The Retort

Yellowjackets Win Conference Opener over Saints, 72-67

January 29th, 2010 by MSUB Athletics For The Retort

A strong defense and 11 three-pointers helped the Montana State Billings women’s basketball team pull out a hard fought 72-67 victory over visiting Saint Martin’s University Thursday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

“This was an important win for us against a very good team,” said head coach Kevin Woodin. “I am proud of all of our players for gutting it out and finding a way to win. Give St. Martin’s credit, they would not go away and they continued to fight. We made some big free throws down the stretch and I thought Callie Kautzmann’s jumper off a pass from Ryan at about the minute mark was huge.”

The Yellowjackets were paced by three players in double figures, led by junior Sarah McNamee and sophomore Kalli Stanhope who had 17 points apiece. Junior Callie Kautzmann rounded out the double-digit scoring with her 16 points and seven rebounds.

MSUB struggled through the first part of the first half, trailing most of the way until Kautzmann hit a lay-up with 9:39 remaining to put the Jackets ahead, 19-18.

Trailing 34-25, the Yellowjackets used a pair of triples from McNamee and one more from Stanhope as part of a 12-1 run to close out the half, and went into the locker room with a 37-35 lead.

“I thought our team did a better job of finding the open player as the half progressed,” Woodin said. “They were doubling Kayla Ryan and she did a nice job of getting the ball out of the double team and it enabled Kalli Stanhope and Sarah McNamee to get some good 3point looks on the weak side. The way we closed the first half was critical to us winning the game.”

The Saints were unable to find a rhythm as the second half began, not connecting on a field goal until the 13:54 mark left in the half. The Yellowjackets held the Saints without a field goal for a span of 11:01, going back to the 4:15 mark in the first half.

After mounting a nine point lead, 46-37, the Yellowjackets were able to keep the Saints at a safe distance until the 3:43 mark. Then the Saints went on a 6-0 run, all by free throws, to cut the lead to 67-55.

Kautzmann was able to come off a screen set by Kayla Ryan and a hit a jumper from above the free throw line with 1:20 to put MSUB up by four.

Both teams traded free throws as the clock wound down, McNamee hitting her lone freebie of the night to seal the five point victory for the Yellowjackets.

“We started the second half out well but we had some mental lapses in the second half and missed some shots we should have made. I think fatigue played a factor. However, we got some good minutes from our bench players – Ashley Reed, Melissa Porter, and Rachel Hansen.”

Saint Martin’s (6-6, 0-1) had four players in double-figures, led by Dara Zack’s 20 points and nine boards. Jamey Gelhar and Megan Teade both tallied 11 points, while Katie Hawkins contributed with a double-double, 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Saints won the rebounding margin by a landslide, 41-29, and shot 42.9 percent from the floor.

MSUB (8-4, 1-0) shot 41.7 percent from the floor, including 11-of-27 from deep. They were consistent from the free throw line, going 11-of-13 and turned the ball over just 13 times while forcing 18. The Yellowjackets scored 26 points in the paint and had 21 off of turnovers.

The Yellowjackets have now won three consecutive games since dropping four of five. MSUB takes a break from action until starting the longest road trip of the season, four road games in two weeks. The Jackets head out on the road Thursday, Jan. 14, against the eighth-ranked Seawolves of Anchorage, Alaska and Saturday, Jan. 16, against Fairbanks, Alaska.