BILLINGS, Mont. – A pair of NCAA Division II west region opponents await the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team in San Francisco this weekend, as the Yellowjackets begin the 2017-18 season on the road.
 
MSUB plays at the Academy of Art on Friday night at 6 p.m. Mountain time, and on Saturday at 2 p.m. Mountain time against Holy Names University. Both games will be played at Kezar Pavilion on the AAU campus, and live video and live statistics will be available for both games online through Stretch Internet here.
 
The 'Jackets generated preseason momentum with a pair of exhibition victories over the last week. MSUB held off the University of Montana Western 80-75 at home last Wednesday, before rolling past Rocky Mountain

College 71-48 on Monday night at the Fortin Center in Billings.
 
This weekend marks the first of 10 non-conference matchups on MSUB's schedule, before the 'Jackets embark on the 20-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference slate from December through February. MSUB was picked to finish seventh in the GNAC preseason coaches' poll, released last week. 

Senior Alisha Breen, who had 31 points against Montana Western and 20 against Rocky, was named the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year for the second straight season. Fellow senior and point guard Rylee Kane was also a preseason all-conference selection, and started the preseason off with nine assists against the Bulldogs and six against the Bears to go along with 16 and 19 points.
 
A FAMILIAR FOE: Though there haven't been many, the games between MSUB and AAU have proven to be dramatic contests over the last three years. The first-ever meeting was on March 14, 2014, when Bobbi Knudsen and the 'Jackets held on for a 60-59 win in the opening game of the NCAA Division II West Region Championships. Knudsen had 17 points and six assists, including a jumper with 28 seconds left to nudge the 'Jackets ahead for the final time. Breen led MSUB with 14 rebounds in the game.


 
AAU claimed the rematch in November of 2015, handing the 'Jackets a narrow 69-67 defeat at Alterowitz Gym. Breen had a career-high 37 points in the game, making 9 of 20 field goals and a GNAC record 19 free throws in 21 attempts.

Academy of Art University Urban Knights
Friday, November 10 | 6 PM (MTN) | San Francisco
2017-18 Record: 0-0
Head Coach: LaNay Larson, 7th season
2016-17 Record: 16-12, 12-8 PacWest (T-6th place)
 
Only a tiebreaker kept the Academy of Art out of the PacWest Conference tournament a season ago, as the Urban Knights finished 16-12 overall and 12-8 within league play to finish in the upper half at sixth place.
 
Friday will also be AAU's first game of the 2017-18 season, and the team was picked to finish sixth in the 2017-18 PacWest Conference preseason coaches' poll.
 
The Knights lost their leading scorer from a season ago, as Rodericka Ware averaged 17.8 points per game as one of the top 3-point shooters in the conference. AAU does return Helena Orts, who was eighth in the league in scoring with 15.3 points per game and fourth in the PacWest with 9.0 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-2 forward was a preseason all-conference honoree for the Knights.
 
Dominick Pre'Franz is another key returner for seventh-year head coach LaNay Larson, who was limited to just six games last year but figures to be a leader as a senior.
 
In 2016-17, AAU averaged 70.2 points per game while allowing 72.5, and the Knights were out-rebounded by the opposition 42.6-40.9.
 
The Series: Both games between the 'Jackets and Knights have been close affairs, with the young series sitting at 1-1 dating back to 2014. Friday's game will be the first road contest for MSUB at AAU.
 
Last Time Out: Breen's personal scoring best wasn't enough to overcome four double-figure scorers for the Knights two years ago. Kane, Vanessa Stavish, Lexi Prevost, and Taylor Edwards are the other Yellowjackets on the roster who played in the game the last time the teams met.

Holy Names University Hawks
Saturday, November 11 | 2 PM (MTN) | San Francisco
2017-18 Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Dave Covell
2016-17 Record: 3-23, 3-17 PacWest Conference (13th place)
 
The Hawks are coming off a tough season in the PacWest, finishing in 13th place with a record of 3-23 in 2016-17.
 
HNU is a youthful squad with just one senior in guard Hannah Santos, who made three starts and averaged 2.3 points a season ago.
 
Onjalise Carley-Hilliard had a strong debut season last year, with an average of 8.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a true freshman. Junior guard Taylor Krouse returns to run the offense, after making 23 starts and leading the team with 64 assists last year. She also had 6.2 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per game.
 
As a team HNU ranked 13th in the PacWest with 58.4 points per game while allowing 67.1 in 2016-17. The Hawks were out-rebounded narrowly, 39.6-39.3.
 
The Series: Saturday's game will be the first-ever contest between the Yellowjackets and Hawks.