BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team responded emphatically after their first GNAC loss of the season, defeating Northwest Nazarene University 79-57 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
Celebrating their annual Pink Game, the Yellowjackets (18-4, 9-1 GNAC) never trailed in the contest, seeing off a challenge from a quality conference opponent in the Nighthawks (8-9, 5-5 GNAC), moving to 9-1 on the season when playing in Alterowitz Gym. The 'Jackets received a boost with it's shooting beyond the arc, making 13 threes in the contest for a 44.8% mark, while holding their opponents to just five made triples, and 39.3% shooting.
 
"This was a good win for us," said Yellowjackets head coach Kevin Woodin. "I thought we got off to a good start offensively, but NNU fought back hard in the first half to keep it close. But I thought we put a lot of good possessions together defensively, and started the second half strong to build up a large lead."
 
Kola Bad Bear scored 20 points for the Yellowjackets, and added six rebounds and a pair of steals. She shot a perfect 2-2 from three, and 6-6 from the free throw line. Shayla Montague had her highest scoring game of the season, scoring 17 points, hitting a game high five threes while grabbing three rebounds, two assists, and a block. Natalie Andreas scored 11 points, going 3-4 from beyond the arc, while Dyauni Boyce had nine points, six assists, three assists, and two blocks. Chloe Williams scored seven points, along with a trio of steals and four rebounds. Kortney Nelson, Danielle Zahn, and Kaitlin Grossman each scored four points, with Nelson getting eight rebounds and four assists, and Zahn dishing out six assists. Aspen Giese scored three points, and led MSUB with 11 rebounds, while also earning three assists and three steals.
 
"As a team, we did a good job of moving the ball around," said Montague, whose 214 career three-pointers rank third in program history. "I can only hit those shots if my teammates get me the ball, and we all do such a good job of sharing the ball."
 
MSUB wasted no time in finding their rhythm on the offensive end of the floor, opening the first quarter on a 12-0 run in the first three minutes of the game. It helped give the 'Jackets a solid first quarter cushion to manage, and they did just that, shooting 42.1% from the field with five three pointers to hold a nine-point lead at the end of the quarter. But a competitive Nighthawks squad would respond with an excellent defensive quarter, limiting the Yellowjackets to just three baskets in the quarter while they attempted to chip away at the lead. MSUB would prove just as apt defensively however, only allowing Northwest Nazarene to outscore them by one point in the quarter, taking a 34-26 advantage into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, the Yellowjackets would reestablish themselves on the offensive side of the ball. The 'Jackets successfully attacked the paint, while receiving major contributions from the bench, with the combination of Williams, Andreas, and Grossman combining for 11 of MSUB's 21 points in the quarter. The 'Jackets were able to bring the lead to as much as 21 in the quarter, finishing the third quarter on a 14-4 run over the last five minutes to take an 18 point lead into the fourth quarter. The Yellowjackets wouldn't experience much trouble over the final ten minutes either, finishing with their strongest offensive quarter of the night, highlighted by five made three-pointers on 62.5% shooting from deep to see out the victory, and keep pace atop the GNAC Standings.
 
Hilary James led the Nighthawks with 14 points, while Madeline Gebers had 11 points, and Kendall Clark had ten.
 
THE BUZZ: Montague was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… The Yellowjackets finish with a regular season sweep of Northwest Nazarene, and have now defeated the Nighthawks in four of their last five matchups.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB returns to the court on Saturday, February 3, to square off against Central Washington at Alterowitz Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 PM, with tickets available to purchase online here. Live video is available here, and live statistics are available here. A celebration of the 2024 inductees to the Yellowjacket Hall of Fame and Distinction will take place at halftime.