BILLINGS, Mont. – Alisha Breen scored 31 points and the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team closed the door on Western Washington University Thursday night at Alterowitz Gym, as the Yellowjackets won their 2017-18 Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener 75-62.
 
Brina Hull connected on a corner three with 48 seconds to go in the third quarter, giving the Yellowjackets a 49-48 edge. MSUB never relinquished the lead, parlaying Hull's clutch shot into a 9-0 run into the first part of the fourth quarter that ultimately decided the game.


 
"It was really a hard-fought contest through three quarters, but the fourth quarter was one of our best quarters yet," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin on MSUB's 26-14 scoring push in the final 10 minutes. "Our defense was much improved in the fourth quarter and we did a great job on the glass. Brina hit a big shot for us, and that was one of the biggest keys to the game."
 
The 'Jackets made 9 of 12 shots in the fourth quarter, while WWU started the period 1-for-6 and watched MSUB's lead expand to double figures. On a night where Breen was perfect from long range, her fourth and final trey rattled home with 5:09 to play and nudged the 'Jackets in front 63-51. The home team's advantage never slipped below double figures after that, as MSUB remained perfect on the year at 6-0 overall and is now 1-0 in league play.
 
Western Washington fell to 4-4 overall and is an even 1-1 after winning its

GNAC opener against Simon Fraser University on Tuesday.
 
Senior Rylee Kane had 18 points and six assists, and career-highs of seven rebounds and three blocks while adding two steals in 38 minutes. Kane made 8 of 12 shots from the floor and committed just two turnovers. She and Breen combined for 49 of MSUB's points, the latter hitting 11 of 17 field goals and all five of her free throws. "Alisha is just a great player, and she and Rylee were both outstanding tonight," Woodin said. "They are four-year starters, and they really took the game over."
 
Vanessa Stavish chipped in nine points and matched Kane with a team-high seven rebounds, and Grace Weeks had six points and two blocks in 15 solid minutes off the bench.
 
The game was evenly-matched for the first three quarters, with MSUB holding a 34-32 edge at the break and the Vikings responding with a 16-15 advantage in the third period. WWU also out-rebounded MSUB 33-27, including a team-high eight boards from both Hannah Stipanovich and Anna Schwecke. Stipanovich matched Gracie Castaneda with a team-best 15 points, and Lexie Bland fought off foul trouble to contribute a dozen points for the visitors.
 
The Vikings stayed in the game all night with their accuracy from the arc, making 8 of 19 3-pointers to keep MSUB on its toes. Four different WWU players had two 3-pointers apiece, but the team shot just 35.9 percent (23-for-64) overall from the floor. WWU closed the game by making four of its final five shots including a pair of treys, but by then MSUB had established a comfortable lead. "They really hurt us with the three ball in the first half, and they are a well-coached team," Woodin commented.
 
The Yellowjackets shot an even 50.0 percent (28-for-56) from the field, while making 6 of 18 3-pointers (33.3 percent) and 13 of 17 free throws (76.5 percent).
 
THE BUZZ: Breen was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Thursday was Breen's fifth-career 30-point game and was tied for her second-most points in a game…with her five made free throws, Breen moved into ninth in GNAC history with 376 makes in her career…Kane had previously recorded her career high of six rebounds on seven different occasions, and her high of two blocks on three different occasions…Kane's 18 points were the third-most she has scored in a game, coming one game after her second-highest output of 19 points last week against SD Mines…the Yellowjackets are now 15-22 all-time against the Vikings and are 9-8 in home games.
 
NEXT UP: Conference play continues on Saturday, as MSUB hosts Simon Fraser University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics will be available online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.