BILLINGS, Mont.  – The women's basketball team at MSU Billings opens the 2014-15 season at home this Saturday with a game against fellow Billings opponent Rocky Mountain College.
 
MSUB is set to host the second annual Throwback Night in Alterowitz as the Yellowjackets pay homage to the school's past by wearing Eastern Montana College jerseys and playing under the moniker EMC for the night.
 
The Yellowjackets opened their regular season at a tournament in Colorado, losing their first game of the season to host CSU-Pueblo, but coming back on the court the following day and winning a game against Western State 95-57.
 
This past Tuesday, MSUB was in Chadron, Neb., for another regional game, this time against Chadron State College. MSU Billings played a solid full-court game, defeating the Eagles 78-52 for its second win in-a-row.
 
Sophomore Alisha Breen is leading MSUB averaging 18.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Close behind her, senior Quinn Peoples is averaging 17.0 points and leads the team in 3-pointers made per game with 2.7.
 
Kayleen Goggins is averaging 16.0 points and leads the team in steals with an average of 2.0 per game.
 
This season the Yellowjackets first played Rocky in an exhibition game on Nov. 4.
 
"I am pleased with our improved consistency in our recent play," head coach Kevin Woodin said. "Earlier in the season we would play solid for a period of time and then struggle for a few minutes. We have begun to play at a higher level for a more sustained period of time."
 
On working on balance in his team's approach, Woodin has been happy with the Yellowjackets' progress. "I also like our offensive balance as we are getting points in the paint and from the perimeter which makes us difficult to defend," Woodin commented. "Rebounding has been a solid trait of our defense thus far and I hope that continues. A couple of offensive areas we are working on improving are passing and spacing while defensively, we need to have better communication between players and improved ball pressure."
 
This will be the Yellowjackets' first game at home since opening with an exhibition game at Carroll College almost a month ago.
 
"Our team is very excited to finally play our first home game of the season," Woodin said on his team being able to open the regular season in Alterowitz this weekend. "It has been 25 days since we played Carroll so that is a long time to go before being able to play in front of your home crowd."
 
Saturday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m., Alterowitz Gymnasium
Live stats: HERE
Live video: HERE
Rocky Mountain College
2014-15 Record: 3-1, Frontier
Head Coach: Wes Keller
 
Rocky has not played a game since they lost to MSUB back on Nov. 4 in the Fortin Center. The Battlin' Bears are still 3-1 on the season, but do play a game tomorrow against Oglala Lakota College. 
 
MSU Billings won the exhibition against Rocky 74-64. Breen and Goggins both completed double-doubles in the win over the Bears. Breen had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Goggins scored 20 points while pulling in 12 rebounds.
 
Peoples had 14 points including a trio of 3-pointers for 14 points while Annie DePuydt ended the game with 10 points.
 
"Rocky played very hard against us and we were fortunate to get out of there with a win," Woodin said.  "We played our best over the final few minutes which was critical. Rocky is much improved this season and has many talented players. I expect us to play our best game of the year to date and it should be a great game."
 
Two players for the Battlin' Bears are averaging numbers in the double-digits. Whitney Mitchell is averaging 16.8 points and Jayde Lefevre is averaging 11.0 points per game. On the boards, junior Tenika Capouch is leading off the glass with 8.0 rebounds per game.
 
Throwback Night had its inception last season, and both the men's and women's teams enjoyed playing in the fun environment.
 
"Our school has a great history and tradition and I still on occasion accidentally refer to our team as EMC which definitely signifies how 'old' I really am," Coach Woodin commented. "The throwback EMC game night is an awesome event and I know our players are looking forward to it. It should be a fun evening."
 
Saturday's game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The MSUB Alumni Association will have yearbooks and additional school information available in the lobby on display.
 
Tickets for Saturday's contest are available at a discount at all Cellular Plus locations this week. Individual tickets are available for $2 at any of the Cellular Plus Billings locations. At the door, general admission tickets will be sold for $8.