BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team opened their 2025-26 regular season playing host to University of Mary to round out day one of the D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead, falling by a score of 81-71.
 
The Yellowjackets (0-1) would hold a lead over the Marauders (1-0) throughout the majority of the first half in a tightly contested season opener for both teams. But the balance would shift in the second half after a lights out Mary team would shoot 53.8% across the final two quarters of action, including nailing 54.5% of their three-point looks to take back the lead from the Yellowjackets, and close out a victory in Alterowitz Gym.
 
"This was a fun game to be a part of," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "I thought we played a good Mary team in a fast-paced game. We're still learning how to play together, and I think it's just going to take a little bit of time to gel. But I was proud of the way we competed, and we showed some promising signs to start the season."
 
Kyla Momberg and Tailey Harris both tied with 16 points to lead the Yellowjackets in scoring. Momberg, a transfer from Montana Western, scored a new career-high 16 points, shooting 7-11 from the field. She would add another career-high with four steals, along with four rebounds and two assists. Meanwhile Harris, playing in her first regular season collegiate action, scored her 16 on 6-12 shooting, knocking down a pair of triples and adding four rebounds, an assist, and a block. Behind them, Kaitlin Grossman tallied a double-double with 14 points and rebounds each, adding two assists and a block.
 
"I was proud of Kaitlin tonight," said Woodin. "I thought she battled hard for her double-double to begin the season, and led us well on the court. Kyla was also very good off the dribble tonight, and made some nice plays."
 
Freshman Cassie Chesnut scored 12 points, hitting 6-7 from the free throw line, and added four rebounds and three steals. Allison Kunze scored six with three boards, while Brooklynn Brennan scored four points with three rebounds and a steal, and Katelyn Hamilton scored three points.
 
Grossman would collect the Yellowjacket's first basket of the season just 12 seconds after tipoff, trading early baskets with the Marauders to set up a closely-contested first quarter. Early free throws by Chesnut would restore a small advantage in favor of the 'Jackets, and MSUB would continue to keep hold of their lead, with early success from the free throw line and in the paint yielding the majority of the Yellowjackets points. MSUB shoot 47.1% from the field in the opening quarter, but the Marauders would remain close, trailing by just four as the second quarter commenced. The second quarter would be low scoring, with MSUB cooling down from the field to shoot 26.7% over those ten minutes. The 'Jackets defense would hold strong though, only allowing the Marauders to close MSUB's lead by two, with the 'Jackets taking a 32-30 lead into halftime.
 
But the Marauders would find a new level in the second half, coming out of the break and quickly finding momentum. A 9-4 run in the first three minutes of the third quarter would see Mary even the score up once more, a trend that would continue throughout the third quarter as MSUB would pull ahead by a couple of buckets, only to see the Marauders close the gap. Led by guard Bergen Kinnebrew, who scored 29 of her 36 points in the second half, Mary would shoot 61.5% in the third and 57.1% from three. After continuing to push, the Marauders would take back the lead on a pair of free throws with 1:26 remaining in the third, and build a small three-point cushion heading into the final quarter.  The Yellowjackets would continue to battle, never making things comfortable for the Marauders. But Mary would continue to score at a high rate, and took advantage of chances at the free throw line, knocking 17-18 of there attempts down in the second half and 9-10 in the final quarter to stay ahead, and close out the victory over MSUB.
 
"I didn't think we defended as well as we needed to in the second half," Woodin said. "We gave up too many open threes. Our team defense is something we're going to have to keep getting better at. Offensively we played good in spurts, but just played a bit inconsistent and had a few too many dry spells. We just need to regroup, and rebound better tomorrow against a good CSU-Pueblo team."
 
THE BUZZ: Momberg would be named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… Momberg, Kunze, Harris, Chesnut, and Brennan joined Rae Smart and Lauren Kuhbacher in playing their first competitive action for the Yellowjackets… After the 12^th all-time meeting between the two teams, MSUB now sits 4-8 all-time versus the Marauders.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB continues the Tipoff at the Trailhead on day two, taking on Colorado State University Pueblo on Saturday, November 8. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 PM at Alterowitz Gym. Live video is available on the GNAC Network, and live statistics are available here. Tickets and tournament passes can be purchased online here. Full D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead tournament information can be found online here.