ABERDEEN, S.D. – A fourth-quarter comeback effort by the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team fell short on Friday night at Wachs Arena, as host Northern State University claimed a 76-63 victory at the Dacotah Bank Classic.
 
The Yellowjackets, who trailed by as much as 20 points, got the deficit as low as seven in the closing minutes of the game. NSU held on for the win despite not making a field goal in the fourth quarter, settling for 12 free throws for all of its points in the period. "They are a very good team, and it is a great environment for a game," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "They started well, and it was a shootout for a lot of the first quarter. We dug ourselves a hole, but we kept fighting. Statistically the game was closer than the score indicated, but they got to the foul line too many times. We have to do a better job of keeping our opponent from the foul line."
 
The Yellowjackets slipped to 5-3 on the season with the defeat, losing consecutive games for the first time this year. NSU meanwhile improved to 4-1 on the year with its fourth consecutive victory.
 
Taryn Shelley completed her second double-double of the year, leading the team with a dozen rebounds while adding 13 points, three blocks, and two assists. Cariann Kunkel made 8 of 16 field goals en route to a team-high 18 points, and Shayla Montague also reached double figures with 10 points. "We were effective getting the ball inside, and I think we are close to being really good," said Woodin. "We just have to be a little better from the 3-point line, and when we aren't shooting well we talked about finding other possessions from our offensive rebounding. That's something we have to continue to improve on."
 
A hard-fought bucket by Dyauni Boyce got the deficit into single digits with 1:39 to go, as the 'Jackets kept their hopes alive late. Kunkel followed with a key offensive rebound and layup at the one-minute mark to cut it to a seven-point deficit, but NSU went 6-for-8 from the free-throw line to solidify the victory.
 
MSUB struggled from 3-point range for the second straight game, making just 4 of 17 shots from the arc (23.5 percent). MSUB shot 40.0 percent overall (28-for-70) and made 3 of 5 free throws (60.0 percent). By comparison, Northern State shot 41.0 percent (25-for-61) including 41.7 percent from the arc (5-for-12), and the Wolves took advantage of free throws going 21-for-27 from the line (77.8 percent).
 
The Wolves emerged with momentum during a fast-paced opening quarter, with a corner three from Rachel Garvey at the 3:03 mark giving the hosts their first double-figure lead of the night at 22-12. Moments after checking into the game, Aspen Giese gave the 'Jackets a spark by connecting on the team's first trey of the night. After en ensuing defensive stop, Shelley made a layup to cut the deficit to 24-17 in the waning seconds of the first quarter.
 
The Yellowjackets shot 46.7 percent (14-for-30) in the first half, keeping pace with the Wolves' mark of 48.5 percent (16-for-33). MSUB made just 1 of 7 threes in the first 20 minutes however, while NSU connected on 4 of 9 treys in building the 12-point halftime lead to 42-30.
 
The second half of the third quarter proved to be costly for the Yellowjackets, as the visitors scored just four points over the final 5:07 of the period. NSU took advantage of its opponent's lull, going on a 10-4 run that upped the spread to a game-high 20 points at 64-44 by the end of the third.
 
Kailee Oliverson led all players with 20 points, shooting 7-for-15, making 5 of 8 free throws, and just missing a double-double with nine rebounds. Laurie Rogers completed a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Rianna Fillipi had a 13-point, 10-assist double-double. Lexi Roe also reached double figures for the Wolves with 14 points, while adding seven rebounds.
 
Danielle Zahn led MSUB with six assists, while Giese finished with seven points, two rebounds, and an assist in nine efficient minutes off the bench. Kortney Nelson chipped in six boards and five points off the bench, but the 'Jackets were out-rebounded 43-39 on the night.
 
"I liked the fight of our team in the second half," Woodin said. "We got down 20 after three, had a goal to cut it in half, and we did that. That is an optimistic thing for us going into tomorrow."
 
THE BUZZ: Kunkel was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Shelley's double-double was the 20th of her Yellowjacket career…Kunkel's point total was her highest of the season…MSUB is now 0-3 all-time against Northern State and is 0-1 in games played at Wachs Arena…NSU's starters scored all but seven of the team's points in the game…MSUB's six turnovers were a season low.
 
NEXT UP: MSUB is back in action on Saturday, facing Minnesota State University Moorhead with a 1 p.m. Central/noon Mountain tipoff at Wachs Arena. Live video will be available online here and live statistics will be available online here.