Women's Basketball | 1/25/2014 6:37:00 PM

Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings' women's basketball team pulled away from Western Oregon University, 79-57, in the final game of the first half of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday.

The Yellowjackets (14-5, 7-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) improved to 9-0 at home this season, and more importantly remained at the top of the conference standings at the midway point. MSUB won its fourth straight game, and is now 9-1 against the Wolves all-time at home.

"Despite the score, I thought we fought for 40 minutes," WOU Head Coach Holli Howard-Carpenter said. "We played our zone well and made the right adjustments. Credit goes to Billings, they are a tough team and they knocked down contested shots and crashed the boards."

Montana State Billings had a 42-23 rebound advantage, and turned 18 offensive rebounds into 19 points. The Yellowjackets finished with five players in double-digits led by Bobbi Knudsen's 15 points. The senior also dished out five assists. Alisha Breen added 13 points, while Janiel Olson had 11 points and nine rebounds. Chelsea Banis and Quinn Peoples both scored 10.

As a team, MSU Billings shot 46 percent from the field, while the Wolves were 39 percent. The Yellowjackets made 10 of their 31 shots from behind-the-arc. WOU was 4-of-16 from three-point range. Both teams shot 9-of-11 from the free throw line.

Western Oregon had one lead in the game, 5-4, four minutes into the contest. With the game tied at 12, MSUB went on a 15-2 run over a six-minute span. The run deemed to be decisive as the Wolves struggled to get close again. A pair of Knudsen free throws closed the half with the Yellowjackets leading, 38-26.

Montana State Billings maintained its double-digit margin for the majority of the second half. The Yellowjackets had their largest lead of the evening, 68-43, after a Tenika Capouch lay-in with 4:28 remaining in regulation. MSU Billings' bench outscored its counterparts, 25-9, and had a 34-26 edge in the paint.

Western Oregon (5-12, 2-7 GNAC) was led by Dana Goularte's 21 points. It was the 14th 20-point performance for the junior. She was one of three Wolves to finish with five rebounds. Melissa Fowler scored a season-high 10 points, and Elise Miller also had 10. Jackie Steiger threw four assists.

"Mel (Fowler) played great tonight, she was aggressive and fought to get on the glass," Howard-Carpenter said. "Jackie was a huge lift off the bench defensively for us as well."

The Wolves welcome their travel partner, Saint Martin's, for their next game. The Saints (11-7, 4-3) have lost three straight games, but eased past WOU in the first meeting this season, 77-46. Next Saturday's tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Monmouth. Live video and stats will be on WOUWolves.com. Live video will also be on WOUTV.

Western Oregon vs Montana State Billings
1/25/14 5:15 PM at Alterowitz Gymnasium
At Alterowitz Gymnasium
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 79, WESTERN OREGON 57
WESTERN OREGON (5-12, 2-7 GNAC)
Goularte,Dana 6-15 8-9 21; Miller,Elise 4-8 1-1 10; Fowler,Melissa 5-11 0-0
10; Divilbiss,Chantel 2-5 0-0 5; Steiger,Jackie 2-6 0-1 4; Goddard,Katie 1-3
0-0 3; Akins,Shyla 1-3 0-0 2; Mottershaw,Jordan 1-2 0-0 2; Nicklason,Leah
0-2 0-0 0; Reade,Amber 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-56 9-11 57.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS (14-5, 7-2 GNAC)
Knudsen,Bobbi 5-12 2-3 15; Breen,Alisha 4-5 4-4 13; Olson,Janiel 4-7 1-2 11;
Peoples,Quinn 4-9 0-0 10; Banis,Chelsea 5-6 0-0 10; Goggins,Kayleen 4-13 0-0
8; Kumm,Brandy 1-5 2-2 5; Capouch,Tenika 2-4 0-0 4; Hanser,Austin 1-6 0-0 3.
Totals 30-67 9-11 79.
Western Oregon................   26   31  -   57
Montana State Billings........   38   41  -   79
3-point goals--Western Oregon 4-16 (Miller,Elise 1-2; Divilbiss,Chantel 1-3;
Goularte,Dana 1-3; Goddard,Katie 1-3; Nicklason,Leah 0-1; Akins,Shyla 0-1;
Steiger,Jackie 0-2; Fowler,Melissa 0-1), Montana State Billings 10-31
(Knudsen,Bobbi 3-7; Olson,Janiel 2-4; Peoples,Quinn 2-5; Breen,Alisha 1-2;
Hanser,Austin 1-4; Kumm,Brandy 1-5; Goggins,Kayleen 0-4). Fouled
out--Western Oregon-None, Montana State Billings-None. Rebounds--Western
Oregon 23 (Goddard,Katie 5; Goularte,Dana 5; Fowler,Melissa 5), Montana
State Billings 42 (Olson,Janiel 9). Assists--Western Oregon 11
(Steiger,Jackie 4), Montana State Billings 15 (Knudsen,Bobbi 5). Total
fouls--Western Oregon 15, Montana State Billings 12. Technical
fouls--Western Oregon-None, Montana State Billings-None. A-512