BILLINGS, Mont. – Chloe Williams shined early and Taryn Shelley finished one off her career high with 28 points on Sunday afternoon at Alterowitz Gym, as the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team bounced back with a 77-71 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win over visiting University of Alaska.
 
Williams, a true freshman, had season highs of 10 points, eight rebounds, and four steals while making 5 of 10 shots in 22 minutes off the bench. "In the past couple of games I hadn't played a lot of minutes, so I just knew that I needed to step up," Williams commented on her mindset entering Sunday's game. "I was just going to go hard after everything when I was in to make the most of it."
 
Williams' big effort helped MSUB shake off Saturday's last-second 61-59 loss to the Nanooks, and win for the fifth time in the last six games. The 'Jackets improved to 13-9 overall and remained in second place in the GNAC standings at 7-3 in conference games. "We had a really bitter taste in our mouths after last night, and we all just wanted to win so badly," Williams said. "We all just came together, and it is exciting for us to get this win especially not having three of our starters."
 
"I'm really happy for Chloe," MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. "She got an opportunity this weekend, and she played really well both today and last night. Her first half today was phenomenal. She was all over the place on defense and offense, and she was a big key to why we won today."
 
Playing with just eight players for the second straight game due to health and safety protocol, MSUB rode a 10-for-18 shooting performance from Shelley to the win. Shelley neared a double-double with eight rebounds, while adding two assists and a steal. "It's amazing," Williams commented on Shelley's ability. "We always know we can get the ball down to her and she'll score or make the right pass. She can do it all and she's such a good leader. It's really helpful having her there."
 
Alaska freshman Pearle Green made 5 of 10 threes on her way to 21 points, while Destiny Reimers finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. The Nanooks fought back from a deficit of as much as 19 points, and out-scored MSUB 29-19 in the fourth quarter to stage a late comeback. The Yellowjackets converted 21 of 28 free throws however, using their late trips to the foul line to close out the victory. "I was proud of the way we competed," said Woodin. "They cut it down a little bit at the end there, but I thought we made the right plays there to keep them from getting it to a one-possession game."
 
Dyauni Boyce scored a career-high 12 points, while Danielle Zahn made a team-best three 3-pointers on her way to 11 points. Skylar Patton and Aspen Giese had four assists apiece, and Shannon Reny and Natalie Andreas each scored four points off the bench. MSUB shot 36.8 percent (25-for-68), including a mark of 28.6 percent (6-for-21) from long range. All eight players who suited up for the 'Jackets scored, and seven had an assist or a rebound.
 
"I feel like I have progressed a lot," Williams said on the first 22 games of her collegiate career. "We always go so hard in practice, and the starters are always making me so much better. We compete so hard against each other, and it's because of them that I was ready to step out and play this hard."
 
Caitlin Pusich made all three free throws after being fouled with 43 seconds left in the game, which brought the Nanooks' deficit down to six points at 74-68. The chaotic final minute saw the visitors stay within two possessions, and they got as close as down four points on two more made free throws by Pusich. Shelley iced the game with a pair of free throws however, putting the 'Jackets up for good with 1.1 seconds left on the clock.
 
"Towards the end we got a little bit out of sorts, but other than that we played really well," said Woodin. "It's hard to play the next day, for both teams, and this was a good team win."
 
Pusich finished with 11 points and four rebounds, while Emma Wass had a game-high 13 rebounds for Alaska. The Nanooks shot 38.7 percent (24-for-62) in the game, 36.4 percent from long range (8-for-22), and made 15 of 22 free throws (68.2 percent). "We represent two of the youngest teams in the league," Woodin commented on the matchup against Alaska. "We play four freshmen a lot and they play five, and the future is bright for them up there."
 
THE BUZZ: Williams was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Shelley's career high of 29 points came on Nov. 2, 2019 against Cal Poly Pomona.
 
NEXT WEEK: The Yellowjackets hit the road, playing at Simon Fraser University next Thursday and at No. 9 Western Washington University next Saturday. Live coverage for next week's road games will be available online here.
 
"Our mindset is great," said Woodin. "Last night was a tough loss, and I thought we came back today focused with an early morning practice and we were able to get a win. Simon and Western are two of the perennial top teams every year and we will have our hands full, but we are excited."