CHADRON, Neb.  – MSU Billings remained consistent on both sides of the floor as the Yellowjackets gradually built up a lead over the Eagles of Chadron State College. MSUB scored 39 points in both halves, to win in Chadron, 78-52 over the Eagles.
 
Quinn Peoples completed her first double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Alisha Breen also contributed 19 points, while Kayleen Goggins added 18. In the assist column, Rylee Kane led all players with six on the night.
 
MSUB was 26-60 in the game, shooting 43.3 percent overall. The Yellowjackets made 6-8 from the 3-point arc and were 20-31 from the free-throw line.
 
The big numbers for both teams in the game were turnovers. MSU Billings (2-1) committed 19 while Chadron State was forced into 24. The difference was in the point spread, MSUB was able to convert Chadron's turnovers into 28 points, while Chadron was only able to score 13. MSU Billings was also stronger in the paint, 32-18 but Chadron's bench was tops, securing 21 points to 11 from MSUB's.
 
The first points of the game for the Yellowjackets were made almost three minutes into the game when Breen hit two free-throws after she was fouled under the basket. On the other side of the floor, after two more shot attempts from the Eagles, Kane dribbled the ball down for the Yellowjackets and was fouled on the drive. On the inbounds pass, Breen was fouled again and sent to the free-throw line. She made both shots and the Yellowjackets took their first lead of the night at 4-3 with 16:40 left in the first half.
 
After redshirting last season, junior Monica Grimsrud returned to the floor tonight for her first game with MSUB since 2013. Within seconds of her entry, Grimsrud drew back and made her first shot of the night, a long 3-pointer from near the visitor's bench to increase the Yellowjacket lead to 9-4. Chadron State College committed its ninth turnover of the game when Katie Simonton was called for an offensive charge. CSC took its first timeout of the game to try and regroup with 13:22 left to play in the first half.
 
Out of the break, the Eagles pulled it back to within three, but MSUB responded with six straight points to draw the lead back to eight, 18-10. On the next MSUB possession, Goggins was fouled and headed to the line to shoot in the bonus after Chadron commited its eighth foul of the game with 8:48 still left to play in the first half. The senior from Shepherd, Mont., put in both of her free-throws and increased the Yellowjacket lead to double-digits for the first time of the night, 20-10.
 
Chadron turned over the ball for the ninth time of the game with 7:11 left. MSUB's Courtney Henry took the ball down the floor, driving into the key and pulling up for the jumper. The redshirt freshman got her shot to fall, taking the score to 23-12 in favor of the Yellowjackets.
 
Into the break, MSU Billings had opened up a 39-20 lead on Chadron State.
 
In the first half, Chadron committed 14 turnovers and 11 fouls. MSUB was 12-30, while Chadron made seven shots on 23 attempts.
 
The Yellowjackets made a quick 6-2 drive to open up a 45-22 lead at the start of the second half. The team continued to apply pressure against Chadron, slipping from a 2-3 zone back to man-to-man defense while persisting with their full court press. MSUB rolled into a comfortable 26-point lead with 10:10 left in the game.
 
Chadron State was never able to get its offense going in the second half, and the Yellowjackets continued to build on their lead.
 
With a 30-point margin, MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin began to sub in the rest of his bench with six minutes left in game. Kasie Christensen made a jump shot off a feed from Peoples for her first points of the game. Brianna Reser also scored the first point of her college career tonight. She made a free-throw after being fouled on a shot late in the second half.
 
MSUB opened up its largest lead of the night with 2:52 left in the game when Goggins made two free-throws for a 75-41 advantage.
 
MSU Billings ended the game shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point arc.
 
The leading scorer for Chadron State was Simonton who finished with 12 points. Hannah Newens and Stephanie Knowles both pulled in six rebounds.
 
Chadron ended up shooting 36.4 percent from the field and only 6-15 for 40.0 percent from the charity stripe.
 
MSUB dominated the boards with 48 rebounds to Chadron's 33.
 
NEXT UP: Montana State University Billings hosts Rocky Mountain College in a battle of cross-town rivals. The Yellowjackets will host the Battlin' Bears on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Alterowitz Gymnasium. It is also throw-back night on campus, where Eastern Montana College uniforms will be worn by the Yellowjackets, and students are encouraged to wear EMC or '80's themed clothing to the game.