The Retort

Shooting Woes Send ‘Jackets to Second Loss, 67-64

Thu February 4th, 2010 by MSUB Athletics For The Retort

A poor shooting night again doomed the Montana State University Billings women’s basketball team, losing a close decision to Montana Tech, 67-64, Tuesday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium. The loss is the second straight for the Yellowjackets who opened the season 4-0.

“Montana Tech seemed to get all of the long rebounds and hustle like plays,” said head coach Kevin Woodin. “We were a step slow all night and they played very hard and deserved to win the game.”

The Yellowjackets had three scorers in double figures, led by a double-double from Mandy Jacobs, 14 points and 10 bards. Sarah McNamee had 18 points, including four three-pointer, while Kayla Ryan also posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.

Both teams traded blows throughout the first half as the Orediggers built a seven point lead with 15:53 to go, but the Yellowjackets battled back to take the lead by six with 3:56 left in the half. The Orediggers managed to take the lead before the half when Brooke Pokorny hit a three 15 seconds before the half, to give Tech a 36-34 lead at half.

MSUB shot 13-of-31 from the field in the first half and was 6-of-15 from deep. The defense had forced eight turnovers and managed eight points from. The bench was able to only accumulate eight points while being outrebounded in the first.

Shooting woes continued for the Yellowjackets in the second, not scoring a bucket until Ashley Reed put in a lay-up with 13:57 to go. The Orediggers stretched their largest lead to nine with 11:54 to go, but again, MSUB cut back into the deficit.

The Yellowjacket retook the lead when McNamee hit a jumper, but Taesha Higbee put Tech in the lead for good with a lay-in with 2:10 remaining. The ‘Jackets had a chance at the buzzer to tie the game but McNamee’s shot found the front of the rim and into the waiting arms of Higbee as time ran dry.

“We shot the ball very well earlier in the season but the past three games have been very poor,” Woodin continued. “We need to trust one another and we need to quit forcing the offense. We need to return to an attacking mentality. I did like the way our team battled back in the second half but in a close game anything can happen.”

Montana Tech was led by Jessie DePell and Dannii Devenny. DePell scored 25 points, going 9-for-19 from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Devenny had a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards. Higbee was the third player in double figures for the Orediggers, scoring 13 points and five boards in the victory.

For the game, MSUB (4-2) scored 10 points off of 15 Oredigger turnovers and outscored the Tech bench 14-7. Tech managed to win the rebounding battle, 41-40, and scored 42 points in the paint. The Yellowjackets did get 21 second chance points.

The loss was the first in 16 games to Montana Tech for the Yellowjackets. The loss was also the first at home for the ‘Jackets against the Orediggers in the series history.

MSUB returns to the court Saturday, December 12, at home against Dickinson State starting at 5 pm.