GOLDEN, Colo. – The #10 Montana State University Billings women's basketball team lived up to their ranking in a Top 25 clash against #18 Regis University, picking up an 84-61 victory in neutral site action.
 
Facing off at Lockridge Arena on the campus of Colorado Mines, the Yellowjackets (6-1) extended their winning streak to six games in a row, as their balanced offensive attack was able to overwhelm the Rangers (4-2). The 'Jackets shot 50% from the field in the game, with that percentage going up to 66.7% from three-point range as MSUB hit 14 triples in the game. Nine different Yellowjackets scored in the game, with seven of them scoring nine points or more.
 
"It was a great win for us tonight against a very good Regis team," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "The first quarter was kind of back-and-forth, but we hit some big shots to close out the quarter, and it helped spark us going forward in the game. We struggled a bit with foul trouble, but we shared the ball well tonight and everybody got involved on the offense."
 
Dyauni Boyce led the 'Jackets in scoring with 18 points, adding nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the game. Kortney Nelson and Chloe Williams each scored 11, with Nelson tacking on eight rebounds and five assists, while Williams had four rebounds and three assists. Danielle Zahn scored ten points, adding a pair of rebounds and assists each, while the trio of Shayla Montague, Kola Bad Bear, and Aspen Giese each scored nine in the game. Natalie Andreas added five points for the Yellowjackets. In total, the Yellowjacket's bench scored 28 points, while MSUB outrebounded Regis 46-27 in the game.
 
"We shot the heck out of the ball from the three-point line," Woodin said. And I was proud of how we shared the ball and got balanced scoring tonight. To have seven players with at least nine points is a testament to how unselfish this team is."
 
The game was tight early, with the team's trading baskets in a tightly contested first quarter. But after Zahn would come off the bench to hit a clutch three to tie the game, MSUB would finish the quarter on a 6-2 run in the final minutes to grab a four-point lead after the first. They would take that momentum and run with it in the second quarter, outscoring the Rangers 20-9, holding their opponents to just 27.3% shooting in the quarter.
 
"The second quarter was one of our best quarters this season," Woodin said. "We guarded well, and we were able to push the ball in transition to create a lot of shots. I thought our performance there was key to our win tonight."
 
Regis came out with a strong third quarter, fighting back to nearly cut the lead to single digits as foul trouble forced Yellowjackets to the bench and gave the Rangers chances from the free throw line. But the 'Jackets never let their opponents truly get going from the field, holding the Rangers to just two made three pointers in the game, and would tighten up defensively in the fourth quarter, using another explosive quarter to keep things out of reach, and grab an impressive victory against a tough opponent.
 
"Give Regis credit," said Woodin. "They're a good team, and had a nice third quarter run to get back into things. But I thought our players did a good job of regrouping, and we closed out the game well. We're looking forward to tomorrow and a game against a very good Colorado Mines team."
 
THE BUZZ: Zahn was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… The Yellowjacket's 84 points were a season high, as were their total made three pointers and rebounds.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets finish their time in Colorado with a matchup against Colorado School of Mines tomorrow, November 25, with tipoff set for 5 PM. Live video will be available here, and live statistics will be available here.