Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho. – The Montana State University Billings Women's Basketball team won their game against Northwest Nazarene University Saturday, Jan. 18, 66-61.
 
The MSU Billings Yellowjackets were ahead most of the game, but it came down to the final three minutes as Northwest Nazarene mounted a comeback to get within two, 61-63 with 30 seconds left. 
 
The Crusaders kept it close in the opening minutes of the game, but by the half-way mark of the first period, MSUB (12-5, 5-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) had pulled away up by nine, 23-14.  Each time NNU would try and make a run, MSU Billings would have an answer, and by the half, the Yellowjackets were leading by 10, 34-24.
 
The second half featured much of the same as MSUB continued to lead by as many as 16 points until the three minute mark when the Crusaders went on a 10-0 run to get the score to within two.  Finally, some clutch free-throws and some good defense by the Yellowjackets would have MSUB prevailing by five points.
 
"It was a great win for us against a really good NNU team on the road," Head Coach Kevin Woodin said.  "I was really proud of the way our players battled tonight.  It wasn't always pretty, but in the end the team made plays when they needed to, and came out with the win."
 
For Northwest Nazarene (10-6, 3-5 GNAC), Chelsie Luke and Cierra White would come off the bench and provide 28 points for the Crusaders including two three-point baskets and a jump shot by White in the late rally.  Taylor Simmons also finished in double-digits with 14 points, including going 3-3 from three-point range.  NNU was better from the three-point arc shooting 47 percent to MSUB's 29.  It wouldn't be enough as MSUB would play solid defense to turn back the Crusaders in the final seconds.
 
"I thought our team played really good defense tonight – I give Assistant Coach Harris a lot of credit for our game plan," Coach Woodin said.  "Our team really rebounded the ball well and just worked hard the entire game.  There was a lot of adversity this weekend for us as a team, from travel plans to injured players to foul trouble, so I was really proud of the way we gutted through all of that tonight and found a way to win."
 
MSUB's Bobbi Knudsen had a game-high 25 points, including five three-point baskets which is a new career-high for her.  She was also one shy of a double-double as she came up with nine rebounds, as well as a game-high five assists.
 
Chelsea Banis was also one short of a double-double as she was 3-5 from the field, but a perfect 7-7 from the free-throw line for 13 points, with nine rebounds.  She also matched her season-high of four blocks in a game.
 
Quinn Peoples came off the bench for the Yellowjackets and provided four three-point baskets and five rebounds.
 
Janiel Olson continued her domination on the glass; she had a game-high 15 rebounds. 
 
MSU Billings was stronger in the paint, 20-6.  They shot the ball better at 38 percent, and held Northwest Nazarene to their lowest shooting percentage of the season at 23 percent.  The Yellowjackets also outrebounded the Crusaders 50-42.
 
Next week, Montana State University Billings returns home as they will host Saint Martin's University on Thursday, Jan. 23, and Western Oregon University on Saturday, Jan. 25.  Thursday's game is scheduled for a 7 PM tip-off.  Saturday's game will be a double-header as the Men's team will host Seattle Pacific University.  The Women's game against WOU is scheduled for a 5:15 PM start time while the Men's game will follow at 7:30 PM.  All three games will have live video and live stats available at MSUBSports.com.
 
"It will be nice to come back home," Coach Woodin stated.  "We will be glad to return to our home court after being on the road for two weeks.  All-in-all, the team has given a great effort and tonight was a good team win for us." 
 
MSU Billings vs Northwest Nazarene
01/18/14 7:00 pm at Nampa, ID
At Nampa, ID
MSU BILLINGS 66, NORTHWEST NAZARENE 61
MSU BILLINGS (12-5, 5-2 GNAC)
Knudsen,Bobbi 9-17 2-3 25; Banis,Chelsea 3-5 7-7 13; Peoples,Quinn 4-11 0-1
12; Goggins,Kayleen 3-8 0-0 7; Olson,Janiel 2-12 1-2 5; Hanser,Austin 0-4
2-4 2; Breen,Alisha 1-2 0-0 2; Capouch,Tenika 0-0 0-2 0; Kumm,Brandy 0-0 0-0
0. Totals 22-59 12-19 66.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE (10-6, 3-5 GNAC)
Luke,Chelsie 3-11 8-8 17; Simmons,Taylor 4-9 3-5 14; White,Cierra 3-8 3-4
11; Ferrenburg,Ellen 2-9 3-4 7; Schierman,Kylee 1-8 2-2 5; Swanson,Katie 1-3
1-1 3; Warwick,Leslie 0-3 2-2 2; Hingston,Megan 1-8 0-0 2; Schumann,Kayla
0-5 0-0 0. Totals 15-64 22-26 61.
MSU Billings..................   34   32  -   66
Northwest Nazarene............   24   37  -   61
3-point goals--MSU Billings 10-34 (Knudsen,Bobbi 5-10; Peoples,Quinn 4-10;
Goggins,Kayleen 1-4; Hanser,Austin 0-3; Olson,Janiel 0-7), Northwest
Nazarene 9-19 (Luke,Chelsie 3-7; Simmons,Taylor 3-3; White,Cierra 2-4;
Schierman,Kylee 1-2; Schumann,Kayla 0-2; Ferrenburg,Ellen 0-1). Fouled
out--MSU Billings-Breen,Alisha, Northwest Nazarene-Schierman,Kylee.
Rebounds--MSU Billings 50 (Olson,Janiel 15), Northwest Nazarene 42
(Luke,Chelsie 9). Assists--MSU Billings 8 (Knudsen,Bobbi 5), Northwest
Nazarene 8 (Luke,Chelsie 3). Total fouls--MSU Billings 19, Northwest
Nazarene 17. Technical fouls--MSU Billings-None, Northwest Nazarene-None.
A-491