LAS VEGAS – A last-second layup off the fingertips of Kortney Nelson rattled out at South Point Arena on Saturday evening, as Lubbock Christian held on for a 60-58 win over the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team at the Holiday Hoops Classic.
 
The Yellowjackets (11-2) concluded their Holiday Hoops Classic with a close battle against the Chaps (8-4), constantly challenging Lubbock Christian throughout the game. But it would ultimately not prove to be the 'Jackets night, as they weren't able to close out the game despite pushing for a late comeback.
 
Natali Andreas led the 'Jackets in scoring, with 16 points while shooting 3-for-4 from the 3-point line. Nelson scored 13, chipping in a team high four assists. Aspen Giese's seven rebounds led MSUB in the game. Cariann Kunkel, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored 11 points while collecting six assists, and Shayla Montague was 4-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc to add 10 points. The 'Jackets were outshot 34 percent to 42 percent from the field but outshot the Lady Chaps from three 35 percent to 25 percent.
 
Quarter one started with the Yellowjackets starting slowly, trailing 19-11 after the conclusion of the period. The following quarter was where MSUB began to make its comeback, chipping into Lubbock Christian's lead. Andreas converted a four-point play after being fouled on her second chance 3-pointer to tie the game late in the second, but Maci Maddox responded with a triple of her own to push the Lady Chaps ahead by three going into halftime.
 
The 'Jackets stayed close behind the rest of the game, battling to overtake the Chaps throughout the third and fourth quarters. They never fell behind by more than a few points, controlling the final minutes of the game. Lubbock Christian didn't score for the final 2:56 of the game, and the 'Jackets took advantage, tightening the deficit to two points with 1:12 left. But they couldn't finish the comeback, failing to hit the final shot they needed to tie the game or move ahead.
 
Lubbock Christian was led in scoring by Audrey Robertson, who led all scorers with 19 in the game. Maddox had 13 points, as well as eight rebounds. Robertson and Maddox each had three assists, tying for a team high. Carli Bostwick had 11 points, with two rebounds and a steal.
 
THE BUZZ: Andreas was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB snapped a seven-game winning streak on Saturday…this meeting between Lubbock Christian and MSUB was just the second between the two programs, the 'Jackets are 0-2 in those meetings.
 
UP NEXT: After a 12-day break, the Yellowjackets resume conference play on December 29, facing off against Central Washington University at Alterowitz Gymnasium, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.