ANCHORAGE (Feb. 10) -- Deena Bartu scored off a baseline drive with 5.7 seconds remaining to lift Montana State University-Billings to a 68-66 win over the University of Alaska Anchorage in a Pacific West Conference women's basketball game at the UAA Sports Center Thursday night.
The MSUB victory, avenging a 76-68 UAA win in Billings back in December, lifted the Yellowjackets to 16-6 overall and 12-3 in PWC play. The Lady Seawolves fell to 15-6 overall and 10-4 in PWC play.
UAA took a 63-59 lead with 2:40 left on a Stephanie Smith layup, but MSU-B scored seven straight points - all by center Codi Schmitz - to take a 66-63 lead with 20 seconds to go. The Seawolves tied things at 66-all on a three-pointer from Tirzah Church with :15 left, setting up Bartu's game-winning drive. UAA's Megan Buchman's 15-foot jumper bounded away with :02 remaining and Smith's rebound folo attempt came after the buzzer.
Schmitz had 23 points and Kami Malnaa 15 to MSU-B, which shot 47 percent from the field including a sizzling 56 percent (10-for-18) from three-point territory. Church had 23 and Smith 15 to pace the Seawolves, who connected on just 38 percent of their field goals. Tiffany Massey dished out a personal and team-season high 12 assists.
UAA outrebounded the Yellowjackets, 41-34, led by Smith's eight and Massey and Kellie Torrey with seven each. Schmitz had a team-high eight rebounds for the MSU-B.
