CARSON, Cali. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team is set to take part in the program's third consecutive NCAA Tournament, with the team earning an at-large selection as the No. 5 Seed in the West Regionals, hosted in Carson, California hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
Tournament action for the Yellowjackets (25-6, 14-4 GNAC) will begin on Friday, March 14, as MSUB faces off against No. 4 Seed and fellow GNAC foe University of Alaska Anchorage.
 
2025 NCAA Women's Basketball West Regionals
No. 5 Seed Montana State University Billings vs. No. 4 Seed University of Alaska Anchorage
Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
Time: 8:30 PM MT | 7:30 PM PT
Location: Torodome – Carson, CA
Tournament Homepage: https://gotoros.com/sports/2025/3/11/2025-ncaa-west-regionals.aspx
Tickets: https://gotoros.com/sports/2021/10/14/tickets.aspx
Live Video: https://www.flocollege.com/live/159542
Live Statistics: https://gotoros.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
 
 The winner of Friday's matchup will advance to the semifinals of the West Regional, scheduled for Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 PM against the winner of a game against No. 1 Seed Cal State Dominguez Hills, and No. 8 Seed Azusa Pacific at 8:30 PM MT (7:30 PM PT).
 
TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE: The Yellowjackets come in as one of the most experienced tournament teams in the competition, having qualified for the West Regional each of the past three seasons. MSUB has earned victories in each of those seasons, making it to the semifinals in 2023 with a first round win of Cal State LA, and advancing to the Sweet 16 and Regional Championship in 2024 with wins over Chico State and Azusa Pacific. MSUB also has experience with tournament games at the Torodome, with 2023's tournament also being hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
The appearance marks the eighth appearance in a regional tournament under head coach Kevin Woodin, and the Yellowjacket's sixth regional appearance in the past 11 years.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT RETURNERS: Of MSUB's returners from last season's sweet 16 unit, two players return after earning All-Tournament team honors at the 2024 NCAA West Regional. Dyauni Boyce and Kortney Nelson were each selected to the All-Tournament Team last season, with Boyce averaging 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting over 50% from the field, while Nelson averaged 13.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists across MSUB's three games in their tournament run.
 
This season, Boyce was named a First Team All-GNAC selection after leading the Yellowjackets in scoring. She comes into the tournament averaging 15.6 points per game, knocking down 40.4% of her looks and shooting 35.4% of shots from three-point range. Boyce also leads the Yellowjackets from the free throw line, shooting 80.8% on the season. Boyce also averages 6.5 rebounds per game, ranking second on the team, and 2.7 assists. She also is heavily involved on the defensive end, averaging 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. Nelson meanwhile leads MSUB with 6.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. The three-time All-GNAC Second Team selection, along with 8.6 points and 1.8 steals, with the 2023-24 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year doing a bit of everything for the 'Jackets on the court.
 
THREE-POINT SUCCESS: Aspen Giese's three-point success has added a crucial element to the Yellowjacket's offense this season. Averaging 3.1 triples per game, Giese's 99 total three-pointers this season rank top in Division II, and tied for the second most made three-pointers in a single season in GNAC history. The senior has averaged 13.7 points per game in total, second on MSUB's roster this season; while making her three-point shots at a 42.9% clip this season ranks tenth in the nation.
 
But Giese is hardly the only three-point threat on a team that attempts 22.8 triples per game. The Yellowjackets as a team make 34.7% of their three-point attempts, with both Boyce and Layla Baumann also making their three-point attempts at over a 35% rate.
 
DEFENSIVE EMPHASIS: Any team looking to defeat an Alaska Anchorage that scores 79.9 points per game needs to put together a strong game on the defensive end, and the Yellowjackets are a team prepped to do so. MSUB holds teams on the season to just 56.5 points per game, ranking second in the conference behind the Seawolves, while the 'Jackets excel at contesting shots, allowing teams to shoot at just a 38.2% clip from the field, and 26.8% mark from three. Attacking the boards and preventing second chance opportunities will also be key, with MSUB holding a 6.9 average rebounding margin on the season, and will look to clean up the boards against their fellow GNAC foes.
 
