BILLINGS, Mont. – The odds were not in favor of the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team in 2016-17, with three starters including Great Northwest Athletic Conference first-teamer Alisha Breen missing the entirety of the conference season.
 
With the full Yellowjacket squad healthy at the outset of this season, 2017-18 is shaping up to be a different story. "I feel a great energy and enthusiasm about our team this year," commented 14th year head coach Kevin Woodin, who broke the school record for wins two seasons ago and enters this season with an overall mark of 218-156 (.581). "We had a lot of adversity a year ago, but we have a strong nucleus of returning players especially when you look at how many players got substantial playing time a year ago. When you combine that with getting players like Alisha back, it gives us a lot of depth which I am very excited about."
 
MSUB went 8-20 overall in 2016-17 and finished in ninth place in the GNAC standings with a league record of 5-15. The 'Jackets were tabbed to finish in seventh place in the 2017-18 GNAC preseason coaches poll released Tuesday, claiming 66 points.
 
The Yellowjackets' non-conference schedule is full of tests against top NCAA Division II programs, including No. 7 Drury University (Dec. 16) and No. 3 Harding University (Dec. 17) during MSUB's trip to Hawaii for the Oahu Christmas Classic. MSUB will also play an exhibition contest at NCAA Division I Montana State University on Nov. 25 in Bozeman.
 
The veteran leadership core for the 'Jackets starts with five experienced seniors, four of which are returning starters to the lineup. "This year's senior class is one of the deepest and most talented that I have ever had," Woodin said. "I feel strongly that our players believe that we have the potential to be really good this year."
 
Last week, senior Alisha Breen was named the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year for an unprecedented second consecutive season. Fully cleared to play after missing all of last season with an injury, the 2015-16 first- team all-conference forward will be the Yellowjackets' top player entering the season. "Alisha has been a major contributor on the court over the last four years," Woodin said. "Not only is she a great player, but she is an amazing leader. She has the ability to make others around her better, and we lean on her a lot for that."
 
Breen led the GNAC with 17.4 points per game while also averaging 5.4 rebounds during her junior season two years ago. She was named a Women's Basketball Coaches Association preseason All-American before sustaining her injury last fall. The Choteau, Mont., native enters this season with 1,210 career points, 15th most in MSUB history. She has played in 93 games and is a career 43.9 percent shooter from the field, and helped the 'Jackets to NCAA regional tournament appearances as a freshman in 2013-14 and as a junior two years ago.
 
MSUB Women's Basketball Career Free-Throw Leaders

Rank	Name	FT	Seasons
1	Sherry McQuinn	392	1991-93
2	Tera Silvius	347	1992-95
3	Alisha Breen	343	2013-17
4	Shelley Altrogge	310	1990-91
5	Kayla Ryan	308	2007-11
6	Alira Carpenter	306	2006-09
7	Bobbi Knudsen	293	2011-14
8	Michelle Lieber	289	2005-07
9	Natalie Visger	286	2000-03
10	Amy Winslow	280	1996-99

 

"A lot of the girls coming back I have been with for four years now, and I'm really excited to be back on the court playing with them," said Breen. "When I was a freshman we had a lot of upperclassmen, and you can't mimic that experience a lot of us had as young players learning from them."
 
Piloting MSUB's offense will be another preseason all-conference selection in fourth-year starter Rylee Kane. Kane averaged a career-best 11.4 points per game last year, and tied for the second-most assists in the GNAC with 5.4 per game en route to honorable mention all-conference accolades. The Red Lodge, Mont., native, who has started all 88 games since the 2014-15 season, enters her senior season No. 6 in school history and No. 11 in GNAC history with 384 career assists. "It has definitely been a process, but it's been really good for me," Kane commented on starting for the last three seasons. "All of the experience I have gained has been beneficial, and I can carry that into my senior season."

"Rylee, like Alisha, has started games for four seasons and that experience is a great asset for our team," Woodin said. "I really have a strong level of trust in what she does on the court with her teammates. She has established herself as a great player, and I look for her to have her best season yet."
 
MSUB Women's Basketball Career Assists Leaders

Rank	Name	Assists	Seasons
1	Amy Winslow	589	1996-99
2	Bobbi Knudsen	532	2011-14
3	Shantell Marquis	472	2006-11
4	Tera Silvius	448	1992-95
5	Shiloh Schwab	399	1994-98
6	Rylee Kane	384	2014-17
7	Megan Mason-Dickerson	355	1995-98
8	Jenny Langofrd	291	2003-06
9	Jetton Meadors	282	2006-09
10	Evonne Goroski	272	1985-88

 
Seniors Lexi Prevost and Grace Weeks each emerged as starters a season ago, and they'll be joined by senior transfer and Billings native Rachel Koehler from NCAA Division I Cal Poly to further bolster MSUB's leadership core.
 
Prevost is in her fourth year in the program and started 23 of 28 games last year as a junior guard. She ranked second on the team with a 3-point field-goal percentage of 28.7, and averaged 6.2 points and 2.5 rebounds. Prevost was also third on the team with 36 assists last year, including a career-best five on Jan. 14 against Western Oregon.

"Lexi came into her own in the second half of her junior season," said Woodin, on Prevost's average of 7.3 points per game over her last 14 contests of the 2016-17 campaign. "She improved as a defensive player, and offensively she became more consistent. She has worked really hard in the offseason to become even better for this year, and I'm excited to see how she plays."
 
