Box Score
Box Score

Billings, Mont. - Montana State Billings women's basketball team came out strong Saturday night against No. 8 Western Washington, but were unable to hang on down the stretch as the Vikings claimed the 78-76 victory. The Yellowjackets now fall to 11-5 overall, 5-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
Western Washington extends their home winning streak to nine games as they improve to 13-3 overall and remain unbeaten in GNAC play with a 7-0 mark.
 
MSUB kept the game competitive until the end, even capturing the lead and evening the score at different parts of the first half; but ultimately could not complete their efforts against a very strong Vikings' team.
 
The Jackets were kept in the game mainly by Kayleen Goggins having her best game thus far at MSUB. She finished with a career high 20 points on 7-12 shooting. Goggins nailed both of her three-point attempts (2-2), and also registered seven rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
 
“I was really proud of the way we responded after our match Thursday,” stated head coach Kevin Woodin. “We were extremely focused and played extremely hard against a very good Western Washington team. It was a well-played game by both teams.”
 
Janiel Olson recorded her fourth double-double of the season, with 13 points and 12 rebounds, 11 defensive. Despite having an off shooting night, Bobbi Knudsen gave a gutsy performance, finishing with a team high 21 points on 8-20 shooting. She also had three steals on the evening.
 
Senior guard Brooke Tolman was the fourth starter to reach double figures, registering 10 points. Monica Grimsrud came off the bench to give the Yellowjackets quality minutes in the frontcourt, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
 
“I think Grimsrud played her best game of the season,” Woodin said. “Goggins was great on both ends of the floor.”
 
Western Washington had a balanced scoring attack as every member recorded points in the scoring column. MSUB did not have an answer for Corinn Waltrip, as she had a game high on 24 points on 7-14 shooting, with six (6-11) coming from downtown. Sarah Hill and Trishi Williams were the other two starters to finish in double figures with 10 and 11 points respectively.
 
Sydney Donaldson came off the bench to grab a game high, 13 rebounds to go along with her eight points.
 
As a whole MSUB had one of their best shooting nights of the season, going 45.2 percent from the field (28-62) and 38.9 percent from three-point territory (7-18). The Vikings shot 48.4 percent from the field (31-64) and 37.5 percent from behind the arch (9-24).
 
Both squads were very efficient on the night only combining for 18 total turnovers, with the Jackets holding the 8-10 advantage. Western Washington won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding MSUB 40-35.
 
The Yellowjackets and Vikings went toe to toe with MSUB holding an early 12-11 lead at 13:09. Western Washington recaptured the lead and increased it to eight (24-16) with 9:01 remaining in the first half. The Jackets swarmed back with a 10-2 run to even the score at the 7:06 mark (26-26).
 
MSUB's highly ranked opponent did not get rattled and they got the better of the Jackets down the stretch of the half and owned a 44-41 lead entering the break.
 
The Vikings showed why they were No. 8 team in the nation as they kept their poise amongst several Yellowjacket runs that brought MSUB within one point of evening the score. With 4:20 remaining, Western Washington held the 74-65 lead before the Jackets came within two (74-72) with a 7-0 run and 1:53 remaining in the contest.
 
MSUB would not be able to get over the hump as the Vikings used clutch free throw shooting to close out the contest, eventually winning 78-76.
 
“We made a great comeback to get back in the game; but they made several more plays in the end,” stated Woodin.
 
The Yellowjackets will have more days of rest entering their next GNAC match as they will square off against Seattle Pacific University on Jan. 26 at 5:15 p.m. in Atlerowitz Gymnasium.
 
“Despite the losses this weekend, I believe we continue to improve and we look forward to returning home,” Woodin said.