Tuesday, July 20, 2021
by Montana State Billings Athletic Communications

BILLINGS, Mont. – Kicking off the 2021-22 season with one of the premier NCAA Division II events, the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team is set to host the D2CCA Tip Off at the Trailhead tournament November 5-7.
 
The 15-game, three-day event will showcase 10 of the top women's basketball programs in the country and will be the largest women's basketball tournament ever hosted by the Yellowjacket program.

"I was very excited to hear MSUB was chosen to host the D2CCA Women's Basketball Tip Off Classic for 2021 & 2023," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin, who enters his 18th season in charge of the program. "Originally, I was hoping to acquire four to six teams but to have 10 teams coming now for the tourney is amazing. We have teams representing six different NCAA Division II conferences and from all over the United States and Canada. The level of play will be incredible and our basketball program will benefit from this special event. I truly hope people will attend as the Tipoff Classic will be awesome for both MSUB and our community. I really wanted to get this event to Billings to showcase women's basketball on a national stage, and November 5th can't come soon enough."
 
The D2CCA Tip Off at the Trailhead is sponsored by Visit Billings, the city's local tourism bureau. "Visit Billings could not be more excited to partner with MSU Billings Athletics in their team's efforts to welcome this invitational event this winter," said Alex Tyson, executive director of Visit Billings. "Women's basketball is such an important sport to Montana and Wyoming. To be able to host these top teams in a pre-season tournament is great economically for Billings, but will also offer some amazing competition for fans to enjoy at Alterowitz Gym." Other tournament sponsors include Home 2 Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Sodexo, and Dynamic Designs.
 
The tournament field includes teams from seven different states and six different conferences, including two-time reigning NCAA Division II national champion Lubbock Christian University which went 23-0 en route to defending its national title last March. All games at the tournament will be played at Alterowitz Gym on the MSUB campus.
 
The tournament host Yellowjackets will take on Minot State University on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., before facing the challenge of the reigning national champion Chaparrals at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6. MSUB will close the tournament by hosting Kutztown University on Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m.
 
Tickets for the tournament will be available for purchase in advance online at a discounted rate, and will also be available for purchase at the door. Tournament programs, merchandise, and a full menu of concessions will also be available throughout the three-day event.
 
Live coverage will also be available for all 15 games at the tournament. Live video with play-by-play commentary will be featured on the MSUB Sports YouTube channel, and live statistics for each game will be available online here.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 5
Nova Southeastern vs. Simon Fraser, 10 a.m.
Kutztown vs. Mary, 12:15 p.m.
Lubbock Christian vs. Montevallo, 2:30 p.m.
Seton Hill vs. Tampa, 4:45 p.m.
Minot State vs. Montana State Billings, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 6
Mary vs. Nova Southeastern, 10 a.m.
Montevallo vs. Tampa, 12:15 p.m.
Kutztown vs. Minot State, 2:30 p.m.
Simon Fraser vs. Seton Hill, 4:45 p.m.
Lubbock Christian vs. Montana State Billings, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 7
Seton Hill vs. Mary, 8:30 a.m.
Simon Fraser vs. Montevallo, 10:45 a.m.
Minot State vs. Nova Southeastern, 1 p.m.
Tampa vs. Lubbock Christian, 3:15 p.m.
Kutztown vs. Montana State Billings, 5:30 p.m.