NAMPA, Idaho - Kayleen Goggins poured in a career-high 28 points, but it was a pair of free-throws that prevented the Yellowjackets from completing a season-sweep at Northwest Nazarene as MSU Billings fell 86-85, on Thursday night in the Johnson Sports Center.
 
Goggins completed 28 points shooting 11-16 from the field for 68.8 percent, and was a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line. Fellow MSUB senior Quinn Peoples had 19 points including five 3-pointers. Alisha Breen had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
 
MSU Billings was up by six at half-time, but a tight second-half, coupled with some tough defense from Northwest Nazarene put the Crusader's at the free-throw line with 22 seconds left. Down by one, 85-84, NNU's Coco Gall made both to give NNU a one point advantage. MSUB had one more possession and with time expiring put up a contested eight-foot jumper, but the shot fell short as time expired preventing MSUB from completing the season sweep over the Crusaders.
 
"You know we had a chance to win at the buzzer with that contested eight-foot jumper, but the shot just didn't go our way tonight," MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. "It is a tough loss for us tonight. I was proud of our players tonight though; they really battled all night long. The team got off to a good start the first half as it was a very face-paced game and we were up by six at half-time."
 
At half-time Montana State University Billings (12-10, 4-9 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) was up, 47-41.
 
After the break, the Yellowjackets climbed to a 10-point, 54-44 lead on a Goggins' 3-pointer with 18:08 remaining. Northwest Nazarene University (6-17, 4-10 GNAC) then went on tear, scoring 10-straight points in the next three minutes to tie the game at 54-all.
 
For the rest of the game, the point-spread was never more than a 4-point advantage for either team. In the closing minute as MSUB held a one-point lead, NNU pulled down an offensive rebound drawing a foul from MSUB giving Gall a chance to give her team the lead. She made both of her shots, and MSUB was unable to get a shot to fall in the remaining 20 seconds of the game.
 
"In the second-half we struggled guarding them," Coach Woodin said. "They were getting the ball in the paint a lot and were able to really pressure our defense. Down the stretch they got ahead of us several times. Down by three we were able to regain the lead, but the foul off the offensive rebound gave NNU a chance at the free-throw line and we were unable to find an answering shot."
 
Led by Taylor Simmons 23, NNU had three players finish in double-figures. Both teams were close in shooting percentage, MSUB at 45.1 percent for the game, and NNU at 45.2 percent, but the Yellowjackets' did take dip in the second half, falling from 48.72 percent to 40.63 percent.
 
MSUB's Breen completed her fourth double-double of the season. Freshman Rylee Kane had 11 points and a game and career-high seven assists. The Yellowjackets were 11-13 (84.6 percent) from the free-throw line as both Goggins and Breen were 4-4. Goggins was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.
 
Northwest Nazarene was 26-32 (81.3 percent) from the free-throw line. MSU Billings had the advantage in rebounds 41-38.
 
On Saturday, MSU Billings travels to Central Washington for a very important game against the Wildcats as the Yellowjackets continue their bid for a place in the conference post-season tournament hosted at home.
 
"I look forward to playing Central Washington on Saturday," Coach Woodin said. "It is a very important game for us. We will to respond to this tough loss and come out with an inspired game on Saturday against Central Washington."
 
Tip-off for the game on Saturday for the game between MSU Billings and Central Washington is scheduled for the early time of 2 p.m. Pacific Time.