HONOLULU – Kayleen Goggins matched her season-high of 19 points, but MSU Billings fell to Hawai'i Pacific 82-59 on Tuesday. The game was the first of three the Yellowjackets are in the Aloha state for this week.
 
Montana State University Billings (3-2) was stymied by poor shooting and too many turnovers in Honolulu. Hawai'i Pacific University (3-1) used team shooting of 43.3 percent in the game and 40 percent from 3-point range in overwhelming the Yellowjackets.
 
MSU Billings was 18-68 from the field for 26.5 percent and 5-29 for 17.2 percent from 3-point range. The team committed 17 turnovers, allowing HPU the edge 17-6 in points off turnovers.
 
"Hawai'i Pacific played very well tonight," head coach Kevin Woodin said. "They deserved to win. We struggled guarding them and I felt we missed several key shots that we normally make."
 
For MSUB, Quinn Peoples provided 11 points and Alisha Breen 10. Monica Grimsrud was the team's leading rebounder finishing with eight while Annie DePuydt contributed seven for the Yellowjackets.
 
MSU Billings did outrebound HPU in the game, 55-46.
 
At the half, MSUB was 12-37 for 32.4 percent, and from 3-point range 3-15 for 20.0 percent. The team was 6-9 from the free-throw line.
 
HPU was 17-37 for 45.9 percent and 6-14 from the 3-point territory for 42.9 percent.
 
MSU Billings rallied at the start of the second half, using a 5-0 run to pull the Yellowjackets back to within five, 47-42, but HPU came up with runs of 11-2 and 15-2 to pull away late in the game.
 
 Peoples made a 3-point basket with 18:02 left in the game to draw the 'Jackets with within seven, 47-40. Goggins followed that up with a layup to make the score 47-42.
 
HPU responded with a jumper from Veanne Navarro, but MSUB freshman guard Rylee Kane drove in under the basket to score a lay-up to put MSUB back within reach at 49-44 with 15:38.
 
Hawai'i Pacific scored 10 points in the next four minutes to put the team back-up by 15. MSU Billings couldn't find any traction and the Sharks continued to build on their lead, outscoring the Yellowjackets by 12 points in the last five minutes to end the game.
 
The Sharks had five players finish in double-digit points.  Senior guard Kylie Huerta led all players, finishing the game with 21 points.  Chenise Peone (13), Veanne Navarro (12), Dayanara Armenta (11) also contributed points in the double-figures. All-conference player Morganne Comstock completed a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
HPU was tougher in paint, outscoring MSUB 32-20. The Sharks bench also provided 16 points to the Yellowjackets nine. All 15 MSUB Yellowjackets contributed playing time.
 
"It is important that we regroup and play better against Hilo in our next game," Woodin commented. "I believe our team will rise to challenge and we will play a better game on Thursday."
 
NEXT UP: MSU Billings plays a game on Thanksgiving Thursday against Hawai'i Hilo at 1 p.m. UTC followed by a game against Chaminade University on Friday at 5 p.m. UTC.