LACEY, Wash.  – It was a 19-point comeback that fell just shy of the mark, as MSU Billings pulled up short in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchup against Saint Martin's, 63-54 in Marcus Pavilion Thursday.
 
After digging themselves a 22-point hole late in the second half, Montana State University Billings (10-8, 2-6 GNAC) was able to draw the score to within three, 54-51 with just over a minute left in the game. After making the big leap, the Yellowjackets were unable to regain possession and had to foul. With 21 seconds left in the game, Saint Martin's had three players make free-throws to ice the game, and freeze the Yellowjackets out of a chance to shoot for the win.
 
The Yellowjackets were able to outscore SMU 35-31 in the second half, and raise their shooting percentage from 30.43 percent to 46.43 percent, but it wasn't quite enough. Saint Martin's shot 41.8 percent for the game and was 13-18 and 72.2 percent from the free-throw line, including six crucial makes with under 20 seconds left. The Saints also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding MSUB 39-30.
 
Saint Martin's University (5-11, 2-6 GNAC) was able to jump out to a 14-6 start. The Saints opened with an 8-4 lead before MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin called for a timeout. SMU continued with the pressure, adding six more to MSUB's two, giving the home team Saints an eight-point advantage. A 3-point basket on the last second from SMU's MacKenzie Taylor, then a steal from Angela Gelhar opened the run further. A foul by MSUB's Quinn Peoples on the drive by Gelhar at 11:44 sent Gelhar to the line. She missed both, and both teams went dry for over two minutes before it was Saint Martin's turn to call for a timeout.
 
With 9:13 remaining in the second half, Saint Martin's Hannah Reynolds hit a big 3-point shot to open up a double-digit, 17-6 lead over MSUB. The Saints continued to widen the gap, pulling ahead by as many as 14 in the first half. MSU Billings' Alisha Breen scored the last four points for MSUB into the half, on a short jumper and two free-throws, but the Yellowjackets found themselves down 32-19 at the break.
 
"Saint Martin's really played well, especially early, and we started flat," Woodin said. "Give SMU all the credit for that. We had a difficult time scoring in the first half; we didn't shoot the ball very well and we had too many turnovers. I felt partway through the second half, our players responded and we played very well down the stretch, but we just couldn't quite get over those last few points. The game was lost in the first half, and I know we will have to do better on Saturday."
 
At halftime MSUB was shooting 7-23 for 30.4 percent and only 1-8 from the 3-point arc. Saint Martin's was also outrebounding the 'Jackets 19-16 with MSUB having nine turnovers and the Saints with seven steals.
 
Deep into the second half, at the 13 minute mark, SMU's Megan Wiedeman gave the Saints a 22-point lead, 44-22, on two free-throws after a foul on MSUB's Peoples.
 
That's when the Yellowjackets went on their first big run of the second half, a 14-0 rally. After the free-throws from Wiedeman, Peoples made an offensive rebound and a put-back after a shot from Annie DePuydt went wide. Kayleen Goggins made a lay-up for the Yellowjackets on their next possession to drop the deficit down to 19, 45-26, with 11:40 remaining.
 
After a turnover from SMU, Peoples hit back-to-back threes to crumble the Saints' lead down to 13, 45-32, with 10:11 left. A lay-up from Breen and a jumper from DePuydt put up four more points for the Yellowjackets. Two free throws from Rylee Kane completed the rally and MSUB drew the lead to seven, 45-38 with 7:51 still left on the clock.
 
The Saints rebounded with a short rally jumping their lead back up to 11. The Yellowjackets responded with their second big rally of the game, a 13-6 effort. A 3-pointer from Peoples and one from Goggins started it off. A lay-up from Kane finished it, and MSUB was able to come back to within three, 57-54 with just over a minute left. Unfortunately, unable to contain the Saints, MSUB had to foul and SMU was able to make all six of their free-throws at the end.
 
"What we need to do is take our effort from the second half of this game and play a good consistent game against Western Oregon," Coach Woodin said. "We haven't been able to do that away from home yet this season, but if we can, I think we will be successful. Our team looks forward to playing on Saturday on the ROOT Sports network. The game will be a great challenge for us, and I know the team will be ready to go against Western Oregon on Saturday."
 
Peoples was the St. Vincent Healthcare of Montana Player of the Game. Peoples was 5-5 in the second half, including 3-3 from the 3-point arc. Peoples finished the game the high-scorer with 16 points adding in five rebounds and two assists.
 
Goggins had 15 points with four assists and four steals. Breen had 10 points in the game, going 2-2 from the free-throw line adding in four assists as well.
 
UP NEXT: On Saturday, MSU Billings will be in Monmouth, Ore., for a game against Western Oregon University. This Saturday's game against Western Oregon is the ROOT SPORTS game of the week and will be available for viewing on the ROOT SPORTS network. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Mountain time.
 
In Billings, if your provider carries the network, you can find the broadcast on your ROOT SPORTS channel. For Charter customers that is channel 23. For DirecTV customers that channel is 687. For Dish Network customers the game will be on channel 426. For customers who have other providers you can visit rootsports.com, click on 'Northwest,' and then the 'Channel Listings' link to find which channel ROOT SPORTS is on.
  
In Billings, the MSUB Alumni Association will be hosting a watch party at Hooligan's downtown. The game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start, and pizza will be provided starting at 3:30 p.m. To RSVP for the watch party please contact the MSU Billings Alumni Association by either calling 406-247-5780 or e-mailing sbrockel@msubillings.edu.