BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Women's Basketball team has their final two conference games of the season this Thursday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Mar 1.
This week, MSU Billings (21-6, 13-3 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) will host both Alaska schools in a bid to win the conference title and receive the No. 1 seed at the GNAC Championships the following week.
Although already assured of a place in the GNAC conference tournament, with a win either Thursday or Saturday, the Yellowjackets will clinch the GNAC Conference title and secure the No. 1 ranking at the Conference Championships next week in Lacey, Wash.
Last week the Yellowjackets split a pair of conference road games, completing the season sweep of Western Oregon University with a win 77-67, then taking a loss against Saint Martin's University 59-69.
Bobbi Knudsen had 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists in the two games.
Chelsea Banis came away with a new season-high in rebounds with 14 in the game against Saint Martin's.
Alisha Breen just missed out on a double-double in both games last week, pulling down seven rebounds and scoring 11 points in the game against WOU, and then grabbing nine rebounds (a new career-high for her) and contributing 11 points in the game against SMU.
Montana State University Billings' first conference road trip was to Alaska in early December where the Yellowjackets split, losing their game against Alaska Anchorage 59-90, but coming back to get the win against Alaska Fairbanks 83-46.
The Nanooks of Alaska Fairbanks are on a five-game slide as they head into Billings this week. UAF has played some teams close, but are sitting at 9-15 and 3-13 in the GNAC.
"The schedule is strange in the fact we have not played the Alaska schools in about 3 months," Head Coach
Kevin Woodin said. "I know all teams have improved a lot, so it will be interesting to see how the games go. Both Alaska schools like to play at a fast tempo and they have several good players so it will definitely be a challenge for us to guard them effectively."
Alaska Fairbanks lost last week to Western Washington, 65-91 and then to Simon Fraser by two, 67-69.
The Nanooks are being led by Jordan Wilson who is averaging 15.4 points and seven rebounds per game. Benissa Bulaya is averaging nine points. Bulaya is also the assist leader, averaging 3.7 per game.
As a team UAF is averaging 71.5 points, 40.1 rebounds, and 20.8 turnovers per game. The Nanooks are shooting 40 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three-point arc.
MSUB is 47-11 all-time against UAF. At home the Yellowjackets are 23-2.
Last week Alaska Anchorage got the win against Simon Fraser University, 71-87 and the win over Western Washington, 79-75.
The Seawolves are 18-6 overall and 11-5 in the GNAC and are on a four-game win streak.
MSUB has lost the last 12 of 13 games the two schools have played. MSU Billings won their game at home last season, 78-64, to snap a 10-game losing streak. The Seawolves got the better of the Yellowjackets in Anchorage earlier in the season.
"This week is a very important week for us," Coach Woodin stated. "It is nice to finish our GNAC regular season at home. I know these games will be extremely challenging. Offensively we will need to make the extra pass and limit turnovers."
The University of Alaska is on a four-game win streak. Although the Seawolves are in the play-offs, this week UAA is playing for what seed the team will receive.
In league play, Alaska Anchorage leads as the top scoring offense, averaging 79.1 points per game. They also lead in assists (17.4), steals (13.8), turnover margin (+5.31), and offensive rebounds (16.2).
As a team overall, Alaska Anchorage is averaging 82.4 points per game, which has them ranked No. 5 in the country. They are ranked No. 1 in steals per game with 15.2 per game and ranked No. 3 in their team turnover margin with 7.5.
They are shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from the three-point arc.
The Seawolves have four players who are averaging in the double-digits for points. Alli Madison is averaging 14 points per game. Kylie Burns with 11.8 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds. Kiki Robertson has 11.4 points and 5.2 assists. Jessica Madison with 10.9 points.
Robertson is ranked No. 2 in the GNAC in assists per game and assist to turnover ratio, and No. 1 in the GNAC and No. 3 in the country in steals per game with 3.5.
While they did drop out of the top 25-ranked teams in the country, the Yellowjackets continue to be top-10 in several national categories, including fewest fouls per game (14.9, 3rd), fewest turnovers per game (12.3, 5th), and rebounding margin (8.4, 9th).
Bobbi Knudsen is leading the Yellowjackets in points with 17.5 and assists with 5.7. Knudsen is currently ranked No. 1 in the GNAC and No. 6 in the nation in assists with 5.7 and No. 1 in the GNAC in assist to turnover ratio at 1.90.
Chelsea Banis is averaging 10.1 points per game. She is leading the team in field goal percentage at 55.2 percent and is second on the team in rebounds with 6.1 per game.
Quinn Peoples leads the team in three-point field goals made with 2.3. She is ranked No. 2 in the GNAC in three-pointers made, and three point field goal-percentage with 37.9.
As a team, MSU Billings is ranked No. 1 in the GNAC in several categories including three point shots made per game at 7.7, assist to turnover ratio at 1.1, and rebounding margin with +8.4.
The Yellowjackets are shooting 42.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from the three-point arc. They are averaging 72.9 points per game, with 39.3 rebounds and 12.3 turnovers.
This Saturday is Senior Night for the Women's Basketball team and for the Cheer team at MSU Billings. The Cheer team will be honored for their time as a Yellowjacket during half-time of the game against UAA on Saturday. There are three seniors being honored this year: Sara Randall who has been a part of the program for two years, Jamie Slaugh who has been on the Cheer team for three years, and Kyle Stroup who has been on the Yellowjacket squad for all four years.
