(MSU Billings release)
BILLINGS – Coming off one of the greatest seasons in program history, the reigning NCAA Division II west-region champion Montana State University Billings women’s basketball team announced its schedule for the upcoming 2018-19 campaign on Monday.
The 26-game regular-season schedule features 14 home contests at Alterowitz Gym, and five doubleheaders with the MSUB men’s basketball team. The Yellowjackets begin defense of their 2017-18 Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament and NCAA D2 regional titles at home on Nov. 9 against the University of Providence.
“I am excited about our upcoming 2018-19 schedule,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin who will begin his 15th season in charge of the program this year. “It contains many tough non-conference opponents and as always, I expect the GNAC to be very competitive. The first goal each year remains the same, and it is to qualify for the GNAC Championships by finishing in the top-six in our league. We have a strong nucleus of returning players and I am very excited about our newcomers. I believe our team has the potential to be very good this season and I have very high expectations.”
MSUB will host the annual Yellowjacket Classic Thanksgiving tournament, running Nov. 23-25 and featuring games against Valley City State University and Carroll College. The home event will come on the heels of a challenging road trip early in the year, when the ‘Jackets play at Chadron State University and South Dakota School of Mines on Nov. 16-17.
“Our non-league schedule consists of games against strong NCAA D2 opponents as well as some NAIA teams that advanced to the national tournament last year,” Woodin said. “I believe these early, competitive games will prepare us very well for our conference schedule.”
GNAC play starts on the road Nov. 29-Dec. 1, when MSUB takes on Simon Fraser University and Western Washington University in two early conference games before the holiday break. The ‘Jackets will close the 2018 portion of the schedule at the NCAA D2 Daytona Beach Shootout in Florida, where they will take on Maryville University on Dec. 18 and Angelo State University the following day. Both Maryville (NCAA D2, Missouri) and Angelo State (NCAA D2, Texas), as well as Valley City State (NAIA, North Dakota), will be first-time opponents for the Yellowjackets.
2018-19 MSUB Basketball Doubleheaders
Date Men’s Opponent Start Time Women’s Opponent Start Time
11/23 CSU Dominguez Hills 7:30 PM Valley City State 2 PM
1/24 Seattle Pacific 7:30 PM Concordia 5:15 PM
4/26 Saint Martin’s 5:15 PM Western Oregon 7:30 PM
2/14 Simon Fraser 5:15 PM Northwest Nazarene 7:30 PM
2/16 Western Washington 7:30 PM Central Washington 5:15 PM
The 18 remaining GNAC contests run Jan. 3-March 2, as the ‘Jackets make a bid to return to the conference tournament March 7-9 at Sam Carver Gym on the campus of Western Washington. “I look for the GNAC to be very solid from top-to-bottom again this year,” said Woodin. “I like the fact that six of our final eight games are at home this season. Hopefully we can consistently improve throughout the year and peak down the stretch.”
MSUB’s longest home stand during the conference portion of the schedule will run Feb. 7-16, with four straight games at Alterowitz Gym. The Valentine’s Day contest against Northwest Nazarene University will also be the Yellowjackets’ annual Pink Night game to raise awareness for the fight against cancer.
Senior Night is set for March 2 against Simon Fraser, with the Yellowjackets’ final regular-season game being played at home.
In addition to their regular-season contests, the ‘Jackets will play two exhibition games against Rocky Mountain College (Nov. 6 at Rocky and Dec. 7 at MSUB), and will kick off the season with the annual Alumni Game on Nov. 2.
All home games and select road contests during the 2018-19 season will feature live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics, available online through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. Information on season ticket packages, as well as single-game ticket prices, can be found online here.
MSUB Women’s Basketball Schedule
Date(s) Opponent (Last Meeting)
11-6; 12-7 Rocky (EXH) (W, 62-57)
11-9 Providence (W, 87-65)
11-16 Chadron State (W, 69-59)
11-17 South Dakota Mines (W, 80-64)
11-23 Valley City State
11-25 Carroll College (EXH) (W, 62-47)
11-29; 3-2 Simon Fraser (L, 77-74)
12-1; 2-28 Western Washington (W, 76-63)
12-18 Maryville
12-19 Angelo State
1-3; 2-1 Saint Martin’s (W, 69-61)
1-5; 1-31 Seattle Pacific (W, 71-61)
1-10; 2-9 Alaska Anchorage (W, 71-70)
1-12; 2-7 Alaska (W, 74-59)
1-17; 2-16 Central Washington (W, 75-73)
1-19; 2-14 Northwest Nazarene (W, 76-69)
1-24; 2-23 Concordia (Ore.) (W, 77-57)
1-26; 2-21 Western Oregon (L, 77-65)
