BILLINGS, Mont. – Coming off three straight triumphs over non-conference foes and 12 days of practice, the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team heads into the Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule with a road trip to Canada and Washington this week.
 
After splitting a two-game series last fall, the 'Jackets open with Simon Fraser University Thursday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m. local time at West Gymnasium in Burnaby. Saturday, MSUB takes on perennial title contender Western Washington University in Bellingham's Sam Carver Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Fans can follow both games via livestream and live statistics using links on the MSUB women's basketball schedule page.
 
Defeating any GNAC team on the road is a tall task, but the Yellowjackets bring momentum after they notched recent home victories over South Dakota School of Mines, Corban University and Chadron State College. Veteran leaders have arrived at the forefront and young guns have begun to increase their roles, two signs of a team on the march toward improvement in 2019-20.

GNAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS (as of 12/4/19)

Team	Conf	PCT	Overall	PCT	Home	Away	Neutral	Streak
Simon Fraser	1-0	1.000	6-5	.545	4-2	0-1	2-2	Won 3
Alaska Anchorage	0-0	.000	7-1	.875	4-0	2-1	1-0	Won 2
Saint Martin's	0-0	.000	3-2	.600	3-0	0-1	0-1	Won 1
Northwest Nazarene	0-0	.000	4-3	.571	2-1	0-1	2-1	Won 2
Alaska	0-0	.000	5-4	.556	2-1	0-2	3-1	Lost 1
Central Washington	0-0	.000	3-3	.500	1-1	0-1	2-1	Lost 1
Montana State Billings	0-0	.000	3-4	.429	3-0	0-1	0-3	Won 3
Western Oregon	0-0	.000	2-4	.333	1-3	1-0	0-1	Lost 3
Concordia	0-0	.000	1-7	.125	0-2	0-1	1-4	Lost 3
Seattle Pacific	0-0	.000	0-6	.000	0-2	0-2	0-2	Lost 6
Western Washington	0-1	.000	4-3	.571	2-0	1-2	1-1	Lost 1

 
"We are really looking forward to starting conference play," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "It's difficult to play two talented teams on the road to start off, but I think we've gotten better over the last few weeks. Now it's time to find out exactly where we are at."
 
The Yellowjackets started the year 0-4 against top competition on the road, but have since gone undefeated at Alterowitz Gymnasium and put an exclamation point on an emphatic 75-49 win on Pack the House Elementary School game day.
 
"Having last week off helped a lot," said Woodin. "We didn't get to focus ourselves enough during that stretch of nine games in 23 days because it was important to be looking towards our next opponent. This week, we've been able to focus on what we do best and finding combinations that are going to work. With 12 days to rest, we are at our healthiest point heading into this weekend as well. Now it's just a matter of translating our victories at home into road success, which is always a challenge."
 
SHELLEY STAYS NEAR THE TOP: Before the season started, coach Woodin spoke at length about sophomore Taryn Shelley's potential to be one of the league's most effective players. With a pair of double doubles against Chadron State and Corban, as well as a team leading 13.6 points per game, the 6-foot-3-inch forward appears well on her way. Shelley currently ranks 13^th in the GNAC in scoring, fourth in rebounding (8.4 rpg), and 13^th in free throw percentage (.737). Shelley marked a new career high 29 points against Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 2, a game in which she also raked in 15 rebounds in 35 total minutes.
 
As of December 3, 2019.
 
Shelley is not the only veteran to light up the stat sheet, though she is a frequent target of passes from teammates Jeanann Lemelin and Hannah Collins. Collins has been a key offensive contributor with 10.4 points per game and a team leading 19 assists. The Great Falls native took second team all-conference honors as a sophomore and is slightly ahead of her rebound pace a year ago at 3.9 boards per contest. Collins notched 22 points and five rebounds on November 23 against Chadron State.
 
LEMELIN LEADS: When the Yellowjackets need an emotional spark, they often turn to their senior captain. Lemelin has had a knack this year for creating fast break opportunities for her teammates. She leads the squad with 12 steals, including five against Corban on November 18. Lemelin began the season with modest offensive totals, but ratcheted up her shooting with 12 points against Corban and 16 versus Chadron State in Billings. Lemelin ranks 16^th in the GNAC in steals (1.7 spg), sixth in free throw percentage (.813), and 17^th in assists (2.6 apg).
 
 
MSU Billings has struggled to stay healthy in the opening weeks, but will likely get a boost from senior forward Taylor Cunningham, expected to draw in to a game for the first time since November 16. Last season, Cunningham started 23 games and ranked third on the team with 11.4 points per game.
 
ADDED DEPTH: The Yellowjackets have depth options with seven freshmen competing for playing time. Guard Shayla Montague has provided an infusion of perimeter shooting and leads the team with 12 made 3-pointers on 33 attempts (.364). Montague's efficient shooting lead to an increase in minutes. She now averages 21.9 minutes with four starts for MSUB. On the defensive end, Montague ranks second on the team with 38 rebounds (5.4 rpg) and five steals.
 
Freshman Danielle Zahn (Florence, Montana) is often the first to check in at the scorer's table off the bench. Zahn has played all seven games with 2.7 points per game and seven minutes. Shannon Reny provides another reliable option. The sophomore forward helped break open a game against South Dakota Mines and has seen her time on the court increase from 2.1 minutes per game in 2018-19 to 9.1 minutes through seven contests this year via strong play.
 
