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Goggins Post-Game Interview
  
Billings, Mont. - Montana State Billings women's basketball team extend their home winning streak to nine games as they defeated Seattle Pacific University 66-56 in the first game of Saturday night's double-header event. The Yellowjackets improve to 12-5 overall, 6-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
MSUB snapped a two game skid as they handed the Falcons their seventh loss of the season. Seattle Pacific falls to 10-7 overall and 4-5 in the GNAC. Saturday's victory was huge for the Jackets as they were one spot ahead of the Falcons entering the game.
 
It was a tale of two halves as Seattle Pacific outplayed the Yellowjackets in the first half and owned a 34-27 lead. MSUB scored 39 points in the second half compared to the Falcons 22 to capture their twelfth victory of the season.
 
Seattle Pacific cooled off in the second half, as they only shot 23.3 percent from the field compared to going 52 percent in the first half. Despite shooting 31.4 percent from the field in the first half, the Jackets found their rhythm and shot 44 percent in the second half.
 
Despite being out-rebounded 38-29; MSUB had another strong defensive performance tallying 10 steals and forcing the Falcons into 21 turnovers.
 
“All in all, it was a great team win for our program tonight,” stated head coach Kevin Woodin. “We beat a very good Seattle Pacific team.”
 
Monica Grimsrud arguably had her best game as a Yellowjacket, coming off the bench to record career highs in points and blocks with 15 and three. She also had six rebounds and a steal in the contest.
 
“Monica played great for the second consecutive game and I believe she will continue to get better,” Woodin said.
Katie Benson was as advertised, finishing with a double-double, 16 points and 17 rebounds. She entered the contest averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. Suzanna Ohlsen also had a solid performance for Seattle Pacific, finishing with 19 points on 7-12 shooting.
 
Bobbi Knudsen and Kayleen Goggins continue their strong 2012-13 campaigns as they both finished in double figures in points. Knudsen tied a game high with 19 points to go along with seven assists and four steals. Goggins tallied 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal.
 
The entire team gave great effort on the glass as every player recorded stats in the rebounding category. Sophomore forward Janiel Olson led the Yellowjackets with eight rebounds to compliment her seven points and two steals.
 
Seattle Pacific jumped out to a 10-0 lead within the first five minutes of play. MSUB climbed back into the game to come within one (15-14) at the 9:50 mark. The Yellowjackets continued to play tough but the Falcons hot shooting allowed them to keep MSUB at bay.
 
As Seattle Pacific was poised to go into the half up 10, Grimsrud nailed a three-pointer before the buzzer to cut the Falcons lead down to seven. MSUB trailed 34-27 to enter the break.
 
“SPU really took it to us early; I give them a lot of credit on how they started the game,” stated Woodin. “I thought we had some good looks on offense but we missed our first 10 shots. Of course we didn't expect to be down 10-0 but it happened. Our team stayed positive and we were able to climb back into the game. Grimsrud's buzzer beating three-pointer was a nice lift for us into the locker room.”
The Jackets carried their momentum into the second half, and evened the score at 37 all with 14:43 remaining in the contest. Both teams traded baskets to even the score for the second time in match (39-39) at the 14:07 mark.
 
Austin Hanser sank a free throw to give MSUB their first lead of the game (40-39) and 13:33 left on the clock. The Yellowjackets pushed their lead to five (44-39) at the 10:45 mark.
 
MSUB and Seattle Pacific dueled back and forth, but the Jackets defense and shooting allowed them to hold on to the lead in the midst of strong efforts by the opposition. Up two (54-52) with 5:30 remaining, MSUB closed the door on the Falcons with a 12-4 run to end the game. The Yellowjackets would eventually go on to capture the 10 point victory.
 
“Our second half was our most complete half we have played in quite some time,” Woodin said. “I really liked the focus of our players and their determination, especially on the defensive end. Coach Harris did a great job of preparing our team for this game and I felt our players battled much harder on the boards in the second half.”
Following Saturday's matchup, the Yellowjackets have completed the first half of their GNAC schedule. Their second half begins next Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7:00 p.m. against Western Oregon University in Alterowitz Gymnasium.
“We are excited about playing at home next week and Western Oregon will be a great challenge for us on Thursday,” stated Woodin. “They got us earlier this month at Monmouth and we need to be ready for them.”
 
 
Newspaper Box Score
Seattle Pacific Univ vs Montana State Billings
01/26/13 5:15 PM at Alterowitz Gymnasium - Billings, Mont.
At Alterowitz Gymnasium - Billings, Mont.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 66, SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIV 56
SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIV (10-7, 4-5 GNAC)
Ohlsen,Suzanna 7-12 0-0 19; Benson,Katie 5-16 5-6 16; Callen,Aubree 2-13 2-2
7; Pflaumer,Maddey 2-3 0-0 4; Bowen,Brooke 2-6 0-1 4; Murray,Rachel 1-1 0-1
2; Butler,Riley 0-0 2-2 2; Stephens,Erin 1-2 0-0 2; Lasconia,Brianne 0-2 0-0
0; Teng,Michelle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-55 9-12 56.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (12-5, 6-3 GNAC)
Knudsen,Bobbi 6-12 5-7 19; Grimsrud,Monica 7-11 0-0 15; Goggins,Kayleen 4-15
2-6 12; Olson,Janiel 1-7 5-8 7; DePuydt,Annie 2-4 1-2 5; Peoples,Quinn 1-2
1-2 4; Hanser,Austin 1-4 2-4 4; Tolman,Brooke 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 22-60 16-29
66.
Seattle Pacific Univ..........   34   22  -   56
Montana State Billings........   27   39  -   66
3-point goals--Seattle Pacific Univ 7-16 (Ohlsen,Suzanna 5-6; Callen,Aubree
1-5; Benson,Katie 1-3; Lasconia,Brianne 0-1; Bowen,Brooke 0-1), Montana
State Billings 6-17 (Goggins,Kayleen 2-4; Knudsen,Bobbi 2-2; Grimsrud,Monica
1-3; Peoples,Quinn 1-1; Tolman,Brooke 0-4; Hanser,Austin 0-3). Fouled
out--Seattle Pacific Univ-None, Montana State Billings-None.
Rebounds--Seattle Pacific Univ 37 (Benson,Katie 17), Montana State Billings
30 (Olson,Janiel 8). Assists--Seattle Pacific Univ 13 (Bowen,Brooke 3;
Ohlsen,Suzanna 3), Montana State Billings 15 (Knudsen,Bobbi 7). Total
fouls--Seattle Pacific Univ 22, Montana State Billings 15. Technical
fouls--Seattle Pacific Univ-None, Montana State Billings-None. A-475