Box Score

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Montana State University Billings Women's Basketball team lost a close contest to Pittsburg State University 77-71 in their first game at the Disney Classic Tip-Off in Anaheim Calif. Friday.

The first half remained an even game until with a tie score at 16 all, and nine minutes remaining in the first half, a lay-up by Pittsburg State's Alexia Bordewick sparked a 26-13 run by the Gorillas and sent the game into the locker-room with a lead by PSU of 42-29.

MSU Billings shot 44.0 percent from the field in the first half to Pittsburg's 46.0 percent, but it was the perimeter shooting that helped build a lead for the Gorillas as MSUB was 0-4 in 3-point shots in the first half while Pittsburg State was 6-9.

"Today in the first half we came out very cold and they made some key 3-point shots and some perimeter shots and we didn't so that was part of why we fell behind in double-digits at half-time,"Head Coach Kevin Woodin said. "We had a hard time sustaining multiple minutes of good solid play; especially in the first half."

In the second half, Pittsburgh State continued to lead for most of the game until with four minutes remaining, a three-pointer by Austin Hanser sent the Yellowjackets on a 16-4 run and drew MSU Billings to within four points with a minute remaining in the game.

Free-throws by Pittsburg State's Brigit Hesser and Lizzy Jeronimus would extend the Gorrilla's lead to eight points but, a foul by PSU at 34 seconds left in the game sent Bobbi Knudsen to the line - her two free throws would pull MSUB to within six, but that would be the final as Pittsburg State would get the win and give MSU Billings their first loss of the season.

"We got beat by a very good PSU team today," Coach Woodin said. "I thought they played more consistently throughout the game than we did. We would have stretches of good offense, but then combine that with some poor defense or vice versa."

MSU Billings' Bobbi Knudsen led all players with 23 points as she was 6-15 from the field and 1-6 in 3-pointers, but a perfect 10-10 at the free-throw line. Kayleen Goggins added 17 points; she was 6-13 in the game and 5-7 in free-throws. Annie Depuydt added 10 points to the contest.


Pittsburg State was led by Jeronimus who had 22 points; she was 6-17 on the night and 10-11 in free-throws. Bordewick had 13 points, and Morgan Westhoff shot 4-5 from 3-point territory to take her total to 12 points.

MSU Billings out-rebounded Pittsburg State 38-32. Jeronimus and Gafford both had six for the Gorrillas. Janiel Olson led the Yellowjackets' team in rebounds with 10. Chelsea Banis had seven.

The Yellowjackets outscored the Gorillas 42-35 in the second half, but it wasn't enough to catch the early lead Pittsburg built up in the first half.

"I was encouraged with the run we made late," Coach Woodin stated. "At that point we made it interesting at the end and that was a tribute to our players that were in the game; they never quit."

Day Two at the Classic

Tomorrow Montana State University Billings will play the University of Indianapolis at 4 PM Pacific Time. The Greyhounds lost their first match today to No. 5 Emporia State 48-76.

The U of Indy shot 28 percent from the floor and was out-rebounded by the Lady Hornets 51-32.

"It will be nice to play again so soon tomorrow," Coach Woodin said. "I expect our perimeter shooting to be tested tomorrow as U Indy plays a lot of zone defense. Hopefully, we can make that extra pass and knock some of our outside shots down to be successful in the game."

"There are a lot of talented teams at this tournament and we will have to play at a very high level in order to come out on top. But, we are excited to play again tomorrow."

Tomorrow's game will have a live radio broadcast on the University of Indianapolis website:
HTTP://WICR.UINDY.EDU/AUDIO/AUDIO.

Live stats should also be available. Stay tuned to MSUBSports.com as we will post the link as soon as it becomes available.

Pittsburg State vs Montana State Billings
11/08/13 11:15 a.m. at Anaheim Convention Center
At Anaheim Convention Center
PITTSBURG STATE 77, MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 71
PITTSBURG STATE (1-0)
Jeronimus,Lizzy 6-17 10-11 22; Bordewick,Alexa 5-12 2-2 13; Westhoff,Morgan
4-5 0-0 12; Reed,Antqunita 4-10 2-2 10; Hesser,Brigit 1-1 4-6 7;
Gafford,Kylie 1-4 4-4 6; Devers,Y'Cedria 2-3 0-0 4; Muff,Alex 1-2 1-2 3;
Brugman,Cathy 0-0 0-0 0; Roderique,Hailey 0-0 0-0 0; Snell,Deja 0-2 0-0 0;
Herlocker,Hadyn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-56 23-27 77.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (0-1)
Knudsen,Bobbi 6-15 10-10 23; Goggins,Kayleen 6-13 5-7 17; DePuydt,Annie 4-9
2-2 10; Peoples,Quinn 2-4 0-2 5; Banis,Chelsea 2-3 0-0 4; Breen,Alisha 0-1
4-4 4; Kumm,Brandy 1-1 0-0 3; Hanser,Austin 1-3 0-0 3; Capouch,Tenika 1-1
0-0 2; Grimsrud,Monica 0-0 0-0 0; Olson,Janiel 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 21-25
71.
Pittsburg State............... 42 35 - 77
Montana State Billings........ 29 42 - 71
3-point goals--Pittsburg State 6-13 (Westhoff,Morgan 4-5; Hesser,Brigit 1-1;
Bordewick,Alexa 1-5; Gafford,Kylie 0-1; Jeronimus,Lizzy 0-1), Montana State
Billings 4-18 (Hanser,Austin 1-2; Kumm,Brandy 1-1; Knudsen,Bobbi 1-6;
Peoples,Quinn 1-2; Breen,Alisha 0-1; Olson,Janiel 0-1; DePuydt,Annie 0-3;
Goggins,Kayleen 0-2). Fouled out--Pittsburg State-Gafford,Kylie, Montana
State Billings-None. Rebounds--Pittsburg State 32 (Gafford,Kylie 6;
Jeronimus,Lizzy 6), Montana State Billings 38 (Olson,Janiel 10).
Assists--Pittsburg State 9 (Bordewick,Alexa 2; Brugman,Cathy 2), Montana
State Billings 10 (Knudsen,Bobbi 3). Total fouls--Pittsburg State 20,
Montana State Billings 21. Technical fouls--Pittsburg State-None, Montana
State Billings-None.
Game 2 CCA Tip Off Classic