BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team concluded their 2022-2023 regular season with a 58-65 loss to University of Alaska Anchorage.
 
The Yellowjackets (23-6, 14-4 GNAC) finished their regular season off at home with a loss against a fellow GNAC Championship qualifier in the Seawolves (18-9, 10-8 GNAC). It was an unfortunate ending to an otherwise excellent season where MSUB won the most games in regular season play since 2017-2018. After trailing through the first quarter, Anchorage caught fire with a 24 point second quarter to take the lead, which they would maintain throughout the remainder of the game. Despite shooting 12-24 from three in the game, MSUB went 4-28 on their other shots from the field.
 
"It was a difficult game tonight," said Yellowjackets head coach Kevin Woodin. "We shot the three well, but had a hard time making shots close to the basket, which is unusual for us. Some nights you just can't get the ball to fall in the hoop, and it was one of those nights for us."
 
Aspen Giese scored a team high 15 points for the Yellowjackets, collecting five rebounds and two assists. Behind her, Shayla Montague and Kortney Nelson added 12 points each. Montague had five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, while Nelson had six boards and a steal. Dyauni Boyce added seven points for the 'Jackets, while Cariann Kunkel had six. Kunkel, along with fellow senior Taryn Shelley, were honored postgame as the Yellowjackets celebrated senior night.
 
"Taryn and Cariann have been incredible players to coach," raved Woodin. "They are not just great athletes, but great people. I'm very proud of all they have accomplished both on and off the court, and the Yellowjacket community should be very proud of them."
 
The game opened with a heavily defensive first quarter, with the 'Jackets shooting 28.6% in the opening ten minutes compared to just 25% from the Seawolves. The second quarter though was where Anchorage would begin to find their rhythm. UAA shot 55.6% in the second, and pounded the paint, taking a 32-27 lead into halftime.
 
And the Seawolves would carry that offensive momentum into the second half, opening the game up in the third quarter to take a double digit lead. The Yellowjackets would close the gap in the final quarter, but not by enough to threaten the lead as the Seawolves picked up their tenth conference win.
 
"Anchorage executed very well tonight," Woodin said. "I thought they played hard and dominated us in the paint. We'll just have to improve in some areas heading into the tourney next week."
 
Vishe' Rabb finished with 15 points for the Seawolves, adding eight rebounds. Jahanna Hajdukovich had ten points, while Kate Robinson ended with eight points and seven rebounds.
 
Despite the loss, Woodin feels that this Yellowjacket's team is in a great position heading into the GNAC Championships next week. "When you get to the GNAC tourney, you know that anybody can beat anybody, so you have to be playing at a very high level. This gives us an opportunity to refocus and prepare before the games ahead."
 
THE BUZZ: Montague was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game… Along with winning their most regular season games since the 2017-2018 season, this MSUB team picked up the most wins in conference play since 2015-2016… The Yellowjackets head into the GNAC Championships as the second seed, their highest seeding since the 2013-2014 season.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets continue their excellent season at the GNAC Championships in Bellingham, Washington,  where they will get a bye into the semifinal round on Friday. The 'Jackets face off against the winner of the Central Washington vs Simon Fraser game at 5:15 PM (6:15 PM MST), with live video available here and live statistics available here.