BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team collected it's sixth consecutive victory in a hard-fought battle against Central Washington University, seeing off a late push to earn a 66-61 victory.
 
Looking to avenge their loss from mid-January, the #16 ranked Yellowjackets (22-4, 11-2 GNAC) jumped out to a big first half lead after dominating a majority of the first two quarters. The Wildcats (17-6, 10-4 GNAC), but MSUB would take care of business down the stretch, picking up a crucial conference victory on home court in the team's annual pink game.
 
"This was another tough game against a good GNAC team, so we knew we had to be ready," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "It was a great game overall. We wished it would be a little easier down the stretch, but we're focused on taking it a game at a time, and this was a good win for us. I'm proud of our group for being able to finish off the win."
 
Dyauni Boyce would finish with a game-high 22 points, knocking down 4-7 from beyond the arc and going 6-6 from the free throw line. Kaitlin Grossman would finish as the 'Jackets next leading scorer, totaling 11 points with a trio of rebounds and steals each. MSUB would have a pair of players score ten points, with Kortney Nelson collecting her third consecutive double-double, adding 11 rebounds, four assists, and a steal, while Chloe Williams added four assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Aspen Giese scored nine points with eight rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block, while Chenoa Louie and Layla Baumann each scored two points.
 
The two teams would trade baskets over the opening minutes of the first quarter, trading the lead a total of four times in the opening six minutes. The Yellowjackets would be hindered by some early turnover issues, while the Wildcats made open shots hard to come by. But the 'Jackets would finish the first quarter on a 12-3 run, taking advantage of early fouls by the Wildcats, shooting 6-7 from the free throw line in the opening ten minutes, and scoring the rest of their points from inside the paint to carry a narrow 18-13 lead into the second quarter. They would extend that run into the second, reaching as high as a 21-5 run while scoring the period's first eight points. MSUB would dominate the half in all aspects, outscoring the Wildcats 20-8 on 50.0% shooting, while limiting the visitors to 28.6% shooting and outrebounding the Wildcats handily to lead 38-21 at the half.
 
"I thought our first half was one of the best we've played all season," said Woodin. "Things were going well on both sides of the ball, and we executed very well to take a 17-point lead into halftime."
 
The third quarter would see the Wildcats claw back from the jump, outscoring the Yellowjackets 16-5 over the opening 4:02 to cut the lead to single digits. The Yellowjackets would righten the ship, led by a pair of crucial three-pointers from Boyce, and would restore a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter. The final ten minutes would be tense, with the Wildcats continuing to battle strong and complete the comeback, while the Yellowjackets would fight hard to retain their lead. While MSUB would hold on for most of the quarter, a 7-0 stretch from the Wildcats over 1:49 would tie the contest at 57-each with 2:28 remaining in the game. But following a timeout from the 'Jackets, MSUB would regain the lead once more behind a pair of Boyce free throws. The Wildcats would continue to push until the final buzzer, hitting multiple baskets down the stretch. But MSUB would respond each time, first with a dagger three from Giese to make it a five-point lead, and again with a clutch backdoor cut and layup from Williams to negate a Wildcat basket. And with the lead cut to three, MSUB would get another huge basket from Giese, whose elbow shot with ten seconds remaining would make it a two score game once more, and giving the 'Jackets the necessary cushion to see out a 66-61 victory, the teams sixth in a row.
 
"We knew they'd make a run at us in the second half," said Woodin. "Central is a tough team to guard, and they made a few runs on us. But we're a mature group, our senior leaders know how to win, and they handle adversity well. We experienced a lot of adversity in the second half from a good, well coached team. They made a run at us, but we hung in there, and I'm proud of how our players executed down the stretch, making big plays and getting stops when we needed them."
 
THE BUZZ: Boyce and Williams were each selected as the Intermountain Health Players of the Game… Boyce would compete in her 130^th career game for the Yellowjackets, tying Alisha Breen for the most games played as a Yellowjacket in program history…. MSUB split the season series with Central Washington, and are now 6-4 in their last ten games against the Wildcats… with results following MSUB's previous game last Saturday, the Yellowjackets clinched a place in the GNAC Championships, scheduled to be hosted from March 6-8 in Lacey, Washington.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will look to avenge their other conference loss so far this season on Saturday, February 15 when they square off against Northwest Nazarene University at Alterowitz Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:15 PM, with live video available here, and live statistics available here. Tickets are available online here. Following the game, and prior to tipoff of the men's game, the Yellowjacket Hall and Fame and Distinction Class of 2025, including associate head coach Alisha Breen, will be honored.