LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team were narrowly defeated by Cal Poly Pomona in neutral site action, falling 72-69 in the first of three games in Las Vegas this week.
 
In a matchup between a pair of teams ranked in the WBCA top 25, it would be the #23 Broncos (8-1, 3-0 CCAA) who would emerge victorious, seeing off a second half rally from the #3 Yellowjackets (11-2, 2-0 GNAC) to hand MSUB it's first defeat in over a month. Cal Poly Pomona would use a big second quarter to open up a double-digit advantage at halftime, which MSUB would battle hard to overcome, making it a one possession game late in the contest. But the 'Jackets would be unable to get a go-ahead basket, falling just short of completing a comeback.
 
"We lost a tough game to a very good Pomona team," said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin. "We struggled a bit offensively in the first half, but we kept fighting and made a good run at them in the fourth quarter. We were disappointed to not get over the hump, but we'll learn a lot from this game and be ready to respond."
 
Dyauni Boyce led the Yellowjackets in scoring, tying her season-high with 25 points. The senior collected her points on 6-11 shooting from three-point range, while going 7-8 from the free throw line. Boyce added seven rebounds, along with a trio of assists and steals. Kortney Nelson and Aspen Giese each scored ten points behind her, with Nelson adding six assists, and a pair of rebounds and steals, while Giese added three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Rounding out the scoring for MSUB was the trio of Kaitlin Grossman, Chloe Williams, and Chenoa Louie, all of whom scored eight points. Grossman added a team best nine rebounds and two assists, while Williams had four rebounds, three assists, and a steal, and Louie put up three rebounds and a block.
 
The first quarter displayed tight defense from both teams, as they looked to gain an early advantage. Neither side would be able to pull away by much, with the teams swapping a small lead across the first ten minutes before a pair of free throws from Grossman at the end of the quarter would send the teams into the second tied at 13. But despite the 'Jackets taking a quick five-point lead in the opening minute, the Broncos would come on strong, not allowing an MSUB basket for over six minutes as part of a 15-0 run. Pomona would end up outscoring the 'Jackets 20-7 across the second quarter, taking a 33-20 lead into halftime with MSUB looking for a response.
 
The Yellowjackets would begin to punch back in the third quarter, shooting 53.3% from the field and knocking down a trio of three pointers as they looked to climb back into the game. And while the 'Jackets would outscore the Broncos to cut into their lead, Pomona would stay in front behind an efficient quarter, knocking down 72.7% of their shots to stay ahead by ten heading into the fourth quarter. The lead would continue to hang in the low double digit as the Broncos looked to close things out, but with 3:39 remaining, the Yellowjackets would begin to mount their final push. MSUB would score 14 points in the remainder of the game, with Boyce scoring ten of them as they began to chip into the lead. Her three-pointer with 1:50 remaining would cut the Broncos lead to three, and after a free throw by Pomona, a three-pointer from Nelson would pull the Yellowjackets back to within one. But while MSUB would be able to get the stop they needed, a turnover would force the Yellowjackets to foul, restoring a three-point lead for Cal Poly Pomona. The 'Jackets would have one more chance to tie it up, but Boyce's final effort would be no good, as the Broncos would hold on for the victory.
 
THE BUZZ: Boyce was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… the Yellowjackets concluded their winning streak at ten games, the second time in the past three seasons MSUB has held a winning streak of ten games of more… Boyce has now scored 1,245 points in her career, passing Natalie Visger for 16^th most in program history… Giese crossed the 900 point mark for her career in the game, and is now 95 points away from her 1,000^th career point as a Yellowjacket… Nelson is now 52 points away from her 1,000^th career point, sitting at 948 after the game… Nelson now sits at 365 career assists, passing Megan Mason-Dickerson for seventh most in Yellowjacket history.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB will look to return to winning ways on Thursday, December 19, when they take on #16 University of Texas at Tyler. The game will be hosted at South Point Arena, with tipoff set for 12:15 PM MT (11:15 AM PT). Live video is available with purchase online here, while live statistics are available online here.