BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team dropped its first game of the season against the Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets 60-51 in a tightly contested game Tuesday night at Alterowitz Gym.
 
In the battle of the two Yellowjacket teams, it would be the visitors who would triumph. After trailing for most of the game, Black Hills State (4-1) gained the lead with 2:30 left with a tough layup from Danica Kocer. Her following free throw would make the score 51-49 in favor of BHSU, and they ended the game on a 12-2 run to take down MSUB (4-1) in their first home game of the regular season. "Give Black Hills a lot of credit," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "I thought they played some excellent defense tonight, and we struggled in the first half with getting open and being able to handle their pressure."
 
Kocer, along with teammate Niki Van Wyk, led Black Hills State in scoring with 14 points each. Alessia Capley chipped in eight points for the Yellow Jackets. BHSU outshot MSUB 41 percent to 37 percent from the field, and 35 percent to 23 percent from three. In what became a battle between two good defenses, Black Hills State's eight steals helped create 21 turnovers for MSUB.
 
For the hosts, Dyauni Boyce had a line of 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists to lead the 'Jackets in each category. Kortney Nelson and Chloe Williams were the Yellowjackets' next highest scorers with nine. Aspen Giese and Natalie Andreas had six rebounds each, and Shayla Montague led the 'Jackets in 3-point shooting with a pair of triples, finishing with eight points to go with five boards. "Overall tonight I thought we settled in during the third quarter and played much better," Woodin said. "We passed the ball and were able to make some shots, and we played some good team basketball. Over the last couple of minutes they executed better than us on both ends. We need to be better and learn from close-game situations."
 
A tightly contested first half was a tale of two quarters. The first period was a track meet, with both teams scoring efficiently. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field, with the hosts putting in 75 percent of their attempts. The following quarter stood in sharp contrast, as a defensive slugfest prevented either team from scoring double digit points in the second period. MSUB's shooting percentage fell to 33 percent, while Black Hills was 21 percent from the field. It looked as though the visitors may steal the lead going into halftime, but a late 3-pointer from Montague pushed MSUB ahead by four going into halftime.
 
The second half was close all the way through. It wasn't until MSUB started fouling late that either team gained separation in the game. After playing a level third quarter, BHSU would just be too much to handle in the end. "I liked our fight tonight, it was just a struggle to score," Woodin said. "We are looking forward to our trip to Alaska, and two more non-league games before starting conference play."
 
 
THE BUZZ: Boyce was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is 5-3 against Black Hills State historically, having lost three games in a row.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets travel to Alaska to play their next four games, the first of which coming against Salem University in Fairbanks on Friday, November 25 at 5 p.m.