SANTA BARBARA, Cali. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team played it's first regular season game away from the confines of Alterowitz Gym on Friday evening, falling 65-54 to Vanguard University to open the GNAC/PacWest Crossover.
 
Play a neutral site game against the Lions (1-0), the Yellowjackets (2-2) would hang close in the first half, using a strong defensive start to overcome a slow shooting night. But a third quarter run by Vanguard would give the Lions a double-digit lead early in the third quarter, and despite their continued efforts to climb back into the game, the 'Jackets would be unable to rally, falling short in the team's first of two games played at Murchison Gym on the campus of Westmont College.
 
The Yellowjackets would shoot 28.6% (18-63) from the field on the night, compared to Vanguard who would hit 46.6% 27-58) of their shots as a team. MSUB would hit more threes than the Lions in the game, but would still only connect on 25% (5-20) of their efforts, along with shooting 59.1% (13-22) from the free throw line.
 
Kaitlin Grossman would lead MSUB with her second double-double of the season, collecting ten points and ten rebounds each while adding two assists, a steal, and a block. Tailey Harris would score nine, all coming off of a trio of three-pointers, along with three rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Cassie Chesnut and Allison Kunze would each score seven points, with Chesnut grabbing five rebounds, and Kunze getting four rebounds and a steal. Rae Smart and Camryn Koester each scored five points, with Smart also grabbing five rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Kyla Momberg would score four points with five boards and three assists, while Brooklynn Brennan would score four points with a pair of steals and an assist. Lauren Kuhbacher would score two points, and Alli Ligocki would score one.
 
The game would begin in a promising way for the Yellowjackets, with threes by Smart and Harris giving MSUB an early lead in the opening minutes. But after trading baskets as both teams looked to figure out each other defensively, Vanguard would finish the quarter on a tear, outscoring the 'Jackets 9-2 over the last 3:53 of the first quarter to take a six-point lead going into the second quarter. That second period would remain low scoring, with both teams swinging momentum in their favor at points. The Lions would push the lead to as much as ten nearly halfway through the second, by the Yellowjackets would battle back, finding a stretch of success offensively to close the gap to as little as three with 1:41 remaining. But after multiple attempts to close the Lion's lead even further would fall short, Vanguard would restore themselves a five-point advantage with a basket just seconds before halftime, leading 28-23 at the break.
 
The third quarter would be all Lions though, with Vanguard shooting 11-16 (68.8%) in the quarter to take control of the contest. The Lions would open the second half by scoring the first 11 points following the restart, and would go on to outscore the Yellowjackets 26-15 in the quarter, running their lead to as big as 18 heading into the fourth quarter. MSUB would chip into that advantage across the final quarter of action, but the team would never get close enough to threaten the Lions, who would hold on down the stretch to close out a win in the team's first game of the season.
 
THE BUZZ: Grossman was named as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game…Grossman is nearly averaging a double-double for the season through the 'Jackets first four games, with 10.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest… in just the second meeting between the two teams, MSUB is now 1-1 all-time against Vanguard.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will wrap up the GNAC/PacWest Crossover with a game against host school Westmont College, facing off against the Warriors on Saturday, November 15 at 5 PM MT (4 PM PT). Live video will be available on the PacWest Network, and live statistics available here.