BILLINGS, Mont. – Adding two more pieces to his 2018-19 recruiting class, Montana State University Billings women's basketball head coach Kevin Woodin introduced Taryn Shelley and Addison Gardner as the newest Yellowjackets on Tuesday.
 
Shelley is a native of Shoreline, Wash., and spent her first year of college in the women's basketball program at Washington State University. Gardner is a soon-to-be graduate of Charles M. Russell High School in Great Falls, Mont., where she was a two-sport standout athlete.
 
Shelley is a 6-foot-2 forward who last competed on the floor at Shorewood High School during the 2016-17 academic year. For the Thunderbirds, she was a two-sport athlete earning eight letters in volleyball and basketball. In her prep career, Shelley was a three-time all-Wesco selection, and as a senior she averaged 16 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. She also led her team as a junior, with 13.8 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game in league play.
 
"I am very excited to have Taryn join our basketball program," commented Woodin. "She had an amazing career at Shorewood High School in Seattle, and I expect her to make a positive impact on our team right away. She brings needed size and athleticism to our team, and I am really looking forward to coaching her this fall."
 
Among Shelley's highlight performances was a 32-point effort which led to Prep Athlete of the Week accolades. In addition to her basketball skill, Shelley was an all-league volleyball player and earned all-tournament team at the state tournament.
 
"I am very excited to be coached by Coach Woodin this fall, and it seems like a really great program he has created," Shelley commented. "I chose MSUB because I feel like it will be a really good experience, and I can't wait to be a part of the team."
 
Gardner is wrapping up a decorated career with the Rustlers, during which she was named to the CMR Athletic Hall of Fame for her participation on the girls basketball team each of the last two seasons. The 5-foot-7 guard was a first-team all-state selection each of the last two years, was named her team's offensive most valuable player, and led the squad in both assists and free throws. Serving as team captain as a senior, she finished her career with 933 points and was in the top-five in the state in scoring for three consecutive seasons.
 
"Addison is a very talented player," said Woodin. "She is fundamentally sound, and attacks the basket very well. She had an excellent senior season at CMR, and I believe her best basketball is still ahead of her."
 
Gardner also led the Class AA Eastern Conference with 2.8 steals per game in 2017-18, while leading the division for three straight seasons in free throws made and attempted. In addition to her basketball prowess, Gardner was a team captain on her soccer team and started on the 2014 squad that won the Class AA state title. She was an honor roll selection all four years of her high-school career, and was voted by her basketball teammates to earn the CMR Lady Rustler Teammate Rustler Award as a senior.
 
"I love Montana and decided during my junior year that I wanted to stay close to my roots," Gardner said. "When I visited MSUB I felt very welcomed by the players and coaches. Educationally, I think MSUB will be a great fit for me with its smaller class sizes and undergraduate degree programs. I feel like there is a great family atmosphere at MSUB, and I am super excited to be part of the women's basketball program."
 
Gardner is the third Great Falls native to join MSUB's women's basketball roster, and will reconvene with former CMR standout and senior-to-be Taylor Edwards and 2017-18 freshman Hannah Collins from Great Falls High.
 
Shelley and Gardner join Micalann McCrea of Ronan, Mont., and Shannon Reny of Libby, Mont., who each signed letters of intent during the early fall signing period.
 
The Yellowjackets went 25-12 in 2017-18, winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships tournament, the NCAA Division II West Region Championships tournament, and appearing in the NCAA D2 Elite Eight for the second time in program history.