BILLINGS, Mont. – The regular season opener for the 2019-20 women's basketball season continues to close in, but the team's first real test came in the form of a 101-91 loss to a collection of MSU Billings alumni Saturday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium. The alumni, which featured all-Americans
Bobbi Knudsen, Kayleen Schultz, and
Alisha Breen, shot 55-percent from the field and forced the Yellowjackets to overtime before shutting the door by 10 points. Shultz led the alumni with 31 points.
Vanessa Stavish and
Alisha Breen scored 14 apiece and
Bobbi Knudsen chipped in 13.
The Yellowjackets led 41-40 at the half, but shot just 36-percent in the fourth quarter. "I felt fortunate to be ahead by one at halftime," commented MSUB head coach
Kevin Woodin. "I felt we were outplayed by our alumni most of the first half. They got off to a fast start and had us on our heels. Our bench helped us climb out of an early hole.
Jessica Harvey,
Kali Gulick, and Tylee Manuel and others really sparked us."
Jeanann Lemelin led the 'Jackets with 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting. Lemelin played a team high 44 minutes.
Taryn Shelley contributed 16 points and recorded three blocks.
Taylor Cunningham and
Shayla Montague also had 13 points apiece for MSUB. Montague, a freshman from Billings had a particularly strong second half and Shelley established herself on offense in the third and fourth quarters.
"We struggled with our post defense and our defensive rotations," Woodin said. "These two areas will be critical to our success this year.
Kayleen Goggins Schultz hurt us in the paint and the alumni did a great job of converting open 3's all night. Our defensive communication must improve but give the alumni team credit; they shot the ball extremely well.
Alisha Breen and
Bobbi Knudsen did a great job finding open shooters and their teammates made shots."
"It is important to get the ball to the paint and our team rebounding needs to be one of our strengths this season," said Woodin.
MSU Billings has less than a week left to prepare for the regular season opening tournament November 1-3 in Orange California. There, MSUB will play University of Mary, Cal Poly Pomona, and Drury University at Santiago Canyon College.
"It was awesome to have former players return and play and to catch up with what is going on in their lives," Woodin said. "I am very thankful for all they gave to our basketball program and it is beneficial for our current players to interact with and play against them. I believe a hard-fought early season makes your team better. Our fans definitely got their money's worth tonight."
Follow MSUB women's basketball all season on
msubsports.com and via twitter @MSUBWBB, using the hashtag #JacketBaskets.
