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Woodin Post-Game Interview                              Hanser Post-Game Interview
 
Billings, Mont. – With the momentum of a four game winning streak, the Montana State Billings women's basketball team squared off against the S.D. School of Mines in the first game of Friday night's double-header event. Led by a solid performance from their reserves, the Yellowjackets captured the 74-50 victory.
 
The tempo of the game was very mundane and it seemed as if MSUB let their opposition hang around for a good portion of the game. S.D. Mines deserves a lot of credit they were very aggressive and took advantage of their opportunities early in the contest. Ultimately the Yellowjackets depth and balance proved to be too much for the Hardrockers as they cruised to a double digit win in the latter minutes of the game.
 
Austin Hanser and Monica Grimsrud came off the bench and turned in their best outings of the season. Hanser finished with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds, one block and one steal. Grimsrud tallied nine points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist.
 
Annie DePuydt continues to play well on the perimeter and has served as the team's “sixth man” early in the season. In tonight's game she dropped seven points on 3-4 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, stole two passes and had one assist.
 
Junior guard Bobbi Knudsen had one of her most complete games of the 2012-13 season. She finished with 19 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Her nine assists mark a career high, while her five steals tie her career high set against BYU-Hawaii on Dec. 19, 2011.
 
“Hanser played her best game of the year,” stated head coach Kevin Woodin. “She defended well and attacked the basket better on offense. Grimsrud and DePuydt also contributed solid minutes off the bench. Our captains did a nice job of leading our team tonight.”

Janiel Olson remained remarkable on the glass as she posted a double digit total in the rebound column for the third consecutive outing, finishing with 10 rebounds against the Hardrockers.   
 
S.D. Mines had solid performances from starter Olivia Antilla, and reserves Devyn Asche and Katie Strandholm. Antilla and Asche combined for 21 points and 15 rebounds, while Strandholm led the Hardrockers in scoring with 14.
 
MSUB jumped out to an 11 point advantage, 22-11 at the 11:24 mark. S.D. Mines countered and cut the Jackets lead to seven with 10:04 remaining.
 
The Yellowjackets pushed their lead back to 11 at 4:23 but the Hardrockers remained competitive and used a 7-1 run to come within five of MSUB, 32-27, with 1:40 remaining in the first half. Following a Brooke Tolman three pointer to increase the Jackets lead to eight; Antilla hit one of two free throws to cut MSUB's advantage to seven before the half.
 
“I was impressed with S.D. Mines and how quick they were,” Woodin said. “They were very aggressive and out played us in the first half. I thought we were sloppy with the basketball and had too many unforced turnovers.”

At the start of the second half both teams traded baskets, but the Jackets ultimately built their lead to 15, 47-32, with 12:48 left in the contest. S.D. Mines would not go away quietly and cut MSUB's lead in half, 51-44, with a 12-4 run and 8:27 remaining.
 
As they felt the opposition getting back into the game, the Jackets locked down on defense and limited their opponent to zero points from the 8:27 to 4:52 while pouring in 11 points of their own. With an 18 point advantage, 62-44, MSUB had a firm control of the game. The Yellowjackets increased their lead to 26 with 1:29 remaining, before ultimately closing out the contest with a 24 point victory, 74-50.
 
“We played much better especially on the defensive end,” stated Woodin. “I thought we got our hands on a lot of balls and we got some easy baskets from our defense. I also thought we protected the ball better in the second half and made the extra pass.”

MSUB shot the ball better in the first half than the second, going 39.7 percent overall from the field. The Yellowjackets struggled from behind the arch and from the charity stripe, going 21.4 percent and 47.6 percent on the night.

The Hardrockers out rebounded the Jackets 40-38, but MSUB forced S.D. Mines into 25 errors while only committing 13 turnovers.

MSUB is now 6-3 overall and on a five game winning streak. The Jackets will have 10 days before the double-header event against cross town rival Rocky Mountain College on Monday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m.

“It is nice to have some time off to heal up as we have some nagging injuries,” Woodin said. “Our players also have finals next week so their focus will be on their academics over the next few days. We are looking forward to playing Rocky on Dec. 17. It should be a great game.”