Box Score

Woodin interview

BILLINGS, Mont.  – The Montana State University Billings Women's Basketball team won their game over the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday, February 27, 104-77.
 
It was Montana State University Billings' (22-6, 14-3 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) second game of the season with a score of over 100 points, and a great way to clinch the GNAC regular season title and the No. 1 seed at the conference tournament next week.
 
Seven Yellowjackets scored in double-digits and the eighth player led the team in rebounds for the game.
 
"It turned into a shoot-out," Head Coach Kevin Woodin said.  "At times, players on both teams just couldn't miss."
 
MSU Billings started the game shooting 54 percent in the first half.  Kayleen Goggins was 4-8 from the field and 5-5 from the free-throw line in the first half.  She would end the game shooting 58 (7-12) percent from the field and was a perfect 7-7 from the charity strip for a game-high 23 points.  Goggins would also finish with a game-high seven rebounds.
 
"Tonight was an amazing team win for our players," Coach Woodin said.  "I really thought all of them played well on both ends of the floor. Defensively, I really liked the focus and communication of our team, especially in the first half."
 
MSUB started the game with a 20-2 run in the first 6:30 of play.  Quinn Peoples would put up a three-point shot to put the Yellowjackets up by 18.
 
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (9-16, 3-14 GNAC) would respond with 22 points in the next eight minutes to keep the Nanooks in the game.  Kaillee Skjold would pour in five of her 13 points in those eight minutes to keep UAF close.
 
At the half, MSU Billings would be up a 19-point cushion, 54-35.
 
"Fairbanks settled down after our fast start and made it very difficult for us to put them away," Coach Woodin stated.  "They were hitting shots and they are difficult to guard.  They are young and talented and I believe Cody (Head Coach Bench) has them headed in the right direction."
 
In the second half, the Yellowjackets would bring up their three-point shooting.  For the game, MSUB's Peoples had four three-point baskets as she came into the game to contribute 14 total points from the bench.  Brandy Kumm would also come into the game and was 3-6 from the field and 5-6 from the free-throw line for a new career-high of 12 points.
 
"Offensively, we shared the ball very well and everyone contributed in a positive way," Coach Woodin said.  "It was nice to be effective from both the 3-point line and free-throw line in the same game."
 
MSUB was 23-26 for 88.5 percent from the free-throw line on the night.  Besides Goggins, Alisha Breen (4-4) and Tenika Capouch (4-4) did not miss a shot from the charity strip.  Breen would finish the game with 13 points, while Capouch had six points and a game-high eight rebounds.
 
MSUB would score 26 points off of 17 UAF turnovers.  They would also outscore the Nanooks 40-36 in the paint.  The Yellowjackets would end the game shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from the three-point arc.  The University of Alaska Fairbanks would end the game at 47.8 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point territory.
 
Skjold would finish with a team-high 20 points for UAF.  She would also have five rebounds and four assists.  Jordan Wilson would end up with 17 points.  Autumn Childers finished with 15, including going 3-6 from the three-point arc.
 
Victoria Milton had a team-high six rebounds while Benissa Bulaya ended the game with nine assists for the Nanooks.
 
The three seniors for MSUB all ended the game in double-digits.  Bobbi Knudsen had 13 points and nine assists.  Austin Hanser finished with 11 points.  Chelsea Banis had 12 points.
 
"I am very proud of our team for winning the regular season GNAC title," Head Coach Kevin Woodin said.  "This league is so talented and our journey has been filled with many ups and downs.   However, this team has such great chemistry on and off the court and they continue to amaze me with their resiliency and passion."
 
The 104 points the Yellowjackets finished with is 10^th-best in the GNAC all-time, and 5^th-best in MSUB history.
 
This Saturday, Mar. 1 is Senior Night at MSU Billings.  The three seniors on the Women's Basetkball team will be honored following the game versus the University of Alaska Anchorage.  That game is scheduled for a 7 PM tip-off.  The Seawolves won the game the two teams played earlier in the season.
 
"We are excited to play UAA on Saturday night," Coach Woodin said.  "They are a very hot team and they absolutely dominated us the first time we played in Anchorage so obviously we will need to be ready for them.  It will be senior night for our three seniors (Chelsea, Austin, and Bobbi) so it will be a very special evening."
 
You can follow the game on Saturday at MSUBSports.com.  Also, for all GNAC tournament information, please visit our website to purchase advance tickets and for more information regarding game times for next week's championships.
 
 
 
Alaska Fairbanks vs Montana State Billings
2/27/14 7 PM at Alterowitz Gymnasium
At Alterowitz Gymnasium
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 104, ALASKA 77
ALASKA (9-16, 3-14 GNAC)
Skjold,Kaillee 8-16 2-2 20; Wilson,Jordan 8-14 0-0 17; Childers,Autumn 6-9
0-0 15; Logue,Kelly 4-5 0-1 9; Milton,Victoria 2-8 0-0 6; Thornton,Samantha
2-6 0-0 4; Prestwich,Candace 1-3 0-0 2; O'Neal,Ruth 1-2 0-2 2;
Bulaya,Benissa 1-5 0-0 2; Kirk,Brianna 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 33-69 2-5 77.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (22-6, 14-3 GNAC)
Goggins,Kayleen 7-12 7-7 23; Peoples,Quinn 5-11 0-0 14; Knudsen,Bobbi 4-8
3-4 13; Breen,Alisha 4-6 4-4 13; Kumm,Brandy 3-6 5-6 12; Banis,Chelsea 6-8
0-1 12; Hanser,Austin 5-10 0-0 11; Capouch,Tenika 1-4 4-4 6. Totals 35-65
23-26 104.
Alaska........................   35   42  -   77
Montana State Billings........   54   50  -  104
3-point goals--Alaska 9-25 (Childers,Autumn 3-6; Skjold,Kaillee 2-4;
Milton,Victoria 2-7; Logue,Kelly 1-2; Wilson,Jordan 1-2; Kirk,Brianna 0-1;
Bulaya,Benissa 0-1; Prestwich,Candace 0-1; Thornton,Samantha 0-1), Montana
State Billings 11-29 (Peoples,Quinn 4-9; Goggins,Kayleen 2-7; Knudsen,Bobbi
2-3; Kumm,Brandy 1-4; Breen,Alisha 1-2; Hanser,Austin 1-4). Fouled
out--Alaska-None, Montana State Billings-None. Rebounds--Alaska 25
(Milton,Victoria 6), Montana State Billings 33 (Capouch,Tenika 8).
Assists--Alaska 16 (Bulaya,Benissa 9), Montana State Billings 18
(Knudsen,Bobbi 9). Total fouls--Alaska 19, Montana State Billings 8.
Technical fouls--Alaska-TEAM, Montana State Billings-None. A-453