BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Women's Basketball team will face their toughest test of the conference schedule so far as they head to Western Washington University and Simon Fraser University this week.
 
The Yellowjackets have finished the first-half of their conference slate with a 7-2 Great Northwest Conference Athletic record and look to carry their momentum of four straight wins into some tough road games against a team who is also sitting at 7-2, and a team who is one game back at 6-3.
 
"We are very excited to play both WWU and SFU this week," Head Coach Kevin Woodin said.  "Both of them are playing very well and they represent great challenges for our team."
 
Last week the Yellowjackets picked up two wins at home, defeating Saint Martin's University 75-56, and Western Oregon University 79-57.  Bobbi Knudsen had 35 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds over the two games.
 
Janiel Olson had 17 points and 21 rebounds with six assists.  Chelsea Banis put-up 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.  Kayleen Goggins also had 22 points and Alisha Breen came off the bench for 15 points over the two games.  Against WOU Breen was 4-5 from the field, 4-4 from the free-throw line with six rebounds.
 
Last week Montana State University Billings (14-5, 7-2 GNAC) held both opponents to under 60 total points while applying pressure to a Saint Martin's team that had been also tied for first, to 30 percent shooting from the field. 
 
"I was happy with our consistent play last weekend at home so hopefully we can bring that consistency with us on the road," Coach Woodin stated.
 
This week the Yellowjackets will head into their two games tied for fourth amongst GNAC opponents in scoring offense, but have the No. 1 scoring defense. MSU Billings is also ranked No. 1 in offensive and defensive rebounding amongst GNAC schools.
 
Western Washington (11-6, 7-2 GNAC) is riding a six-game winning streak and hasn't dropped a conference game since the last time they played MSUB back on Jan. 4.  Last week WWU defeated both Alaska Schools at home, overcoming Alaska Anchorage 76-70 and then Alaska Fairbanks 92-80.
The Vikings are being led by Katie Colard and Taylor Peacocke.  In the GNAC, Colard is ranked seventh with 15.2 points per game.  Peacocke is averaging 13.8 points and is third in the GNAC in field-goal percentage with 54.1 percent. 
 
Sarah Hill is the top rebounder for WWU with 7.8 per game.  Jenni White is the Vikings assist leader with an average of 4.4 per game.
 
Overall WWU is averaging 74.5 points per game.  They are shooting 46 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point territory.  They are also averaging 37 rebounds, 15 assists and 15 turnovers a game.
 
Last time the two teams met on Jan. 4, backed by a new career-high 37 points from Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB got the win 82-69.  The Yellowjackets are now 11-18 against the Vikings, 7-6 at home and 2-11 on the road.
 
Simon Fraser University (12-5, 6-3 GNAC) is on a three-game winning streak.  Last weekend the Clan defeated Alaska Fairbanks 75-73 and Alaska Anchorage 78-74.
 
From SFU, the GNAC's leading scorer Erin Chamber's put up 64 points in the two wins.  She shot 62 percent from the field and was 13-14 from the free-throw line.  Her performance earned her Red Lion/GNAC Player of the Week honors.
 
Katie Lowen is averaging 11.6 points.  Rebecca Langmead is averaging 6.9 rebounds per game and Marie-Lin Petit is leading in the assist category with 4.1 per game.
 
The Clan is averaging 70.5 points per game with 36.6 rebounds and 15.9 assists.
 
MSUB got the win earlier in the season over SFU 81-63.  The Yellowjackets are now 4-4 against the Clan, 3-2 at home and 1-2 on the road.
 
"We will need to play very good team defense and offensively, we need to make the most of every possession," Coach Woodin said.  "Rebounding will definitely be critical too."
 
Montana State University Billings is averaging 72.8 points, 38.5 rebounds and 13.8 assists per game. 
 
In GNAC contests Bobbi Knudsen is right behind SFU's Chambers, averaging 20.6 points per contest.  Knudsen is averaging 6 assists per game which places her at sixth nationally and first in the GNAC.  She is also first in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.90) and first in free-throw percentage (88.7).  At 45.6 percent, Knudsen is also sixth in the GNAC in field-goal percentage. 
 
Janiel Olson continues to lead the GNAC in rebounds.  With 10.6 per game, Olson is also ranked 17^th nationally.
 
Kayleen Goggins is averaging 10.9 points per game and Chelsea Banis 10.0.  Banis is also ranked 10^th in the GNAC in blocked shots per game.
 
Quinn Peoples is No. 3 in the GNAC in three-point field-goal percentage with 36.0 percent and fifth in three-pointers made per game with 2.0. 
 
Both games for MSUB this week will be part of a double-header schedule.  On Thursday Jan. 30, Montana State University Billings will face-off against Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. at 5:15 PM Pacific Time.  On Saturday, Feb. 1, MSUB heads north to Canada where the game will also start at 5:15 PM Pacific Time against Simon Fraser University.  Both games will have live video and live stats available at MSUBSports.com.