Box Score
Box Score


Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings women's basketball team finish the regular season on the right foot; dominating Central Washington with an 85-65 victory. The Yellowjackets complete the weekend sweep and finish the regular season at 17-9 overall, 11-7 in the GNAC, notching them the No. 3 seed entering the GNAC Championship Tournament.
 
MSUB pounced on the Wildcats early and never looked back, leading the entire contest. Despite Courtney Johnson's career and game high 29 points, the Jackets led by double digits the majority of the game. MSU Billings had their best shooting night of the season, finishing 50.9 percent from the field (28-55), 41.4 percent from three-point territory (12-29) and 94.4 percent from the free throw line (17-18).
 
“I was really proud of how we played tonight; we shared the ball well and were very focused from the beginning,” stated head coach Kevin Woodin. “I give Central Washington a lot of credit they are a very athletic team, and they continued to fight throughout the game.” I felt this weekend we played our best basketball. I am happy with how we hung in mentally over the past few weeks.”
 
The Yellowjackets out-rebounded Central Washington 39-32 but lost the turnover battle 12-8. Bobbi Knudsen and Janiel Olson both recorded double-doubles. Knudsen notched her first of the season with 19 points and 10 assists; while Olson tallied her seventh on the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Quinn Peoples had another solid shooting performance off the bench, going 4-9 from behind the arch, finishing with 14 points. Monica Grimsrud also shot the ball well tonight, finishing 3-6 from three-point territory, tallying 11 points.
 
“A big part of our success tonight was how we shot the ball,” Woodin said. “We collectively had a great shooting night, and played a complete game.”  
 
The Wildcats reserves came to play tonight, attributing for 44 of the 65 points. Jessica VanDyke was the only Central Washington starter to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points. She also grabbed a team high eight rebounds.
 
MSU Billings held a 10 point, 25-15 lead midway through the first half; the Wildcats continued to play tough and cut the lead down to three (29-26) at the 6:12 mark with an 11-4 run. The Yellowjackets held their poise and pushed their lead back to 10 (38-28) with 3:48 remaining in the half.
 
After Central Washington cut the lead to six (40-34) at 1:12, MSUB used a Kayleen Goggins jumper and two Knudsen free throws to close the half with a 10 point lead (44-34).
 
Knudsen led all scorers with 13 points.
 
The Wildcats could not keep pace with the Yellowjackets and fell behind by 19 at the 9:25 mark in the second half. Central Washington managed to come within 13 (66-53) of MSUB's lead, before the Jackets built their lead to 21 with 6:01 left in regulation.
 
MSU Billings kept their foot on the gas and didn't allow the Wildcats to effectively get back into the game; eventually closing out the game with a 20 point victory.
 
“We started the second half very well; I felt this weekend we played our best basketball,” stated Woodin. “I am happy with how we hung in mentally over the past few weeks. Overall I am very pleased with our road trip and we are looking forward to the GNAC tournament.”
 
With the 2012-13 regular season coming to an end, the Yellowjackets will shift their attention to the GNAC Championship tournament in Lacey, Wash. starting on Wednesday, March 6; MSUB will be facing Seattle Pacific University. Fans can catch all the live action by clicking on the link listed below.
 
GNAC Web Stream and Live Stats
 
Newspaper Box Score
Montana State Billings vs Central Washington
03/02/13 5:21 pm PST at Ellensburg, WA
At Ellensburg, WA
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 85, CENTRAL WASHINGTON 65
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (17-9, 11-7 GNAC)
Knudsen,Bobbi 5-10 8-8 19; Peoples,Quinn 4-9 2-2 14; Olson,Janiel 4-10 5-6
14; Grimsrud,Monica 4-7 0-0 11; Goggins,Kayleen 5-7 0-0 10; Tolman,Brooke
3-6 0-0 9; DePuydt,Annie 3-4 0-0 6; Capouch,Tenika 0-0 2-2 2; Kumm,Brandy
0-1 0-0 0; Hanser,Austin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-55 17-18 85.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON (9-17, 4-14 GNAC)
Johnson,Courtney 11-20 2-2 29; VanDyke,Jessica 4-9 0-2 10; Burke,Daisy 3-15
2-3 9; Schmitt,Ally 2-4 0-0 4; Parker,Jasmine 2-6 0-0 4; Caldwell,Nina 1-1
1-3 3; Fettig,Tayler 1-6 0-3 2; Shine,Hannah 1-1 0-0 2; Matheson,India 0-1
1-2 1; Moser,Amber 0-0 1-2 1; Martinez,Annie 0-0 0-0 0; Stillar,Leslie 0-2
0-0 0. Totals 25-65 7-17 65.
Montana State Billings........   44   41  -   85
Central Washington............   34   31  -   65
3-point goals--Montana State Billings 12-29 (Peoples,Quinn 4-9;
Tolman,Brooke 3-6; Grimsrud,Monica 3-6; Knudsen,Bobbi 1-3; Olson,Janiel 1-3;
Kumm,Brandy 0-1; Goggins,Kayleen 0-1), Central Washington 8-25
(Johnson,Courtney 5-7; VanDyke,Jessica 2-7; Burke,Daisy 1-8; Stillar,Leslie
0-2; Schmitt,Ally 0-1). Fouled out--Montana State Billings-None, Central
Washington-None. Rebounds--Montana State Billings 39 (Olson,Janiel 11),
Central Washington 32 (VanDyke,Jessica 8). Assists--Montana State Billings
16 (Knudsen,Bobbi 10), Central Washington 14 (Burke,Daisy 4). Total
fouls--Montana State Billings 14, Central Washington 16. Technical
fouls--Montana State Billings-None, Central Washington-None. A-358
Great Northwest Athletic Conference game