HONOLULU, Hawaii – The #15 Montana State University Billings women's basketball team were able to close out a tough game on the road, defeating Hawaii Pacific University 57-54 to conclude the GNAC/PacWest Crossover, and win their fourth consecutive game.
The Yellowjackets (4-1) picked up their first win of the season in an away game, getting the better of the Sharks (0-2) in their home gym to keep their winning streak rolling. The 'Jackets took an early first quarter lead, and despite the Sharks continually pushing to get back in the game, would never let the hosts take back the lead after the first minute of the game.
"It was another hard-fought win for us," said Yellowjackets head coach
Kevin Woodin. "I really liked the way our team battled today, we played through a lot of adversity, and found ourselves in foul trouble late. But we managed to battle through that, and it's really nice to go 2-0 this weekend."
Kortney Nelson led MSUB with 14 points in the game, going 8-10 from the free throw line, while adding three rebounds and a steal.
Shayla Montague scored 12 points, going 3-7 from beyond the arc, while adding four rebounds, two steals, and a block. Also scoring 12 points was
Dyauni Boyce, who also had four rebounds in the game.
Chloe Williams scored nine points, while
Kola Bad Bear and
Danielle Zahn each scored four.
"I thought we had balanced scoring today," Woodin said. "We missed some shots we usually make, but four people with nine plus points helped us share the scoring load, and we did a great job as a group being active on the boards."
The Yellowjackets would get off to a hot start, shooting 50% from the field, and 60% from three in the opening quarter, their best shooting quarter of the game. But despite the Yellowjacket's defense holding the Sharks to just 20% shooting from the field, eight made free throws would keep Hawaii Pacific close in the game, as the Yellowjackets held a five point lead after one. From there, the Yellowjacket's offense slowed down some, but the team's defense was there to pick up the slack, continuing to create missed shots and turnovers as MSUB took a seven point advantage into halftime.
The second half would continue to see the two teams struggle to make shots in what morphed into a defensive battle. Both teams quickly found themselves in foul trouble, as they combined for 50 blown whistles in the game. The difference over the final two quarters would come at the free throw line, where the 'Jackets were able to go 12-17 from over the final 20 minutes, slightly better than the Sharks. The hosts would nearly take the lead late, coming as close as one multiple times, but between the Yellowjackets tough defense, and their efficient free throw shooting, the Sharks would be unable to find their way into the lead.
"We did a great job getting the stops we needed, and communicating well in the game," said Woodin. "Free throw shooting was important down the stretch, and we did good from the line, especially with some big free throws from Kortney down the stretch."
Erika Glenn scored 13 points to lead Hawaii Pacific, while Haley Masaki scored 12. The Yellowjackets held their opponents to just 35.7% shooting from the field, and 21.4% from three, while forcing 18 turnovers.
THE BUZZ: Nelson was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game.
UP NEXT: MSUB returns to Billings to face off against crosstown rivals Rocky Mountain College in the first edition of the Rimrock Rivalry for the two teams this season. The game is set for Wednesday, November 15 at the Fortin Center, with tipoff set for 5 PM. Live video will be
available here, and live statistics
available here.