TURNOVER CHALLENGE: For the Yellowjackets, taking care of the ball will be key in earning a result against the Seawolves, with Alaska Anchorage leading the entire country in turnovers forced (790) and turnover margin (11.90). The 'Jackets are more than capable of withstanding pressure, with an experienced team that has proven capable of beating the Seawolves press earlier this season, and holds a positive turnover margin this season of 1.8. But MSUB will need to avoid turnovers at all costs against a Seawolves unit that thrives on scoring in transition.
 
ROSTER OVERVIEW: The Yellowjacket's core consists of four seniors, with Boyce, Nelson, and Giese joined by Chloe Williams in leading the way for the Yellowjackets out on the court. Williams, who earned All-GNAC honors for the first time in her career this season, has broken out in here senior season, averaging 8.9 points per game along with 4.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and ties for the team lead with 58 steals this season.
 
Behind those four, the Yellowjackets rotate a pair of experienced players in at the five between Kaitlin Grossman and Chenoa Louie. The junior Grossman has started every game for the Yellowjackets this season, and averages 6.7 points per game to go with 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks. Louie meanwhile averages 5.7 points and 3.2 rebounds a game off the bench, while playing solid defense on opposing forwards.
 
Layla Baumann also provides a spark off the bench, scoring 6.9 points per game while helping stretch the floor and guard the perimeter. Meanwhile, a core of young players is ready to be called upon including sophomore forward Avery Burkhart, redshirt freshman Bailey Finn, and a group of true freshmen in Indie Browning, Camryn Koester, Katelyn Hamilton, and Alli Ligocki.
 
University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves
2024-25 Record: 27-4, 16-2 GNAC)
Head Coach: Ryan McCarthy (13^th season)
 
The challenge in the Yellowjacket's way as they look to advance to the next round of the tournament is a familiar one, with the 'Jackets set to face the Seawolves for the third time this season. Head coach Ryan McCarty, the GNAC Coach of the Year, helped to guide his team to both regular season and GNAC Championship titles so far this season, with the team outscoring opponents on average by 29.9 points per game. That scoring margin ranks second in the nation, with the Seawolves averaging 29.9 points per game, while allowing just an average of 50.0 points per game.
 
The Seawolves offense primarily comes from the inside and transition, where Anchorage uses it's size and speed to try and overwhelm opponents. Leading the charge is GNAC Tournament MVP Tori Hollingshead, who averages 14.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. She was joined on the All-GNAC First Team this season by Emilia Long, a guard who earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Year honors after setting a conference record with 129 steals this season, adding in 12.5 points and 5.3 assists. The Seawolves also feature three other players who average over 11 points per game in Jazzpher Evans, Elaina Mack, and Ashlyn Rean, helping provide depth in scoring for the Anchorage rotation.
 
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: This game for the Yellowjackets and Seawolves also marks a rubber match in the team's season series, with both teams winning a game in their two regular season meetings. The Yellowjackets picked up an impressive 70-55 home win in their first meeting this season, handing the Seawolves their first loss in conference play this season. Alaska Anchorage would get the better of MSUB in the team's second meeting in Alaska however, winning 87-64 back in late February.
 
2025 NCAA West Regional Schedule
March 14-17 | Torodome | Cal State Dominguez Hills
All times listed Pacific
 
March 14
Quarterfinal #1 No.6 Central Washington vs No.3 Point Loma - 12:00 PM

Quarterfinal #2 - No.7 Chico State vs No.2 Cal Poly Pomona - 2:30 PM 

Quarterfinal #3 - No.8 Azusa Pacific vs No.1 Cal St. Dominguez Hills 5:00 PM 

Quarterfinal #4 No.5 Montana St. Billings vs No.4 Alaska Anchorage - 7:30 PM 

Saturday, March 15
Semifinal #1 - 5:00 PM

Semifinal #2 - 7:30 PM 

Monday, March 17
Regional Final - 7:00 PM