BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team collected its tenth consecutive victory Friday, collecting a dominant 79-53 win over Montana Western University.
 
In the team's final home game of 2024, the #3 Yellowjackets (11-1, 2-0 GNAC) were able to take care of business against the Bulldogs (2-4), racking up a season-high 23 assists and shooting 47.8% from the field in a runaway victory where ten MSUB players scored a basket. The 'Jackets also made things difficult on the opposite end of the court, holding Montana Western to 36.2% shooting while forcing 12 steals and 16 turnovers.
 
"Tonight was a great win," said associate head coach Alisha Breen. "I thought we shared the ball very well. 23 assists are a season-high for us, and I was really proud of how we moved the ball and found the open shot. We've got a very unselfish group who are always willing to pass up a good shot for a great one, and our ability to have players score from both the inside and outside opens up so much for us."
 
Chenoa Louie totaled her second career double-double, and first as a Yellowjacket, leading MSUB in scoring with 18 points and totaling a career high 13 rebounds. Louie was efficient from the field, shooting 9-16 from the field and racking up her stats in just 19 minutes of gametime. Chloe Williams had 15 points, adding four assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Aspen Giese had 12 points, knocking down 4-6 three-pointers while adding seven rebounds, and a pair of assists and steals. Dyauni Boyce had nine points with five assists, two rebounds, and two steals, while Kortney Nelson scored seven points with six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Meanwhile, Kaitlin Grossman had six points, five rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. Layla Baumann totaled five points overall with a pair of assists, and Katelyn Hamilton had three points. Rounding out the scoring for the Yellowjackets were Avery Burkhart and Indie Browning, who each scored two points.
 
"I was really happy that we were able to get everybody involved tonight," said Breen. "Chenoa was great off the bench, and gave us an immediate inside presence. We talked about wanting to take control of the paint tonight, and her scoring and efficiency down low were huge for us. Chloe played a great game for us too, she was super active on both ends, and really helped set the tone for us throughout the game."
 
The Bulldogs would open strong, taking a narrow early lead, but the Yellowjackets would use a pair of early threes to help boost them back into the lead before the first media timeout. The Yellowjackets would come out of the break with renewed focus, finishing the final five minutes of the quarter by outscoring Montana Western 14-6 over the final four minutes of the first quarter. The Yellowjackets would knock down 62.5% of their shots in the first quarter, taking a nine-point lead into the second quarter. They would continue to build off that first quarter momentum in the second, continuing to grow their lead with another efficient scoring quarter, led by Louie, who would finish the first half with 12 points. And after continuing to make things difficult for the Bulldogs offensively, the Yellowjackets would take a 42-27 lead into the halftime break.
 
The third quarter was once again business as usual for the Yellowjackets, who would knock down 57.1% of both their total shots and three-point shots. MSUB would also put together it's best defensive quarter coming out of halftime, holding the Bulldogs to 26.7% shooting and taking their lead past 20 points. It would be smooth sailing from there on out for the 'Jackets, who would rotate around in the fourth quarter and give everyone involved on the way to taking home the victory in the Yellowjacket's final tune up before heading to Las Vegas for three high-profile games against regionally and nationally ranked opponents.
 
"We're very excited for the challenge we're facing in Vegas," Breen commented. "We're set to play three nationally ranked teams, which will be a great test for us. All of these games will be important for this group, and we're just excited to go down there and compete. It'll be a great three games for us to play before the break and then heading into conference play."
 
THE BUZZ: Louie was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… it marked Louie's first double-double since a 24-point, 11 rebound effort against Simon Fraser while she played for Saint Martin's… the Yellowjackets have now totaled over 20 assists in three games this season, and in both of MSUB's past two games... Hamilton's points were the first of her Yellowjacket career.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB is set to open it's three game slate in Las Vegas with a matchup on Tuesday, December 17 against #24 Cal Poly Pomona. Tipoff is set for 5 PM MT (4 PM PT) at Democracy Prep High School.