Weeks took advantage of her role as a starter in her first season with the 'Jackets in 2016-17, averaging 6.3 points and a team third-best 3.6 rebounds per game. After transferring from Casper College, Weeks brought an immediate physical presence to MSUB's lineup as a forward. She notched a season-high 17 points against Simon Fraser on Feb. 18, and a season-best nine boards against Saint Martin's on Feb. 2.
 
"Grace played her best down the stretch last year," Woodin said. "We will look for her to be an improved defender, while also giving us a strong offensive presence on the other end. She has gotten stronger physically,

and I believe this being her second year in our program that she will be more comfortable with her role."
 
One of MSUB's newest players, Koehler could be a major x-factor with her ability as a post player under the basket. As a sophomore in 2014-15 at Cal Poly, she averaged 5.1 rebounds and shot 47.1 percent from the floor. "Rachel has made an immediate impact on our program," said Woodin. "She brings a tremendous amount of energy and strength to our team. I believe as she gets more and more experience playing with our players, she will make an even bigger impact." 

A trio of juniors further enhances MSUB's veteran leadership, as Brina Hull returns after playing in all 28 games in 2016-17 and Taylor Edwards and Vanessa Stavish will be back in the lineup after significant time off the court.
 
Mixing in with Weeks and Koehler as a strong option inside, Stavish will look to build on her 2015-16 numbers when she averaged 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing in all 32 games as a sophomore. In addition to her physical presence, Stavish can be a threat from the perimeter as she ranked second on the team at 36.6 percent from the arc two years ago. "It's great to have Vanessa back after missing last year," said Woodin. "She has worked so hard, and physically and mentally she is ready to have a breakout season. Her ability to stretch the defense with her outside shooting, combined with a better inside, offensive game, makes her very hard to guard."
 

Edwards was on her way to a highlight year last winter, until a season-ending injury cut her campaign short after 11 games. The Great Falls, Mont., native averaged 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in her abbreviated season, and will be fully cleared to hit the ground running at the outset of the 2017-18 campaign. "Taylor put in a tremendous amount of time in rehabbing her injury," Woodin commented on the junior. "I expect her to continue with steady improvement in the early season, and I believe she will really hit her stride in late November to early December. She had some great games a year ago, and I believe she will be an even better player this year." 

A shooting specialist, Hull chipped in 3.4 points in an average of 17.3 minutes per game in her second season in the program as a sophomore. The Colstrip, Mont., native shot 31.7 percent overall from the field, and also contributed 2.0 rebounds per game. "Brina has worked hard in the offseason, and she has a strong skillset," said Woodin. "She had some solid games for us last year, and just needs to become a more consistent player for us now as a junior."
 
Each returning for their second season with the 'Jackets, sophomores Taylor Cunningham, Jeanann Lemelin, and Janessa Williams will play important roles throughout the year.
 
Cunningham has tremendous upside as a dual threat on the wing and under the hoop, and she saw time in all 28 games as a true freshman. The Spokane,

Wash., native will be looked upon in a highly accelerated role this year, and could be a frequent starter.
 
Lemelin adds to MSUB's depth at the guard position, and also played in all 28 games for her hometown university as a true freshman. Williams, who competes as a jumper and hurdler on MSUB's track and field team, joined the squad midway through the 2016-17 season and provided a much-needed boost to last year's depleted roster.
 
"Both Taylor and Jeanann give us versatility at the guard positions, and they are able to play more than just one position," Woodin said. "I look for them to be much improved as they are now used to the physicality and speed of the college game. Janessa really helped us out last year in a difficult situation, and I was very happy that she showed interest in continuing this year. Her skillset is much improved, and I expect a lot more out of her this season."
 
The Yellowjackets' roster features a pair of freshmen, in Montana natives Hannah Collins and Emily St. John. Collins is a point guard from Great Falls, who will begin her collegiate career under the guidance of Kane while also earning some playing opportunities. "I look for Hannah to help us immediately, and her speed is a game-changer," said Woodin. "I have also been very impressed with her work ethic and ability to improve rapidly. She will see action at both the point and shooting guard positions."
 
St. John, who hails from Butte, Mont., brings a strong athletic pedigree as a four-year letterwinner in both basketball and volleyball. She could factor into the guard conversation in her first season as well. "Emily has impressed me with a great work ethic, and she has the ability to play multiple positions on the perimeter," said Woodin.
 
The Yellowjackets begin their 2017-18 schedule at a GNAC/PacWest Crossover even in San Francisco on Nov. 10-11. MSUB will face the Academy of Art and Holy Names University in its first two games of the year.
 
Prior to the regular season, MSUB will host an exhibition matchup against the University of Montana Western on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym, and will play an exhibition contest at Rocky Mountain College on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
 
The Yellowjackets' first regular-season home game is on Nov. 17 against Concordia University (Ore.) at 7 p.m. For a complete, interactive schedule for the 2017-18 season, visit the team's schedule page online here. "I sense a strong determination, which is led by our seniors and has become contagious throughout our team, that we have something to prove this year," said Woodin. "We want to get back to being one of the top teams in our league again."
 
All home games and select road games throughout the 2017-18 season will feature live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics, available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here. Tickets for all home games are available for purchase at the door, and season ticket packages are available by contacting MSUB Athletics at 406-657-2369.