The Basics

• Final score: Western Oregon 37, Montana State Billings 60
• Records: WOU 3-13, 2-6 GNAC; MSUB 11-5, 7-1 GNAC
• The YellowJackets extended their advantage in the all-time series to 20-6.
• Location: Monmouth, Ore. – New P.E. Building

 
How It Happened
The game opened with an even battle until MSUB went on a 12-point scoring streak, and all of those points came from behind the arc. By the end of the first quarter, the YellowJackets had a 23-10 lead. In the second quarter, MSUB limited the Wolves to earn five points, but both teams went scoreless for the last five minutes of the half.
 
The YellowJackets finished the first half shooting 51.9 percent from the field.
 
WOU started the second half with a six-point streak as Ali Nelke, Jordan Mottershaw, and Kelsey Henry each added a field goal. However, the YellowJackets did not let go of the gas pedal as they reached their highest lead of the game of 29 points during the third quarter.
 
The Wolves improved their field goal percentage to 37.5 in the second half, but MSUB ultimately came out on top.
 
Wolves' Top Performers

• Sydney Azorr posted seven points, three assists, and five rebounds.
• Ali Nelke added four points and three rebounds.
• Jazmin Bembry contributed four points, one assist, and two defensive rebounds.
• Launia Davis had four points and one assist.

 
For the YellowJackets

• Monica Grimsrud scored all 14 of her points in the first half, going 5-for-10 in field goals and 4-for-6 in three-pointers.
• Janiel Olson tallied 12 points and eight rebounds.
• Alisha Breen added nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.

 
Stats of the Game

• The Wolves went 15-for-50 in field goals, while the YellowJackets went 21-for-47.
• Three-pointers helped the YellowJackets significantly as they finished nine of 21 attempts, while the Wolves finished three of 16 attempts.
• While the Wolves totaled six assists, the YellowJackets had 13.
• Montana State Billings outrebounded the Wolves, 36-32, but the Wolves slightly had the advantage in offensive boards, 14-13.
• The turnover record was fairly similar as Montana State Billings recorded 16, and Western Oregon had 18, but the YellowJackets were able to execute 23 points off of the turnovers, while the Wolves scored 10.

 
Coach Quotes
WOU head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter after the loss:

• "Billings is a tough team and a very tough match up because of their versatility. They did a great job finding shooters in our zone and then exposed mismatches when we went man. We had to make some adjustments at half, and I thought we did a much better job with their personnel. For the most part, we did a good job keeping them off the offensive glass and were able to hold them under their scoring average."
• "On the offensive side, we let their pressure bother us and did not make an effort to get the ball into our posts. When we struggle to get the ball inside it puts even more pressure on our guards to execute and score. For the majority of the night, we were taking contested shots towards the end of the shot clock and just never got in an offensive flow."

 
Up Next
The Wolves will continue their homestand as Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene will travel to Monmouth on Thursday, January 21 and Saturday, January 23 respectively. As it is Giving Week for the upcoming week, the Western Oregon men and women's basketball programs will be supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Thursday and the WOU Food Pantry on Saturday. For WOU Food Pantry Night, fans can bring two non-perishable food items in order to receive free popcorn.