Montana State-Billings
91, CSU-Pueblo 81
BILLINGS, Mont. - CSU-Pueblo planned on starting the 2008-09
season with a bang in their opener at Montana State-Billings
Saturday, but the ThunderWolves encountered an incredibly hot team
in the homestanding YellowJackets, falling 91-81.
The Pack was absolutely victimized in the first half as
MSU-Billings came out strong, stunning the Pack with two effective
first half runs. Early on, the YellowJackets built a 13-2 run
to take an early 20-9 lead just eight minutes into the game, then
attacked with a 12-5 run to close the half and bring a 53-38 lead
into halftime.
The ThunderWolves were able to battle back, finding their
three-ball in the second half as well as a little more prowess on
the boards. Jonnie Draper (Sr.,
Littleton, Colo.) and Mary Rehfeld (Sr.,
Juneau, Alaska) hit nine three-pointers between them in
the game, keeping the Pack within striking distance. Point
guard Rachel Espinoza
(Fr., Pueblo, Colo.) was also strong, adding 19 points and
going 6-for-13 from the field. But it was all simply too
little, too late.
"Jonnie, Mary and Rachel really kept us in it," Pack head coach
Kip Drown said, "But Billings shot the ball real well, especially
in the first half, and what it comes down to is they simply shot
better than us."
Overall, MSU-Billings shot 42 percent from the field compared to
just 37 percent by the ThunderWolves, and matched the Pack, 11 for
11, in three-point shots, the ThunderWolves' bread and
butter. Billings also dominated the boards, out-rebounding
the Pack 55-36, a major factor in their building a huge first half
lead.
The Pack's struggles on the boards was due to the loss of last
year's starter at the post, Sarah Staggs (Jr.,
Glendale, Ariz.) to an injury that could sideline her for
several weeks. The team responded with a platoon of
Danielle
Pritchett (Sr., Stockton, Calif.) and Caitlyn Jewell (Jr.,
Pagosa Springs, Colo.) at the post, but the duo is in the
middle of a steep learning curve. Coming into Saturday's
game, neither had ever started a collegiate game.
"Danielle got in foul trouble real early, and when Caitlyn came
in, she got in trouble too," Drown said. "But they both did
some good things, and they're still learning and I'm proud of what
I saw out of them tonight."
The YellowJackets were also buoyed by three double-doubles,
including a monstrous game from Alira Carpenter, who scored 33
points and snagged 11 boards.
Meanwhile, no ThunderWolf was able to take down more than six
rebounds. Rehfeld led Pack scorers with a 21-point
effort. Her rebound figure of six was also the team's
highest.
The loss certainly takes the wind out of the Pack's sails, which
was hoping to open the season with a win for the second consecutive
season. But Drown said the setback won't take the team off
track.
"We got beat by a real good team and I tip my hat to them,"
Drown said. "We just have to get better. We're going to
be alright."
The ThunderWolves return home for the annual Al Kaly Classic
next weekend, when they host Willamette (Ore.) and Cameron (Okla.)
at Massari Arena.
