BILLINGS, Mont.  – The Yellowjackets split their games at the 31st Annual Al Kaly Tournament, dropping their first regular season contest against host school Colorado-Pueblo, 79-67, before making a strong statement against Western State, winning their second game 95-57.
 
MSUB is now on its way to Nebraska for a game against Chadron State College. The Yellowjackets are making a quick turnaround with the game against CSC this week. The team will also be back for a home-opener this Saturday against Rocky Mountain College.
 
"Our seniors are playing at a high-level while also providing great leadership," head coach Kevin Woodin said on the team's level of play in last weekend's tournament. "Both Quinn and Kayleen played very well last weekend and Annie continues to improve as she comes back from last year's injury. Alisha Breen has established herself as a force to be reckoned with and two freshmen (Rylee Kane and Vanessa Stavish) provided solid play in Colorado."  
 
Last weekend Breen scored 36 points while securing 17 rebounds in the two games in Colorado. For her efforts, the sophomore forward from Choteau, Mont. was named to the all-tournament team.
 
In the game against Colorado-Pueblo the Yellowjackets ran into some sharp-shooting from the ThunderWolves. CSU-P made 12 3-pointers on their way to the victory.
 
Breen had 23 points and 13 rebounds for MSUB. Three other Yellowjackets' games included points in the double-digits: Kayleen Goggins had 13 with seven rebounds and six assists, Quinn Peoples had 11 points and six rebounds, and freshman Kane had 10 points. Annie DePuydt contributed nine rebounds for MSUB.
 
Against Western State, the Yellowjackets drained 14 3-pointers, seventh-best in program history, to secure the win over the Mountaineers.
 
Peoples and freshman Stavish both had four 3-pointers in the game. Peoples was also the high-scorer in the contests securing 21 points and eight rebounds for the Yellowjackets. Stavish had 18 points while Goggins had 17.
 
MSU Billings shot 46.8 percent from the floor and 51.9 from 3-point territory. MSUB also made 23 free-throws in the game while pulling in 47 rebounds.
 
"I saw progress with our team over the weekend which is exciting," Woodin commented on the opening season tournament. "We ran up against a hot-shooting and talented Pueblo team on Friday. I felt we played hard but we were too inconsistent and thus fell short. On Saturday, we rebounded nicely and played a complete game on both ends. It was nice to see multiple players shooting the ball better and we made the extra pass which was fun to watch. When we get offensive balance, we are a tough team to defend. Defensively, we need to communicate better, but I am encouraged with our overall improvement." 
 
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m., Chicoine Events Center
Live stats: HERE
Live video: HERE
Chadron State College Eagles
2014-15 Record: 0-1
Head Coach: Tim Connealy
2013-14 Record: 4-22, (4-18 RMAC)
 
The Series: MSU Billings is 10-3 all-time against the Eagles. The Yellowjackets are 3-1 in away games against Chadron. MSUB has won the last three contest against the Eagles.
 
Last Meeting:  MSU Billings won an early season game, 59-55, on Nov. 16, 2013 at home. The Yellowjackets led by as many as 16 points in last season's home opener for MSUB. A very determined Chadron team made a run late in the second-half to pull the game to within four in the final minute, but MSUB held the Eagles' late charge off for the win.
 
Last Friday, Chadron lost its regular-season opener against Augustana (SD), 85-59. The Eagles have only four returning faces from their roster a year ago. Chadron was ranked 12th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference coaches' preseason poll.
 
Seniors Katie Simonton and Hattie Guzman make-up half of the team's returners. Sophomores Maddie Metzger and Havannah Newens are also back.
 
In the opening game against Augustana, freshman Maka Daysh was the team's leading scorer with 15 points while Newens scored 14. Metzger led the team in rebounds with seven.
 
The Eagles shot 21 of 53 overall, including 5 of 13 from behind the arc, while shooting 39.6 percent. Chadron also committed 19 turnovers in the game.
 
"Chadron represents a great challenge for our team as they play very hard. I am excited to see how we respond to back-to-back road trips. Our team is excited to have Monica Grimsrud join us for the rest of the season," Woodin said on having dual-sport athlete Grimsrud play after the completion of volleyball season. "I know she will have an immediate, positive impact on our team. Every game is important and I expect us to play our best game of the year on Tuesday night."

Tip-off for Tuesday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live stats will be available, while live video of the contest is available for pay-per-view purchase. For those links please visit msubsports.com.