By: Evan O'Kelly, Director of Communications
MSUB SPORTS – The women's basketball all-decade team starting lineup features three standout forwards, who each left their mark in the school record books.
MSUB's playoff success during the decade went the way of these three players, who combined to appear in all three of the team's NCAA regional tournament runs.
This Week's Schedule
| Day |
Release |
| Monday, October 12, 2020 |
Forwards - Reserves & Honorable Mention |
| Tuesday, October 13, 2020 |
Guards - Reserves & Honorable Mention |
| Wednesday, October 14, 2020 |
Forwards - Starters |
| Thursday, October 15, 2020 |
Guards - Starters |
| Friday, October 16, 2020 |
Full Team |
The Starters
Alisha Breen
Position: Forward
Hometown: Choteau, Montana
Playing Years: 2013-2018 (5 seasons)
Feature Story: Making An All-American Again
Feature Story: 20-For-20: Breaking Down The Best Season In GNAC History
One of the greatest players in school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference history, Breen re-wrote the Yellowjacket and GNAC record books en route to a memorable career. The only player to compete in all three of MSUB's regional tournament appearances during the decade, Breen's career culminated in leading the 'Jackets to their second NCAA Elite Eight appearance in school history during her final season.
In 2017-18, Breen was a first-team All-American, GNAC and NCAA West Region Player of the Year, and the GNAC Scholar Athlete of the Year. She scored a school and conference-record 791 points – the second-most in the NCAA that season – and broke the school and GNAC all-time scoring records with 2,001 points in her career.
Breen had 25 double-doubles in her career, and is the only player in school history to finish in the top-10 in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. She was a three-time all-conference pick, three-time academic all-conference pick, and a seven-time GNAC Player of the Week. In leading the Yellowjackets to their first-ever GNAC tournament title, Breen was selected as the GNAC Championships MVP as well.
Breen on her fondest MSUB memories: "Getting to experience so many different places with my teammates; the travel was unreal. Winning two GNAC championships and a west region championship. Spending hours with my teammates doing who knows what."
Kevin Woodin (Breen's Head Coach 2013-2018): "Alisha's determination to come back even better from her torn ACL from her first senior season was inspiring to say the least. She was an offensive matchup nightmare for opponents and her ability to score anywhere on the court was critical to our team's success. Alisha was a tremendous leader and had such a complete all-around game. She loved crunch time and delivered for us consistently during her stellar career and her 'second' senior season was simply spectacular."
Where is she now? Breen is beginning her third season as assistant coach for the Yellowjacket women's basketball team in 2020-21.
Kayleen Goggins
Position: Forward
Hometown: Shepherd, Montana
Playing Years: 2011-2015 (4 seasons)
Feature Story: Goggins Capitalizes On Opportunity Of A Lifetime With 'Jackets
Another All-American on the all-decade squad, Goggins was the preeminent post scorer during her career with the 'Jackets. She scored 1,456 points in her four seasons to rank No. 8 in school history, and that was the third-highest total by any player of the 2010s decade.
Goggins was a key starter on MSUB's 2013-14 NCAA regional tournament team, starting all 33 games and averaging north of 11 points per game as a junior. She followed that up with a remarkable senior season, ranking second in the GNAC with 20.0 points per game and earning honorable mention All-American honors.
Goggins also ranks No. 8 in school history with 538 made field goals, and tied for 15th with 595 rebounds. She stared 116 of the 118 games that she played, and as a senior was selected as the MSUB Female Athlete of the Year.
Goggins on what she's most proud of in her career: "I think I'm most proud that I played in a Sweet 16 tourney – it was an experience of a lifetime. I had a successful career that was mainly due to hard work. I spent so many hours in the offseason working to get better at basketball and it really paid off. I'm proud that I played alongside MSUB's greatest player ever for three years and through that still had amazing team and individual success."
Kevin Woodin (Goggins' Head Coach 2011-2015): "Kayleen worked very hard on her game and improved each season. She was a tremendous post player who was effective both inside and out. Kayleen's determined play was important to our team, and I always knew I was going to get her best effort every night. She was a force in the paint for us."
Where is she now? Now Kayleen Schultz, she has been married to her husband Corey Schultz for five years and they reside in Shepherd with their daughters Daisy (3) and Della (1). Schultz has a photography business and is the junior varsity basketball coach at Shepherd High School.
Janiel Olson
Position: Forward
Hometown: Billings, Montana
Playing Years: 2011-2016 (5 seasons)
Feature Story: Olson Overcomes Odds, Owns One-Of-A-Kind Career With 'Jackets
MSUB's all-time leading rebounder also enjoyed a standout four-year career, and was a key factor in helping the 'Jackets reach a pair of regional championship tournaments.
Olson's top campaign came in 2013-14, when she was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 9.7 rebounds per game. The 'Jackets still painfully reflect on what would have become of their regional runner-up finish that season, had Olson's season not been cut short by a devastating knee injury.
A three-time all-conference performer, Olson broke the MSUB record with 1,001 rebounds for an average of 8.8 per game, while adding 880 points for an average of 7.7 per game. Olson played in 114 games and started 111, and also finished her career No. 9 in school history with 178 steals.
Olson on what stood out about her MSUB teams: "We were able to play with the same group of girls for over three years. We knew how to read each other, where we liked the pass, and who liked to back door. We were able to flow and I think that is why we were so successful. We had a long-term team chemistry."
Kevin Woodin (Olson's Head Coach 2011-2016): "Janiel had an awesome motor when she played. Her ability to guard multiple positions and get rebounds on both ends of the floor was so important to our team's success. Janiel played with an edge. She loved to compete and we were so fortunate to have her on our team."
Where is she now? Recently married, Janiel Begger resides in Billings with her husband Travis and is a financial advisor with Edward Jones.
About the MSUB All-Decade Team Project
The top student-athletes from each of Montana State University Billings' current varsity athletic teams from 2010-2019 have been selected, and 14 all-decade teams will be revealed throughout the course of the fall of 2020. Each sport's all-decade team is comprised of the top-performing student-athletes, with weight given to individual athletic achievement and accolades, team achievement, academic achievement, as well as community service. For more information on MSUB's all-decade project, and to view each sport's all-decade teams, view the all-decade project webpage online here.
