LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team was able to open it's slate of games at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, NV on a high note Saturday, taking down University of Tampa 60-53 in neutral site action.
 
The Yellowjackets (7-7, 0-2 GNAC) were able to move back to .500 on the season, taking the lead with a big second quarter and managing to hold off the Spartans (6-6, 2-2 SSC) down the stretch to lock in the victory. The Yellowjackets would hold their opponents to 36.4% shooting defensively, while controlling the ball well with a season-low eight turnovers and winning the rebounding battle 39-36.
 
"Today our team earned a really great win," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "I thought we played extremely hard and executed well on both ends. Tampa is a great program, so to come out on top is great to see."
 
MSUB would be led in scoring by freshman Cassie Chesnut, who put up a career-high 23 points with five rebounds, three steals, and a block. Kyla Momberg was behind her with 15 points, adding in four rebounds and assists each, and one block. Kaitlin Grossman totaled a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds, adding four assists and a steal. Rae Smart then scored five points with six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. Tailey Harris also grabbed six rebounds in the game, along with scoring three points and collecting one steal. Allison Kunze scored two points, and Brooklynn Brennan scored one and had four rebounds and an assist.
 
"Our post tandem of Cassie and Kaitlin really played well," Woodin said in praise of the pair. "They made shots all game when we needed them. They helped lead us to a great team win."
 
Neither team would be able to take much of a lead in a back-and-forth first quarter that saw neither team make consecutive baskets until Tampa would do so with 4:27 remaining. Momberg would score 7 of MSUB's nine points in a low-scoring quarter for both teams, with Tampa leading by one going to the second quarter. The second quarter would see MSUB begin to build momentum offensive, with the 'Jackets finishing the second quarter on an 11-3 to build up a 25-18 advantage heading into halftime.
 
Chesnut would score the first four points of the third quarter to help the Yellowjackets pick right up where they left off, with MSUB maintaining a cushion throughout the third quarter. Tampa would finish with it's highest scoring period of the game with 21 points, pulling to within as close as five in the quarter at one point. But the Yellowjackets would match their efforts with 20 points of their own, shooting 9-16 (56.25%) from the field and holding onto a six-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The Spartans would continue to rally as the game wound down in the fourth quarter, pulling to within one point at multiple points mid quarter. But the Yellowjackets would never break or give back the lead, responding at every turn before finishing the final 5:49 of the game on a 11-5 run, allowing just two points in the final 4:48 of action to close out the contest late and take the win in the first of two games the team is set to play in Las Vegas this weekend.
 
"I thought this was one of our most consistent games of the season thus far," said Woodin. "Our team defense was outstanding. We did a great job of executing our scout and shutting down their top couple players, and we rebounded excellently. Our assist-to-turnover ratio has been improving of late, and we took great care of the ball today. We're very happy with this win, I'm excited for this team, and we're looking forward to tomorrow's game."
 
THE BUZZ: Chesnut and Grossman were both named Intermountain Health Players of the Game for their efforts… Grossman's double-double was her third of the season…
 
UP NEXT: MSUB will round off it's Las Vegas road trip and play the team's final game of 2025 tomorrow, December 21 with a matchup against nationally-ranked #25 Daemen University. Tipoff is set for 12:15 PM MT (11:15 AM PT) at South Point Arena, with live video available on Flo Sports, and live statistics available here.