Billings, Mont. – After splitting their first pair of GNAC road games, the Montana State Billings women's basketball team returns home to face both Alaska universities. The Yellowjackets will face Alaska Anchorage, defending GNAC regular season and tournament champion, on Thursday, Jan. 10; then compete against Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Jan. 12.
 
The Yellowjackets captured their first conference away victory last Thursday when they defeated Saint Martin's University 67-49, extending their official winning streak to seven games (MSUB won nine consecutive games including their two exhibitions). MSUB would not be able to extend this streak to eight as they were defeated by a hot Western Oregon team on Saturday, who shot over 50 percent from the field and behind three-point territory to capture their first conference victory of the 2012-13 season.
 
Despite splitting last weekend's matches, the Jackets still received 12 votes for ranking consideration in the Dec. 8 USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. Three more votes than the previous poll (Dec. 18). Fellow GNAC members Simon Fraser and Western Washington rank No. 7 and No. 11 respectively. Other GNAC schools receiving votes include: Alaska Anchorage (10 votes), Seattle Pacific (7 votes) and Northwest Nazarene (5 votes).
 
Scoring a total of 38 points in both contests, guard Bobbi Knudsen reached a career milestone as she eclipsed 1,000 career points. She currently stands at 1,006 career points, with 224 points coming in this current season. Knudsen leads the GNAC in scoring (18.7 avg.) and is third in assists (6.0 avg.).
 
Shooting has been the major hurdle for the Yellowjackets, and while they are averaging 70.8 points per game, they are only .382 percent from the field and .275 percent from behind three-point territory. MSUB has been one of the most efficient teams in the nation with their possessions; ranking No. 3 in turnovers per game, No. 5 in assist to turnover ratio, and No. 7 in turnover margin.
 
The Yellowjackets are also strong in rebounding and defense, averaging 39.8 rebounds per game and 10.8 steals.
 
MSUB faces a tough test in this upcoming set of games. Alaska Anchorage comes into the 2012-13 season as the reigning GNAC regular season and tournament champion. The Seawolves advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Division II National Tournament before being defeated by Ashland University who would eventually advance to the 2011-12 national final.
 
Anchorage has had a slow start to this season as they are 7-4 overall and 1-2 in the GNAC, losing two straight GNAC games. Thursday's match will be the Seawolves first road contest of the 2012-13 season. Anchorage is averaging 73.1 points per game on .404 percent shooting, and registering 34.9 rebounds. The Seawolves move the ball well, averaging 17.5 assists, ranking them No. 2 in the conference.
 
The Jan. 10 match up will be one of the most anticipated events of the season in both the back and front court. The Seawolves have two of the best players in the GNAC in Sasha King and Alysa Horn. King leads the conference in assists (7.1 avg.), while Horn is second in rebounding (8.6 avg.) Both are also top 10 in scoring as Horn is fourth (16.1 avg.) and King is seventh (14.7 avg.).
 
Knudsen will welcome the responsibility of squaring off against King, as she leads the GNAC in scoring and is third in assists. Janiel Olson and Kayleen Goggins will more than likely share the responsibility of Horn; as Olson ranks No. 3 in the GNAC in rebounding (8.5 avg.), and Goggins ranks 14th in scoring (11.9 avg.) and 16th in rebounding (5.3 avg.).
 
While MSUB owns the 24-23 advantage in the all-time series, Anchorage has won the last ten games in the series. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
Alaska Fairbanks will also be a challenging contest and cannot be overlooked. Taylor Altenburg and April Fultz are off to solid starts in 2012-13, averaging 11.4 and 11.9 points per game. The pair also averages over five plus rebounds a game with Altenburg leading the team with a 6.3 rebounding average, and Fultz's 5.2 average being good for second. As a team the Nanooks are averaging 41.2 rebounds per game
 
Fairbanks is averaging 65.6 points per game, while shooting .376 percent from the field, .258 percent from three point territory, and .600 percent from the free throw line. Defensively, the Nanooks play the passing lanes very well as they register 12.4 steals per outing, and grab 24.5 defensive rebounds per game.
 
The Yellowjackets and Alaska Fairbanks are set to tip-off at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night in Alterowitz Gymnasium. Fans are encouraged to fill the stands as the athletics department is running a 2 for 1 special on general admission.
 
“This week represents a tremendous challenge for our team,” stated ninth year head coach Kevin Woodin. “I am hoping we will respond appropriately with a great effort after losing on Saturday at Western Oregon. Anchorage is once again very talented and I know Fairbanks is much improved. We will need to play very well in order to come out on top.”
 
If you cannot make it out to Alterowitz Gym Thursday or Saturday night you can catch all of the action live by clicking on the link below or the “video” link next to each individual contest on the women's basketball schedule page.
 
 
Web Stream and Live stats