SAN FRANCISCO – Fourteen points by Alisha Breen in the span of five minutes in the first half, and eight by Vanessa Stavish in the fourth quarter provided the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team with key runs in a narrow 68-65 win over Academy of Art in the 2017-18 regular season opener Friday evening at Kezar Pavilion.
 
The Urban Knights wrestled the lead away in the fourth quarter, but Stavish hit back-to-back threes to give the 'Jackets enough breathing room in the end. Breen finished with a game-high 25 points, on a career-high five 3-pointers, and also had five rebounds and five assists. "I was really proud of us tonight, and we played very well in stretches," commented MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "We regrouped in the second half and especially down the stretch, and to come out on top this early in the season on the road is really important."
 
Stavish and Rylee Kane each had 11 points for MSUB, while sophomore Taylor Cunningham hauled in a team-best eight rebounds to lead a strong defensive effort. "Taylor played really well today, and did a lot of the little things for us," Woodin said. "She did a nice job on the defensive end as well. She is a really good passer, and that helped us a lot."
 
MSUB improved to 1-0 on the year, while the Knights fell to 0-1 in the first game of the season. Jazzlyn Brewster led AAU with 21 points, and Ines Medina had 10 points and six rebounds for the host. 

Breen nailed back-to-back treys to end the first quarter and supply the 'Jackets with a 15-10 advantage. She scored 14 consecutive points for the 'Jackets with two more threes to start the second quarter,

giving MSUB its first double-digit lead at 21-10.
 
Lexi Prevost converted a three-point play for MSUB's largest lead of the half at 12 points, but a cold stretch by MSUB let AAU back into the game. The 'Jackets went 0-for-4 and had three turnovers over the next three minutes, while the Knights enjoyed a 13-0 run to regain the lead 27-26 on a three by Hayley Pryor. MSUB got its edge back and held a 37-34 halftime lead, thanks to 6-for-12 accuracy from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
 
A jumper by Breen midway through the third gave the 'Jackets a five-point lead, but another cold spell turned the tables as AAU out-scored MSUB 13-4 over the final six minutes of the third. Milking the clock down, Brewster drained a three as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter with a 57-53 lead for the Knights.
 
A bucket by Breen and a clutch corner three by Prevost helped the 'Jackets inch back in front 58-57 to start a fourth quarter that featured three lead changes. Stavish followed with her big threes with four minutes left to extend it to a six-point advantage. A strip by Kane on the ensuing AAU possession resulted in a shot-clock violation, and the 'Jackets never conceded the lead in the closing minutes.
 
MSUB shot 39.7 percent from the field (25-for-63), 38.5 percent from long range (10-for-26), and made 8 of 12 foul shots. The Knights meanwhile shot 43.1 percent overall (25-for-58), including a strong mark of 48.2 percent in the second half. AAU also won the battle of the boards at 38-36. Helena Orts had seven rebounds to lead the team, while three players had six for the Knights.
 
ALWAYS A CLOSE AFFAIR: In the three historic meetings between the 'Jackets and Knights, only six total points have separated the teams. MSUB won 60-59 in 2014, and the Knights won 69-67 two seasons ago before another game down to the wire Friday.
 
THE BUZZ: Cunningham was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Breen moved up one spot to No. 14 in MSUB history with 1,235 career points, surpassing Natalie Visger (1,219)…Cunningham's eight rebounds were a career high, surpassing her previous single-game best of six (11/12/16 at CSU San Marcos)…MSUB is now 2-1 all-time against the Academy of Art…Friday was the first road game for the 'Jackets against the Urban Knights…Friday marked the first time since the 2011-12 season that the 'Jackets won their first game of the year.
 
COMING UP: MSUB challenges Holy Names University – which fell to Cal State East Bay 71-48 in the early game Friday – on Saturday afternoon in a 1 p.m. tipoff at Kezar Pavilion. Live video and live statistics for Saturday's game will be available online here.