By: Evan O'Kelly, Director of Communications
MSUB SPORTS – Two of the greatest point guards in the history of the program are featured on the women's basketball all-decade starting lineup.
Their careers combined to cover the first eight seasons of the decade, and each was at the forefront of leading the Yellowjackets to the two most successful seasons of the 2010s.
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
Bobbi Knudsen – Team Captain, Player of the Decade
Position: Point Guard
Hometown: Malta, Montana
Playing Years: 2010-2014 (4 seasons)
Feature Story: Knudsen Leaves Her Mark Atop GNAC Record Books
One of the best to ever play both at MSUB and in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Knudsen left a one-of-a-kind legacy on the Yellowjacket program. A three-time All-American, GNAC Player of the Year, and three-time first-team all-conference selection, Knudsen was inducted into the MSUB Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility in 2020.
Knudsen is one of just two athletes in MSUB history to be named the GNAC Athlete of the Year, a title which she earned after leading the Yellowjackets on their historic Sweet 16 run during her senior year in 2013-14. Knudsen averaged 17.2 points and a GNAC-leading 5.8 assists per game that year, leading MSUB to its first and only GNAC regular-season title.
Knudsen then averaged 17.3 points and 5.0 assists in leading the 'Jackets into the regional title game, where the historic season came to an end with a 75-68 loss to Cal Poly Pomona.
At the end of her career, Knudsen was the GNAC's all-time leader in both points (1,831) and assists (532). She remains No. 3 in school history in points and is No. 3 in assists as well, highlighting 2 of 23 appearances of her name in the program's all-time records.
Knudsen on what stood out about her MSUB teams: "We were really, really good, with really unfortunate luck."
Kevin Woodin (Knudsen's Head Coach 2010-2014): "Bobbi was an unbelievable athlete who loved to compete. She controlled our team's tempo from her point guard position and she was also a top defender. Her leadership and ability to get the best out of her teammates were very important to our team. Bobbi was the ultimate closer. She wanted the ball in her hands at the end of the game."
Where is she now? Knudsen is attending veterinary school at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Rylee Kane
Position: Point Guard
Hometown: Red Lodge, Montana
Playing Years: 2014-2018 (4 seasons)
Feature Story: Kane In Command Of Yellowjacket Basketball
The heir apparent to Knudsen, Kane was a four-year starter who never missed a game in her career. She is one of just two players in GNAC history to start 100 percent of her team's games during her career, and her 125 games played and started are second most in school history.
Kane scored 1,214 points to rank No. 16 in school history, and her 563 career assists rank her second in school history and fourth in conference history. Kane also tied the school record for assists in a game with 13 on Feb. 23, 2017 against Central Washington, and she has three of the top-10 single-season assist totals in school history.
Kane shined brightest during MSUB's dramatic playoff push in her senior year, helping carry the team to both the GNAC Championships and NCAA west regional titles. Kane averaged 21.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists during MSUB's three regional tournament victories, and had two of her most important contributions of her career. In the regional semifinal against No. 23 UC San Diego, Kane scored a career-high 31 points to help the 'Jackets edge the Tritons 75-73. Two days later in the title game against No. 13 Alaska Anchorage, Kane buried a pair of free throws with just seconds left on the clock, and MSUB held on for a 71-70 victory to match the furthest advancement in program history.
Kane was named NCAA West Region Championships Most Valuable Player, and was a two-time all-conference selection during her career.
Kane on her greatest individual moments: "I am probably the worst free-throw shooter MSUB has ever seen, but somehow I was able to make a few pretty important free throws during our games at regionals. Those were some of my best offensive games as well. Other than that, I wouldn't say anything I did was particularly spectacular. I think for the most part I was able to provide consistency in my game. I tried to make an effort to limit mistakes and stay steady both offensively and defensively as much as possible."
Kevin Woodin (Kane's Head Coach 2014-2018): "Rylee steadily improved throughout her career. She played her best during our GNAC and west regional championship runs her senior season. We would not have advanced to the Elite Eight without her outstanding play at regionals. Rylee rarely turned the ball over and I had great trust in her on the floor."
Where is she now? Kane resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she is attending nursing school at the University of Sioux Falls.
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.
