BILLINGS, Mont. - Big defensive stops and smart shooting from MSU Billings led to a 61-51 opening season conference win over Central Washington Thursday at Alterowitz.

Junior Alisha Breen had 17 points and five rebounds as the forward played all but 30 seconds in the game. Tiana Hanson posted 13 points and a team-high six rebounds. Sophomore Rylee Kane poured in 10 points.

Senior Janiel Olson finished the game with six steals, seven points, and five rebounds. The Yellowjackets had 12 total steals in the game leading to 18 points off of turnovers.

Not to be outdone, the offense outscored CWU 32-12 in the paint while shooting 42.1 percent in the game.

The win drives Montana State University Billings to an overall record of 3-3 and 1-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference while dropping Central Washington to 5-2 and 1-1 in the conference.

Central Washington point guard Jasmin Edwards tied Breen for a game-high 17 points. Senior center Jasmine Parker recorded a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats shot 40.4 percent for the game and outrebounded MSUB 31-27.

Against a team came into the game second in the GNAC in scoring defense, MSUB held off the Wildcats with a combination of quick hands and an offense that moved the ball inside out creating multiple scoring opportunities in a single play.

The Yellowjackets held their turnovers to eight while forcing 20 from Central Washington. Neither team shot well from the free-throw line with MSUB 8-19 for 33.3 percent and CWU 5-10 for 50.0 percent.

"It was a great Yellowjacket team win tonight," MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. "I was proud of how our players competed. They really worked hard and played together. We beat a very good team today."

"I thought we played a good opening quarter," Woodin continued. "We moved the ball well and had good offensive balance. Defensively, we played hard but give them credit as they shot the 3-pointer very well tonight in the opening half."

Both MSU Billings and Central Washington finished the first 20 minutes with four 3-pointers apiece. Edwards finished the game with four while Mandy Steward tallied three. For MSUB, Breen was 2-2 from beyond the arc. Hanson was 3-4, Kane put away two, and Olson added one.

 

MSU Billings opened the game with a 3-pointer from Monica Grimsrud. The senior drained the shot on an inbounds pass to open the scoring. Following it up on the next possession, Grimsrud missed her second shot on the outside, but the 'Jackets rebounded the ball and Hanson was fouled on the second attempt. She made 1-2 in free-throws. Breen completed MSUB's second 3-pointer of the night to keep the Yellowjackets ahead.

Grimsrud sank her second shot on the outside, but Edwards countered with her second to keep CWU in reach. Edwards made a good dish under the basket for an open layup to Parker.

The Yellowjackets' Breen made a great pass to Marissa Van Atta on a move under the rim for two points. Central Washington took the lead with a drive into the basket from Edwards, but a steal from Breen led to MSUB with the ball and the 'Jackets made good with a-pointer from Breen.

With under 10 seconds left on the shot clock, Kane drove into the basket and was blocked on her jump shot, but she was able to rebound her own shot and this time made a great layup under the basket. The Red Lodge, Mont., native followed that up with a true drive into the key for back-to-back baskets.

Hanson posted up for two points and on an inbounds pass that needed to be stolen back, Breen came through with two more for a 26-17 lead. Olson made one of two shots after a breakaway layup foul and added two more points on a stop and pop jump shot.

Hanson gave the Yellowjackets a 10-point lead at 30-20 with her second post-up shot of the night.

MSUB took a 30-26 lead into the break, but the Wildcats had dropped the deficit to four with six straight points.

"In the second half, our defense was better and I thought our help side was much better," Woodin said. "I was worried about our foul trouble from the first half, but we defended the post better in the closing two quarters. Offensively we had good balance and our spacing was better too. We protected the ball very well with only eight total turnovers which was a big key to our win."

Both teams came out of the locker rooms with determination. MSUB opened the second half with three baskets in a minute and a half. CWU kept pace with a layup and two free-throws.

Some around the arc passing led to an open layup from Olson to take the 'Jackets ahead 40-32. MSUB picked up two points on a layup from Lexi Prevost for a 45-37 lead. CWU's Melanie Valdez dropped the point spread to seven with a free-throw to end the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Steward hit a big 3-pointer to drop the deficit to five, but on the next possession Breen countered with MSUB's fifth 3-pointer of the night.

The Wildcats were able to convert on an Edwards' steal with a jump shot from Steward to close the gap to five again 45-40 with 8:56 remaining, but that would be as close as the Wildcats would get.
 

Breen took a charge for a CWU turnover and converted for two. A layup from Kane and one from Grimsrud pushed the lead to 13, 55-42. Vanessa Stavish made good on a layup after Breen sent her a long pass on a breakaway.

Hanson was fouled under the basket. She made both of her free-throws to push the 'Jackets ahead 51-42 with 3:42 remaining. Breen took another charge and at the other end Kane was able to dribble and drive to open up an 11-point 53-42 lead.

Playing stall ball, MSUB was able to run the clock down to three seconds on the shot clock. A straight pass to Grimsrud gave the 'Jackets an open look for two.

Down the stretch, Breen made two foul shots and Kane one. A last second 3-pointer from Edwards closed the game at a 10-point margin.

"I thought Tiana had her best game of the season," Woodin said. "Janiel was our anchor defensively tonight and Alisha played a solid game at both ends. Lexi Prevost gave us a nice spark in the second half off the bench."

THE BUZZ: Olson named St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game with her six steals...three Yellowjackets including Olson finished with five rebounds...three Yellowjackets finished with three assists.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings hosts GNAC opponent Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the early time of 1:00 p.m. The 'Jackets then have one more game at home this month welcoming the University of Montana - Western on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.

"We are looking forward to playing NNU on Saturday afternoon," Woodin said. "They have great team speed and play hard. It should be another great GNAC battle."

With the win tonight, Kevin Woodin becomes the winningest MSUB women's basketball coach of all-time. He has 192 career victories at Montana State University Billings with an overall record of 192-127.