Wednesday, January 2, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - A perfect 5-0 record in December has earned Montana State Billings women’s basketball coach Kevin Woodin the GNAC Coach of the Month award.

The Yellowjackets defeated Northwest Nazarene 69-68, South Dakota Mines 74-50 and Rocky Mountain 74-42 in the month to improve their official record to 8-2.

They also earned exhibition wins over Montana Western 69-49 and Montana State 57-54.  The win over the Division I Bobcats last Saturday was their first over the Big Sky school since Nov. 11, 2007.  MSU had won eight of the last nine games between the two teams.

“It was a great experience for us to play a good opponent on the road,” Woodin said about the win at Bozeman. “Hopefully the poise we showed will benefit us throughout the season.”

Bobbi Knudsen led the Yellowjackets in scoring in December, tallying 48 points in its three official games.  She also had 24 assists, 15 rebounds and six steals.  On the season, Knudsen is averaging 18.6 points per game.

Kayleen Goggins had 32 points in the three games and is averaging 11.5 points per game.

Woodin is in his ninth season at MSUB after coaching at Billings West High School for 11 years (1994-2004).  He won his last 36 games at Billings West and has a record of 141-95 at MSUB, leading the Yellowjackets to five post-season appearances in eight years.

Woodin won two Heartland Conference regular-season titles and a post-season tournament championship at MSUB prior to the school joining the GNAC prior to the 2007-08 season.

The Yellowjackets, who have won eight straight games including two exhibitions, return to conference play Thursday traveling to Lacey to face Saint Martin’s.