"Saturday's game represents senior night as we will honor
Bobbi Knudsen,
Austin Hanser, and
Chelsea Banis immediately after the game," Coach Woodin said. "Each of them has excelled at MSUB both on and off the court. I consider myself to be very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach and work with them."
Thursday, Feb. 27, in a game sponsored by Jackets and Co., Montana State University Billings will host the University of Alaska Fairbanks for a 7 PM tip-off. Saturday, Mar. 1, MSUB will host the University of Alaska Anchorage at 7 PM as well. Live video and live stats for both games can be found at MSUBSports.com.
For both Thursday's and Saturday's games, fans will receive ½ price admission with the donation of a canned food item.
Note:
Janiel Olson will not play this week due to the injury she sustained in the game against Western Oregon University. The injury is currently being evaluated on a daily basis.
To purchase tickets at an early discount to this Years' GNAC Championships in Lacey, Wash. Mar. 5-8 please visit:
HERE
2013-14 MSU Billings Women's Basketball Seniors
Chelsea Banis is from Fairfield, Mont. This year, Banis transferred from Montana State University to complete her senior year of eligibility at MSU Billings. Although not able to complete a full season due to injury, Banis was able to post some solid numbers as a Bobcat, totaling 452 career points in 52 games, 144 defensive rebounds and 35 blocks. She scored in double-figures in ten separate contests, including a season-best 19 points at Portland State University.
Banis is a two-time All-Big Sky Conference Academic All-Conference recipient. She graduated from Montana State in May 2013 with a Bachelor's Degree in Community Health. At MSUB she has continued her education in the pursuit of a Master's Degree in Health Administration. Banis graduated with a 3.66 as an undergraduate, and is currently carrying a 4.0 in her graduate studies.
As a Yellowjacket, Banis has started in all 27 games, posting this season 272 points, 11 steals, 25 blocks, 89 defensive rebounds and 75 offensive rebounds, a 61.5 free-throw percentage and 116 total field goals.
Currently Banis is shooting at a record-setting 55.2 percent overall. She is also ranked No. 12 in the conference for blocked shots per game at just under 1.
Austin Hanser is a product of Billings, Mont., where she attended Billings Central High School. At Central, Hanser was a standout two-sport athlete playing both soccer and basketball. She was a first team all-state selection for both her senior year and earned academic all-state honors in both sports as well. Hanser claimed most valuable player honors in the State 'A' basketball tournament during her senior year, helping to guide her team to winning the state basketball championship. During her senior year, Hanser chose basketball as her collegiate sport to focus on.
After receiving a full-ride scholarship to Rocky Mountain College, Hanser spent her first two seasons playing basketball as a Battlin' Bear. During her two seasons at Rocky, Hanser appeared in all 60 games. As a Bear, Hanser made 690 points, 94 steals, 130 assists, 279 total rebounds, 117 of 185 free throws, 53 three-pointers and 260 made field-goals.
After transferring to MSUB, Hanser has become the 'Spark' the Yellowjackets have consistently called upon. Throughout her two seasons at MSUB she has appeared in all 54 games, had 60 assists, 101 rebounds, and 181 points, for a career total of 871. Throughout her senior season, Hanser has averaged 2.2 rebounds per game and a free-throw percentage of 56.1 percent.
Austin Hanser is majoring in History at MSUB. Last season, Hanser was selected to the Academic All-Conference team. She currently carries a 3.50 GPA.
Bobbi Knudsen is a senior from Malta, Mont. Knudsen will finish her time as a Yellowjacket as one of the most prolific players of all-time at MSU Billings. She is currently in 17 of the All-Time lists at MSUB.
Bobbi Knudsen joined the MSUB Yellowjackets in 2010, where she has completed all four years of her eligibility. Bobbi is majoring in Biology with a 3.485 GPA at MSUB. She is a four year starter and letter-winner at MSUB. She is a two time All-American and two time Capital One Academic All-District Eight team selection.
Knudsen is currently a two-year Academic All-Conference player, as well as being named GNAC Player of the Week five times throughout her career.
Knudsen is from Malta, Mont. where she lettered four years in basketball, track and cross country. Knudsen averaged 11 points, 5.5 rebounds and four assists per game as a senior. She led her team to a state championship in 2007 and 2010, as well as, a state third place and second place finish in 2008 and 2009 respectively. In high-school, Knudsen was an all-conference and all-state selection in 2009 and earned all-state and all-conference honors in 2010.
For the past three years, Knudsen has consistently been in the top-ranking categories as a Yellowjacket. Currently in NCAA Div. II, she is nationally ranked No. 6 and then No. 1 in the GNAC for assists per game with 5.7. Knudsen is also ranked No. 1 in the conference in assist to turnover ratio at 1.90.
Knudsen presently holds All-time Top 10 MSUB record status in points, assists, made field-goals, made three-pointers and steals. She is ranked No. 2 in career points with 1735, No. 2 in career assists and season assists with 493 and 167 respectively, No. 3 in career field-goals made with 647, No. 5 in career three-pointers made with 166, and No. 5 all-time in career steals with 187.
Additional highlights include a career-high of 37 points versus Western Washington University (1/4/14), placing Knudsen tied for the 5
th highest game in GNAC history. Knudsen also made GNAC records for single game assists with 13 versus Alaska Fairbanks University (1/12/13). This year Knudsen added a career-high of five made three-pointers versus Northwest Nazarene University (1/18/14). This season Knudsen was named the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year.
