Box Score



BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Women's Basketball team won their game over Western Washington University Saturday Jan. 4, 82-69.
 
Montana State University Billings (10-4, 3-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) used the efforts of Preseason GNAC Player of the Year Bobbi Knudsen's performance and a big night on the boards to halt a nine-game drought against Western Washington.  The Yellowjackets shot 51 percent from the field and made seven three-point baskets in the win against the Vikings.  They also held WWU to 25 points in the first half and overall had a 10 rebound advantage on the glass. 
 
Western Washington University (5-6, 1-2 GNAC) kept the game close in the first half.  WWU's Marcel Pounds hit a three-point basket at 10:18 to get the Vikings to within two, 19-21.  MSU Billings would respond with a 20-6 run ending the half up 42-25. 
 
"I felt our team played great team defense tonight and our defensive rebounding was very good," Head Coach Kevin Woodin said. "I thought we played extremely well in the first half."
 
WWU would come back after the half, making a run in the first five minutes outscoring the MSUB 13-7 and getting to within 11 points 38-49.  But, that would be the closest the Vikings would come as MSU Billings would continue to pick their shots and play tight defense. 
 
"I knew Western would make a run and they did but, I thought we responded down the stretch," Coach Woodin said.  "Also, we were very good from the foul line which was critical to our victory."
 
The Yellowjackets were 21-22 from the free-throw line for a 96 percent game total.  That is second-best in a GNAC season game this year.  MSUB outrebounded WWU 29-19 and forced Western Washington to turn over the ball 14 times.
 
The Vikings offense was led by Katie Colard who had a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds.  Tia Briggs had 14 points.  Taylor Peacocke was 7-10 for 15 points.  Jenni White had a team-high seven assists.
 
Western Washington shot 52 percent in the game, 36 percent from the three-point arc.  They were 6-11 from the free-throw line.
 
For MSU Billings, Janiel Olson had 12 points and six rebounds.  Annie DePuydt had 10 points including going 6-6 from the charity stripe. 
 
Bobbi Knudsen shot 66 percent going 14-21 in the game for a new career-high 37 points.  She also had a team-high six assists, with three rebounds, and two steals.  Knudsen's performance included making 6-6 free-throws, and going 3-4 from three-point territory.
 
Her new career-high eclipses her previous best from Nov. 23, 2012 of 33 points scored against Dixie State University.  This takes Knudsen's total career points to 1,489, placing her at No. 6 all-time at MSUB.
 
Knudsen's 37 points in a game is also a new season-high record in the GNAC for 2013-14.  Her 14 total baskets is second only to 15 from Megan Hingston of Northwest Nazarene.
 
"Bobbi Knudsen had a special game," Coach Woodin stated.  "She was definitely in a zone but, she also makes her teammates better which is a sign of a great leader."
 
Next week Montana State University Billings will only have one game when they travel to Seattle to face-off against another tough GNAC opponent in Seattle Pacific University.  The last time the two teams met was in last season's GNAC conference tournament where SPU ended up with the edge, winning the game 63-60.
 
"Tonight's game was an important GNAC victory for our team," Coach Woodin said.  "Next week we only have one game, but it is against a very tough, nationally-ranked Seattle Pacific.  We are looking forward to a few days off before going back to work on the court in preparation for the game in Seattle."
 
MSUB will face Seattle on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 3 PM Pacific Time.  Live video and live stats will be available at MSUBSports.com
 
 

Western Washington University vs Montana State Billings

1/4/2014 7 PM at Alterowitz Gymnasium

At Alterowitz Gymnasium

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 82, WESTERN WASHINGTON U 69

WESTERN WASHINGTON U (5-6, 1-2 GNAC)

Colard,Katie 7-14 1-1 18; Peacocke,Taylor 7-10 0-2 15; Briggs,Tia 5-7 4-6

14; Hill,Sarah 3-5 1-2 7; White,Jenni 3-6 0-0 6; Donaldson,Sydney 2-8 0-0 4;

Pounds,Marcel 1-2 0-0 3; Gandy,Kiana 1-2 0-0 2; Albert,Rachel 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals 29-55 6-11 69.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (10-4, 3-1 GNAC)

Knudsen,Bobbi 14-21 6-6 37; Olson,Janiel 3-8 5-6 12; DePuydt,Annie 2-8 6-6

10; Goggins,Kayleen 3-5 2-2 8; Hanser,Austin 2-7 0-0 6; Peoples,Quinn 1-4

2-2 5; Banis,Chelsea 2-5 0-0 4; Capouch,Tenika 0-0 0-0 0; Kumm,Brandy 0-0

0-0 0; Breen,Alisha 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-59 21-22 82.

Western Washington U..........   25   44  -   69

Montana State Billings........   42   40  -   82

3-point goals--Western Washington U 5-14 (Colard,Katie 3-8; Pounds,Marcel

1-2; Peacocke,Taylor 1-1; White,Jenni 0-2; Donaldson,Sydney 0-1), Montana

State Billings 7-18 (Knudsen,Bobbi 3-4; Hanser,Austin 2-5; Olson,Janiel 1-4;

Peoples,Quinn 1-3; DePuydt,Annie 0-2). Fouled out--Western Washington

U-Hill,Sarah, Montana State Billings-None. Rebounds--Western Washington U 19

(Colard,Katie 7), Montana State Billings 29 (Olson,Janiel 6).

Assists--Western Washington U 13 (White,Jenni 7), Montana State Billings 7

(Knudsen,Bobbi 6). Total fouls--Western Washington U 14, Montana State

Billings 16. Technical fouls--Western Washington U-None, Montana State

Billings-None. A-338