mont. - Montana State Billings women's basketball team put together two great consecutive team efforts this weekend. After a big overtime win last night the Yellowjackets came out in their Saturday bout equally aggressive and defeated Notre Dame de Namur 80-44 and won the 2012 Yellowjacket Women's Basketball Classic.
 
All five of MSUB starters played well, with four scoring in double digits. Brooke Tolman had a game high 19 points, going 5-7 from the three-point territory. She also recorded seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Quinn Peoples poured in 14 points to go along with three rebounds, two steals and one block.
 
Bobbi Knudsen had another great game as she scored 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds, led the team with seven assists, blocked two shots, and had two steals. Janiel Olson led the team in rebounding, snatching eight on the night to go along with her 13 points.
 
Notre Dame de Namur's Charnisha Bradley had a game high nine rebounds, while Tess Dominguez led the Argonauts in scoring with 10 points.
 
The Yellowjackets shot 36.4 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from beyond the arch, and an uncharacteristic 66.7 percent from the free throw line. The Argonauts went 34.5 percent from the field, 100 percent from the charity stripe, but struggled from three-point territory, only shooting 14.3 percent.
 
MSUB outrebounded Notre Dame 49-31, and had fewer turnovers, 10-19.
 
The Yellowjackets started fast and finished strong, jumping out to an 18-2 lead at the 13:47 mark in the first half. Notre Dame cut slightly into MSUB's lead with jumpers by Dominguez and Crystal McLaughlin, but the Jackets pushed their advantage to 22, 28-6, with 7:01 remaining.
 
With an 11-0 run, the Argonauts came within 13 of MSUB, 28-15, at 3:44. The Yellowjackets countered with nine points to the opposition's six to close the half, owning a 39-21 lead going into the break.
 
“I like the way we started the game, our transition game was working and Tolman's three-point shooting was key to taking an early lead,” stated ninth year head coach Kevin Woodin. “Defensively we played well.  I thought our players did a good job of communicating and we rebounded well as a team.”
MSUB came out equally strong in the second half, building their lead to 26 at 13:36, 53-27. The Yellowjackets got great play from their bench on the night, as they combined for 17 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

With a firm control on the game, MSUB pushed their lead to 33, 65-23, with 6:51 remaining. Great defense combined with unsuccessful shooting attempts would not allow Notre Dame to effectively get back into the game and MSUB effectively closed out the contest, capturing the 80-44 victory.

“Our depth was important tonight, everyone made a positive contribution on both ends of the floor,” Woodin said. “Overall, we shot the ball well from the perimeter this weekend which was nice to see.  We had struggled with consistent shooting in our first four games. I would like to thank the Billings Hotel and Convention Center for sponsoring this year's Yellowjacket Classic. Without them, it would not be possible.”

MSUB has won two straight and is now 4-2 overall on the season. The Yellowjacket Classic will prove to be a great warm-up for the women's team as they play their first pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference games next weekend.

The Yellowjackets welcome Central Washington University to Alterowitz Gymnasium Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7:00 p.m. Then compete against Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m.

“We are looking forward to hosting Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene this week to open GNAC play,” stated Woodin. “Both of them are very good and it represents a great challenge for our team.”
 
2012 Yellowjacket Women's Basketball All-Tournament Team

Erika Hicks - #22 – Colorado State University-Pueblo
Johnna Brown - #23 – Dixie State College of Utah
Charnisha Bradley - #1 – Notre Dame de Namur University
Brooke Tolman - #13 – Montana State University Billings
Bobbi Knudsen - #21 - Montana State University Billings
Kayleen Goggins - #43 - Montana State University Billings

*2012 Yellowjacket Women's Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player – Bobbi Knudsen*