BILLINGS, Mont. – Donning black and gold for Eastern Montana College throwback night, Montana State University Billings will be home Thursday night to take on crosstown rival Rocky Mountain College at 7 p.m. The team then plays Dickinson State University in a Sunday afternoon matinee at 2 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium. Both are non-conference games and will be available for live streaming and statistics via MSUB's Stretch Internet Portal. Tickets can be purchased at the game or by contacting Hollie West at hollie.west@msubillings.edu.
 
The 'Jackets will look to even up the season series against Rocky Mountain College after the Battlin' Bears took game one at First Interstate Arena in November 66-65. MSUB has won four of its last five outings and three straight at Alterowitz Gymnasium but fell to Western Washington on Saturday to snap a four-game win streak. Rocky Mountain College is off to a 6-2 start with a Frontier Conference win over University of Providence last Thursday.
 
"It's a level playing field for everyone this week and the players have the added challenge of navigating finals as well," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "I think the team that executes the best will win and I'm looking forward to finding out how much we've improved since we played Rocky Mountain College a couple weeks ago. We have shot the ball much more consistently at home, so I hope that trend continues. With so many Montana players and people in the crowd that give us support, it is really a focus for us to play at our best inside our gym. Anytime you can post a home winning streak like we have at the moment, you want to keep it going."
 
 
THE BEAT: With three consecutive 20-point games, junior guard Hannah Collins is up to 11^th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in scoring with 13.6 points per game. Taryn Shelley scores at a rate of 12.4 points per game and has been up and down game-by-game in terms of offensive production. Jeanann Lemelin is playing well and leads the team with 15 steals in nearly 29 minutes per game.
 
The 'Jackets returned seniors Taylor Cunningham and Janessa Williams from injury in the past week and statistics have reflected a positive boost as a result. Cunningham is a regular starting forward who can score consistently from the perimeter and Williams is a reliable veteran option who can occasionally start as well.
 
"It's been great to have Janessa and Taylor back playing," said Woodin. "They are seniors and very positive leaders who give tremendous effort on and off the court. Having them back helps with our rotations and they also mentor the younger players. Our overall intensity level is better when they are out there and they understand what it takes to win at this level."
 
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Yellowjackets (4-5, 1-1) fell to Western Washington 81-61 at Sam Carver Gymnasium on Saturday after they defeated Simon Fraser on the road 73-70 Thursday night. MSUB played catchup for most of the game against the Vikings and struggled to stop WWU's strong inside shooters. Despite the loss, Collins put away 25 points and Taylor Cunningham marked eight points and shot 3-for-4 from the field.
 
Thursday, the 'Jackets played excellent defense in the first half and held on late to down the Clan in the GNAC opening game. Collins sparked the offense in the second half and finished with 27 points with four made 3-pointers. Shelley dominated the paint with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Cunningham was instrumental in her return to the lineup with 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
 
"We had a lot of games against difficult opponents right away and I think that will benefit us as we move through the schedule," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "We would have liked to go 2-0 on the road last week but we recognize winning a close game at Simon Fraser was an important step."
 
Scouting Rocky Mountain College
Thursday, December 12 – 7 p.m. – Billings, Montana – Alterowitz Gymnasium
2019-20 Record: 6-2, 1-1 FRONTIER, 2-0 home, 3-1 away, 1-1 neutral
2018-19 Record: 20-13, 10-8 FRONTIER, 11-3 home, 8-6 away, 1-4 neutral
Head Coach: Wes Keller (6^th season)
 
Rocky Mountain College defeated MSU Billings 66-65 in the first installment of the Rimrock Rivalry on November 6. Hannah Collins led the Yellowjackets with 17 points but the Battlin' Bears shot 40-percent compared to 22-percent for MSUB. Markaela Francis led RMC with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Francis leads the team with 17.3 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game.
 
Destinee Pointer is another offensive contributor with 11.7 points per game in eight starts. On defense, Mackenzie Dethman is reliable with 7.2 rebounds per contest including 27 on offense. Dethman also scores at a rate of 11.3 points per game.
 
RMC scores 68.8 points per game and allows 59 points to opponents. Most recently, the Battlin' Bears fell 57-47 in Havre, Montana to Montana State Northern on December 7 and shot 33.3-percent from the floor with seven made 3-pointers on 21 attempts. It has been 39 years since RMC swept a two game season series against the Yellowjackets. MSUB is 41-5 at home against the Battlin' Bears since 1973.
 
"It's imperative that we get off to a better start against Rocky this time around," Woodin said. "They do a really nice job of isolating players and spreading you out. They have a strong ball screen offense and a number of role players who are effective. Rocky is a balanced team that is challenging to play against so playing close early."
 
Scouting Dickinson State University
Sunday, December 15– 2 p.m. – Billings, Montana – Alterowitz Gymnasium
2019-20 Record: 3-7, 0-1 NORTH STAR, 1-3 home, 2-4 away, 0-0 neutral
2018-19 Record: 11-19, 4-10 NORTH STAR, 6-6 home, 4-13 away, 1-0 neutral
Head Coach: Eric Nelson (1^st season)
 
Dickinson State has played a slightly more challenging schedule than Rocky Mountain College to this point, but has mostly struggled. The Blue Hawks lone win over the past five games was an 82-52 trouncing of Yellowstone Christian College. In their most recent outing, Valley City State outscored Dickinson state 91-78 at Scott Gymnasium in the first North Star Conference game of the season.
 
Senior guard Ashlie Larson is the top returning player for the Blue Hawks. Last season, Larson was awarded second team all-conference honors and averaged 11.7 points per game. She shot 34-percent in field goals, 31.2-percent from 3-point range, and 74-percent from the free throw line. Danielle Wallace, Kyley Verploegen, and Natalee Hafer are also among returners who saw time on the floor last season.
 
Dakota Dosch is a transfer acquisition from Miles Community College, where she average 7.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Two other new faces are senior guard Sydney Clark and junior guard Abby Johnson. Clark is a transfer from NCAA DII Eastern New Mexico and Johnson joined DSU from North Dakota State College of Science.
 
The Yellowjackets have not played Dickinson State since 2009, a game which they prevailed 71-61. MSUB is 11-4 in the all-time series against the Blue Hawks since debuting in 1978.