BILLINGS, Mont. – A determined Montana State University Billings women's basketball team ran away from Western Oregon University for a 72-52 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win at Alterowitz Gym on Senior Night Saturday.
 
Playing in her final game on her home floor, senior Taryn Shelley led the way with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double to spark a strong second half by the hosts. Senior Addison Gardner finished with 15 points and four rebounds in just her second game back after missing six weeks with an injury, and Shannon Reny, making her second-career start, posted four points and four boards.
 
"Tonight was an awesome win for our team and especially our seniors," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "We started a bit slow but had a nice run near the end of the first quarter and then played solid the rest of the night. Our defense was very good, and we were contesting shots well and communicating great. We do need to be better on the defensive boards."
 
MSUB out-rebounded the Wolves 43-37, and overcame a deficit that was as large as seven points late in the first quarter. After a slow start to the evening, the 'Jackets kicked things into gear and out-scored the Wolves 55-34 over the final three quarters. "Offensively, we had a nice balance of inside and outside scoring and I thought our transition offense was much better tonight," Woodin said. "Taryn and Cariann (Kunkel) were very good and I thought we shared the ball well. We need to improve on our 3-point shooting as overall we weren't very good at them this week."
 
The Yellowjacket shot 41.8 percent overall (23-for-55), but made just 6 of 21 threes (28.6 percent). MSUB made trips to the free-throw line count, sinking 20 of 28 shots (71.4 percent). The Yellowjackets improved to 15-9 with the win, and are now 9-3 in conference play to stay tied for second place in the standings with Alaska Anchorage.
 
Western Oregon fell to 8-12 with the loss and the Wolves are now 4-9 in conference play. Princy Paaluhi-Caulk led the way for the visitors with 18 points, but was the only Wolf to reach double figures in scoring. Cali McClave had a team-best seven rebounds, while Tresai McCarver finished with eight points, six rebounds, and a pair of assists.
 
Kortney Nelson had 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists, and Cariann Kunkel finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and two steals to further bolster the 'Jackets. Aspen Giese had a season-high five steals in 17 minutes off the bench as well. "Our depth played a key role," Woodin said. "We were able to play a lot of people and I think our legs were fresher in the fourth quarter because of that."
 
Gardner completed a key three-point play early on in the second quarter to give MSUB a 27-26 advantage, during a stretch in which the lead bounced back and forth a handful of times. A layup by Shelley sparked a 5-0 run by the 'Jackets, and MSUB used the momentum to muscle their way to a 35-31 advantage at the halftime break.
 
Putting its foot on the gas coming out of the locker room, MSUB burst out to an 11-point lead over the first four minutes of the third quarter, and after limiting the Wolves to just eight points in the period never looked back.
 
MSUB limited its giveaways to 13 in the game, while balancing that with 13 assists and coming away with 10 steals. The Yellowjackets had nine second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds, and received 15 points off the bench. "We started our three seniors tonight - Shannon, Taryn, and Addison – and our team was excited about that," Woodin said. "They played very well together, especially in the third quarter and set the tone. They are awesome student-athletes and leaders and our program has benefitted from having them each here for four years. I am proud of Addison Gardner. She missed eight games and really worked hard to mentally and physically improve over that period. She had a great week for us and played well on both ends tonight."
 
The Wolves shot just 24.6 percent in the game (15-for-61), while making 7 of 25 threes (28.0 percent) and 15 of 19 free throws (78.9 percent).
 
THE BUZZ: Gardner was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…Shelley's double-double was her seventh of the year and the 25th of her career…Shelley remained No. 18 in MSUB history with 1,179 career points…the senior upped her career rebounding total to 716, staying at No. 9 on that list as well…MSUB split the season series with the Wolves, avenging a 66-57 loss in Monmouth, Ore., on Jan. 14…MSUB is now 29-9 all-time against WOU and is 15-3 in games played at Alterowitz Gym…the 'Jackets finished with a 10-5 home record this season.
 
NEXT WEEK: With just one game on the schedule next week, the Yellowjackets have a full seven days to prepare for a key conference matchup at Seattle Pacific University on Feb. 19. Live coverage for the game at Brougham Pavilion can be found online here.