 
WHERE THEY STACK UP: MSUB scores at a clip of 59.7 points per game, which ranks ninth among the 11-team conference. They have been responsible defensively and rank fourth with 63.7 points allowed. The numbers include a game against No. 1 ranked Drury University on November 3. One area MSUB will desire to improve is assist to turnover ratio. MSUB has gathered 82 assists compared to 125 turnovers and rank 10^th in the category. On a positive note, the 'Jackets and SFU are the only teams heading into conference action riding a three-game win streak.
 
THE CONSTANT GARDNER: Behind a 22-point performance by Collins and a double double by Shelley, the Yellowjackets toppled Chadron State College 68-54 at Alterowitz Gymnasium to wrap up non-conference basketball. Lemelin contributed 13 points to the win and Addison Gardner marked a career best game off the bench with six points amid a myriad of noteworthy plays.
 
MSU Billings shot 36-percent in the first half and jumped out to a 20-8 lead after Collins and Montague both connected on 3-point baskets. Shelley grabbed eight of her 11 rebounds in the first half and MSUB led at the break 29-23. Gardner sparked MSUB's offense early in the fourth quarter. MSUB also committed just seven turnovers in the final 20 minutes of the contest.
 
 
Scouting Simon Fraser University
Thursday, December 5 – 7:30 p.m. – Burnaby, British Columbia – West Gymnasium
2019-20 Record: 6-5, 1-0 GNAC, 4-2 home, 0-1 away, 2-2 neutral
2018-19 Record: 17-11, 13-7 GNAC, 7-3 home, 8-4 away, 2-4 neutral
Head Coach: Bruce Langford (19^th season)
 
The Clan already boasts landmark wins this season over Cal Poly Pomona and more recently Western Washington University and look poised to contend for a playoff spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Led by longtime head coach Bruce Langford, Simon Fraser enters Thursday on a three game win streak and is 4-2 on their home court this fall.
 
The Clan has scored 71.7 points per game and allowed opponents to score 71.6. With 83 of 272 attempted 3-point field goals, SFU shoots .305 from long range. The team is most potent in the third quarter where they score an average of 22 points.
 
Junior guard Jessica Jones leads the team in scoring with 19.6 points per game in seven starts. Jones is shooting .455 from the field and would lead the conference with 24 made 3-pointers if she played enough games to qualify. Jones also averaged 5.0 rebounds and has 12 assists and 12 steals.
 
Senior point guard Tayler Drynan scored 10.9 points per contest with 2.7 rebounds through 11 starts. Drynan started all 29 games last season and put up 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds for the Clan.
 
Junior forward Ozioma Nwabuko is effective on both ends of the court. She is on pace to score 10.9 points per game and leads the team with 6.5 rebounds, including 35 offensive boards through 11 games.
 
"Simon Fraser plays up-tempo and is very talented, especially on the perimeter," Woodin said. "They are one of the top 3-point shooting teams that we will face all year but they also run their transition offense well. They have one of the better back-court tandems in the whole league with experienced guards Tayler Drynan and Jessica Jones. With so many players who shoot well, they can really spread you out. On defense, Ozioma Nwabuko is so good on the offensive glass that we are going to have to work hard against her. It's going to be important to find ways to score while also making sure a high scoring offense like SFU doesn't get too hot."
 
Tuesday night, Simon Fraser defeated Western Washington 64-60 in the GNAC opener at West Gym. Both teams were effective on offense and Georgia Swant was the catalyst the SFU's win. Swant shot 8-for-8 from the field for 20 points, including 17 in the second half and hit the key shot in the final minute of play. Jones chipped in 15 points and added eight rebounds.
 
Scouting Western Washington University
Saturday, December 7– 7 p.m. – Bellingham, Washington – Sam Carver Gymnasium
2019-20 Record: 4-3, 0-1 GNAC, 2-0 home, 1-2 away, 1-1 neutral
2018-19 Record: 17-13, 11-9 GNAC, 11-7 home, 5-5 away, 1-1 neutral
Head Coach: Carmen Dolfo (29^th season)
 
A slow start by Western Washington University standards, the Vikings suffered a 64-60 defeat for SFU Tuesday night but has wins over Fresno Pacific University and Humboldt State University in non-conference play.
 
Veteran head coach Carmen Dolfo has led the Vikings to the NCAA Division II tournament 16 of the last 21 seasons, including a trip to the elite eight in 2012-13. Senior center Anna Schweke led the team scored 11 points per game last season and leads the current team with 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds through seven starts. Junior forward Kelsey Rogers was the team leader in points a season ago and is right behind Schweke with 9.5 points per contest along with 3.8 rebounds.
 
The Vikings have scored 70.6 points per game (fifth) and allowed 68.4 points to opponents (eighth). WWU also ranks third in field goal percentage (.428), third in defensive rebounding (32.4), first in blocked shots (5.3), second in assists (16.7), and fifth in turnover margin (-0.57).
 
"Western Washington returned their entire starting five from last season with two solid post players and great depth. This is a tournament-tested team that is ready to take the next step forward. You have to play well on their court to come out on top because they won't give an inch. To win, we are going to have to do the little things well, limit turnovers, and get extra opportunities by rebounding and playing well on defense. If we do that, I like our chances."
 
Last season Western Washington swept the season series after defeating MSUB in Bellingham 63-57, then in a low scoring affair in Billings 53-48 on senior day.