PUEBLO, Colo.  – It was a steady, team-effort in Massari Arena Saturday afternoon as MSU Billings built up a lead, giving the Yellowjackets their first win of the season in dramatic fashion, 95-57 over Western State.
 
The Yellowjackets made 14 3-pointers in the effort over the Mountaineers. Quinn Peoples scored a game-high 21 points, making four 3-point baskets and grabbing eight rebounds. She was also a perfect 5-5 from the free-throw line.
 
Freshman Vanessa Stavish had a tremendous game. Coming off the bench the forward shot 7-10 in the game, making 4-4 from 3-point land for a total of 18 points, while contributing five rebounds and five assists.
 
Kayleen Goggins and Alisha Breen finished their second game of the season with numbers in the double-digits. Goggins scored 17 points with seven rebounds. Breen finished with 13 points, shooting 5-7 from the field and 2-2 from beyond the arc. Annie DePuydt also matched the team-high, grabbing eight rebounds in the game.
 
The 14 3-pointers MSU Billings made in the game ties the seventh best by a women's team at MSUB. The overall record is 17 made by the 2005 team against Saint Martin's.
 
"I was very happy with the intensity that we played with today," head coach Kevin Woodin said. "With the short turn-around and losing last night, I thought our players gave a tremendous team effort. I am very pleased with the overall effort from everyone."
 
Montana State University Billings (1-1) was never in doubt during the game. In the first half the Yellowjackets built up a steady lead, gradually drawing the distance to 22 points by halftime, 51-29.
 
Mid-way through the first half, the Yellowjackets opened up a double-digit point spread between the teams as Peoples made a free-throw to extend the score to 26-16 with 9:48 left to play. Twenty seconds later a 3-pointer by Stavish sealed the deal. The last nine minutes before the break, MSU Billings went on a run, outscoring Western State 21-13.
 
"I thought we had an excellent team first half," Woodin commented. "Offensively we shared the ball effectively and defensively the team communicated very well. It was nice to see some consistency from the perimeter from our shooters. It opened up a lot of things for us. I felt the key was establishing a good inside presence early, and then playing a good inside-outside game later. It was a very balanced effort."
 
In the beginning of the second half, Western State Colorado University (0-2) made a run at MSUB. A 3-pointer from Taylor Long followed by a short jumper from Sadie Stroup drew the Mountaineers back to within 16, 54-38, but that was as close as WSCU could come.
 
MSU Billings built its lead back up by as many as 38 points twice during the second-half. In the final minutes a jump shot by Britta Young and free-throws from Marissa Van Atta and Courtney Henry put the Yellowjackets back-up by 38 points to end the game, 95-57.
 
Both teams were close in turnovers, second chance points, and points from the bench. Western State did outscore the Yellowjackets with points in the paint, 26-16. The Yellowjackets were better on the glass with a slight-edge of 47-42.
 
MSU Billings completed some sharp shooting in the game. The Yellowjackets were 26-62 for 46.8 percent from the field while Western State was a combined 19-66 and 28.8 percent from the floor. The big difference was in 3-pointers. MSU Billings finished 14-27 for 51.9 percent, while WSCU shot 3-17 and finished the game at 17.6 percent.
 
Stephanie Williams was the high-scorer for Western State. She finished with 11 points. Jade MacIntosh ended the game with a team-high eight rebounds.
 
The Yellowjackets also picked up 23 points from the free-throw line compared to 16 by Western State.
 
"All of our players had first-rate games today," Woodin said. "Quinn Peoples had an excellent game. Vanessa Stavish came off the bench and gave us a great spark with 18 points. I thought Rylee Kane gave us a very good floor game at the point guard – she had six assists versus one turnover. Overall, it was a great team win for us."
 
Montana State University Billings finished the 31st Annual Al Kaly Tournament 1-1. NEXT UP: It is a short turn-around for the Yellowjackets. MSUB heads to Chadron State College for a game against the Eagles next Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. Live stats will be available for that game while live video can be purchased for pay-per-view. You can find more details at msubsports.com.