BILLINGS, Mont. – Taylor Edwards made her final career start, Brina Hull had perhaps the best performance of her career, and Vanessa Stavish scored 16 points as all three Montana State University Billings women's basketball seniors contributed to a season-ending 79-71 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win over Simon Fraser University at Alterowitz Gym Saturday night.
 
Despite sustaining a serious knee injury in the Yellowjackets' road game one week ago at Concordia University, Edwards was given the opportunity to start the final game of her career. The 'Jackets won the tip, passed the ball to Edwards, and play stopped to allow her a final exit. "There are a lot of emotions, but this team is so incredible and they mean the world to me," said Edwards. "All their love and support throughout everything I went through, all the adversity, is incredible. I love them, and it was a great way to go out."
 
The emotional moment helped fuel the Yellowjackets to one of their best all-around games of the season, as they out-rebounded the Clan 44-41, created 20 turnovers, and connected on 9 of 22 threes. "This was a great win for us tonight, and I really liked the focus of our players," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "We really wanted to send our seniors off right, and our players really executed the game plan. I thought overall that we guarded the three well, and it was nice to see some shots go in for us tonight."
 
Hull was two points away from her career high, as she poured in 12 on 4-for-8 shooting including a pair of threes. The Colstrip native also matched her career best with seven rebounds, while adding two assists and a steal and playing a career-high 34 minutes. "Just knowing it was my last game," Hull responded when asked what pushed her to perform at her best Saturday. "It was the last time playing with these girls, on this court, the last time being coached by Kevin and Alisha, I just wanted to lay it all out there."
 
Stavish ended her career with a 16-point effort, and also had seven rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals. Stavish made her final career 3-pointer as well, finishing with a total of 152 which is eighth-most in Yellowjacket history. "It feels really good to get a win tonight, not only because Simon is a good team, but it's my last game I have ever played," said Stavish. "It is pretty surreal. You always think about this day and know you'll be involved in it, but to actually get on the court the emotions calm down a bit."
 
MSUB (12-14, 8-12 GNAC) didn't buckle under late pressure, as the Clan got as close as 59-54 with 9:36 left to play. Tayler Drynan led her team with 18 points and six assists, while Jessica Jones contributed 17 points. SFU fell to 17-10 overall and is now 13-7 in conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets got off to a good start from long range, making 6 of 14 shots from beyond the arc in the first half (42.9 percent). Sophie Swant, the Clan's leading scorer and the No. 2 scorer in the GNAC, was held scoreless in the opening 20 minutes as she got off to an 0-for-6 start shooting. The Yellowjackets led 33-23 at the break, before making 15 of 30 shots in the second half to secure the win.
 
Swant's first bucket of the night was an open-look three from the top of the arc, that made it a 42-32 score midway through the third quarter. She finished with just six points however, as the 'Jackets continued to keep the Clan's top offensive threat quiet.
 
SFU connected from the arc on three straight possessions as time wound down in the third, and pulled it to a single possession game down 52-49. Hull and Stavish came up big after that however, refusing to let the lead slip away from their team.
 
Hull came up with a hard-fought rebound, and worked the ball to an open Jeanann Lemelin in the corner. The junior drained a three that brought the MSUB bench to its feet, and helped the 'Jackets regain an eight-point advantage to close the period.
 
Hull wasn't done there, as she hit a triple, and on the next possession dished a pass to a wide-open Cunningham for a corner three with 4:20 remaining. That pushed the spread to 71-56, and SFU head coach Bruce Langford immediately called a timeout. The Clan never recovered after that, as MSUB saw out the win with a double-figure spread.
 
Addison Gardner replaced Hull and Shannon Reny took Stavish out to a standing ovation with 36 seconds left on the clock.
 
Hannah Collins led all players with 19 points, while adding five assists, three rebounds, and a steal in just 26 minutes. Taylor Cunningham tied her career high with nine rebounds, and just missed a double-double as she had 12 points. Lemelin finished the game with 10, and Taryn Shelley capped her freshman campaign with a solid eight-point, nine-rebound night.
 
MSUB shot 42.9 percent overall (27-for-63), and made 16 of 21 free throws (76.2 percent). SFU meanwhile shot an even 40.0 percent (21-for-68), including 28.6 percent from 3-point range (8-for-38), and they also hit 21 of 24 free throws (87.5 percent).
 
Simon Fraser finished the regular season in third place in the GNAC standings, and will play No. 6 seed Western Washington University (16-12, 11-9) in the opening round of the 2019 GNAC Championships next weekend in Bellingham, Washington.
 
SENIOR CEREMONY: After Saturday's game, the Yellowjackets' three seniors were honored in a ceremony on the court. The players were flanked by family and friends, and were presented with flowers, a plaque, and a commemorative basketball signed by their teammates.


 
THE BUZZ: Hull was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 10-11 all-time against SFU and is 7-3 in games at Alterowitz Gym...Stavish finished her career with 123 games played, the third most in MSUB history…Stavish finished with 893 points in her four seasons…Hull finished her career with 102 games played and 257 points scored…Edwards played in 92 games and totaled 237 points.