BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team excelled in the program's return to conference action, taking down Seattle Pacific University 97-57 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (14-2, 3-0 GNAC) proved to be unstoppable offensively in the team's first contest of 2025, taking down the Falcons (6-10, 0-3 GNAC) after shooting 60.9% from the field as a team, and scoring a season-high in points. The 'Jackets also shot 50% from three-point range as a group, while holding the Falcons to just a 34.5% overall shooting clip, and forcing 15 turnovers.
 
"This was an incredible team win," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "We played consistent basketball across all four quarters, which was something we've wanted to improve on as a group, and we achieved that today. We shared the ball very well, with 30 assists as a team showing how well we spread the ball around and made the extra pass. SPU likes to push the tempo, and throughout the game I thought we did a great job of getting back and making them work hard to score all game, and we did a great job on the boards as well. I'm very proud of our whole team for a complete victory."
 
Dyauni Boyce was electric in the contest, setting a new career-best scoring mark with 35 points. The senior shot 14-19 from the field and 4-7 from three overall, while knocking down MSUB's only three free throw attempts in the game. Boyce also chipped in with five rebounds, a pair of assists, and a block.
 
"Dyauni was excellent today," said Woodin. "She shot the ball well from all phases, and we were very happy that she was able to put up a career high."
 
Behind Boyce, a trio of other Yellowjackets finished in double figures for scoring, with Layla Baumann putting up 12 points, and both Chloe Williams and Kaitlin Grossman each scoring ten. Baumann also added a career high five assists, while Williams had five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block, and Grossman totaled five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Kortney Nelson scored nine in an impressive all-around performance, adding eight rebounds, seven assists and a steal to her stat line. Aspen Giese scored eight points on perfect shooting from the field, adding six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. Chenoa Louie and Avery Burkhart each scored four points, while Katelyn Hamilton had three, and Camryn Koester had two.
 
"Offensively, we just executed so well throughout the entire game," Woodin said. "It was great to see three other players finish with double figures, and I'm glad we were able to get so many of our players involved."
 
After conceding the game's first basket, the Yellowjackets would waste no time and take control of the game's early stages, powered by a standout beginning from Boyce. The Winifred, MT native would score 15 of the Yellowjacket's 24 points in the opening quarter, and help power the home team to open up an eight-point lead at the conclusion of the first quarter, where MSUB hit 50% of it's shot attempts. They would up that number to 60% in the second quarter, continuing to ride the momentum provided by Boyce's hot shooting. She would increase her first half scoring total to 22 across the opening two quarters, scoring half of MSUB's points as the team headed into the break ahead 44-29.
 
With MSUB in full control of the proceedings heading into the second half, the Yellowjacket's would put together a staggeringly impressive third quarter, only missing two shots total in the first ten minutes of the second half. The 'Jackets would shoot 86.7% overall, knocking down both of it's three-point and free throw attempts, going on to outscore Seattle Pacific 30-14 overall to well and truly put the game away. Nearly every Yellowjacket got in on the action, with the team spreading the ball around to collect nine assists in the third, heading into the final ten minutes of action with a 31-point advantage. The fourth quarter would contain no surprises either, as MSUB pushed full steam ahead to close out an impressive home victory to open up 2025 and begin the remainder of its conference games.
 
THE BUZZ: Boyce was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… with her monster performance, Boyce crossed the 1,300 career point mark, sitting with 1,311 and just 13 points away from moving into 14^th in scoring in MSUB program history… Boyce's 35 points were the most scored by a Yellowjacket this season, and the second most in a single game by any player in the GNAC… she is also just 13 rebounds away from collecting her 600^th career board… Nelson's seven assists moved her to 382 career assists, while the senior guard currently sits at 967 career points… Nelson leads the GNAC in total assists this season with 69… Giese's career scoring total now sits at 942, while the fellow senior ranks second in total made three-pointers (45) and third in three-point percentage (42.5%) in the GNAC this season… the Yellowjacket's 42 made field goals tie for the second most in a single game in program history, while it's 60.9% shooting mark ranks fifth… the team's 30 total assists also tie for the third most in a game in program history.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets remain at home for a pair of games next week, opening their slate off with a matchup against Western Oregon University on Thursday, January 9. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:15 PM at Alterowitz Gym, with live video available here, and live statistics available here. Tickets for all MSUB's home games are available for purchase online here.