AZUSA, Calif. – The MSU Billings women are one win away from tying to deepest postseason run in program history.
MSUB plays GNAC foe Alaska-Anchorage in the NCAA West Regional championship game Monday night in Azusa, Calif. The 1998-99 MSUB Yellowjackets won the West Regional title, the only MSUB team to ever advance to Elite 8. Current Athletic director Krista Montague (previously Fjelstad) was a senior on that squad.
The Jackets reached the regional final again during the 2013-14 season, but fell to Cal Poly Pomona 75-68. Alisha Breen played all but one minute as a freshman in that game, and now the senior gets a shot at redemption, which has been the Jackets theme on this postseason run.
“We have had opportunities to play (Northwest Nazarne) and (Seattle Pacific) who we were 0-2 against, and we beat both of them,” said Breen. MSUB beat both NNU and SPU in the GNAC Championship tournament on their way to the title.
“This is our third shot,” added Breen. “This is third team in the conference that we went 0-2 against, and we’re getting a chance to beat them in a regional tournament. You can’t ask for anything more.”
Jackets guard Rylee Kane, who scored a career-high 31 in MSUB’s 75-73 win over UC-San Diego in the second round of the regional tournament Saturday, echoed that sentiment.
“I think that for every single person this has just been a crazy experience, it’s been super fun,” said Kane. “Every game is exciting, and I think tonight we’re just looking for the same thing and hope we get another win.”
Tip-off is schedule for 8:00 p.m. Mountain time.
