CARSON, Cali. – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team would fall just short of a come-from-behind victory in the opening round of the NCAA West Regionals, falling 69-66 to University of Alaska Anchorage to conclude the team's 2024-25 campaign.
 
A big second quarter run would see the No. 5 Seed Yellowjackets (25-8, 14-4 GNAC) fall behind heading into halftime, but MSUB would surge back into the game in the second half, making it a contest late. Things would look dire as the No. 4 Seed Seawolves (28-4, 16-2 GNAC) would pull their lead back to 12 late, but an 11-2 run in in the final minute would give the Yellowjackets a chance to send the game into overtime, before their final shot would narrowly miss and spell an end to another successful season, with MSUB complete it's third consecutive season of 25 wins or more.
 
Dyauni Boyce would lead the 'Jackets in scoring, totaling 19 points along with nine rebounds, and three assists and steals each. Chloe Williams would finish with 14 points to go with three assists, two rebounds, and a steal, while Aspen Gise would score 12 points with six rebounds, three assists, and a block. Layla Baumann would round out MSUB's double-figure scorers, totaling ten points with a rebound and a steal. Kortney Nelson would collect seven points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and Kaitlin Grossman would score four points with four rebounds and a pair of steals.
 
The first quarter would see MSUB open the game on a 7-0 run over the first 1:51 of action, with Giese striking first with an opening three before back-to-back layups from Boyce would help MSUB pull ahead early. They would maintain that lead for a couple of minutes, before the Seawolves would begin to chip away at the 'Jackets lead, evening things up with 2:26 in the quarter. Anchorage would finish the first quarter on a 17-5 run, including a 9-0 scoring stretch, and would grab the lead late in the first. They would carry that momentum into the second quarter, scoring 11 of the first 13 points in the period to extend the lead to double digits. The Yellowjackets would find some success late getting to the free throw line, but another late scoring stretch by the Seawolves would see the team take a 39-24 lead into the break.
 
Needing a quick turnaround to get back into the game, the Yellowjackets and Seawolves would trade baskets back-and-forth in the early stages of the third quarter, MSUB would slowly begin to work their way back, slowly cutting into the advantage and bringing the deficit to nine points after a trio of consecutive three-pointers, and stay hot to end the quarter, trailing by ten as the game made it's way into the fourth quarter. The lead would remain around that ten-point range in the fourth quarter, despite MSUB best efforts, with the Seawolves looking to have the game squared away after taking a 67-55 lead with just 1:02 remaining. But Baumann would hit a three to cut the lead to nine, before she and Giese would score a pair of layups in just two seconds after two consecutive steals off the inbound. A foul and quick three from Baumann, and MSUB would trail by just three points with 29 seconds left. The Seawolves would make another free throw, but Chloe Williams would drive in and get fouled with 3 seconds on the clock, and MSUB down by four. After making the first, Williams would intentionally miss the second free throw, with Boyce kicking the ball out to Giese for a final chance at the tie. Her shot would nearly go in, but wouldn't be able to find it's way into the basket, ending the Yellowjacket's season after a valiant rally.
 
THE BUZZ: Boyce was named as the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… The game marked the final appearances for Yellowjackets Dyauni Boyce, Kortney Nelson, Aspen Giese, Chloe Williams, and Chenoa Louie… Boyce finishes her career with 1,581 career points, the fifth most points scored in MSUB program history… she also became the 11^th player in MSUB history to cross 700 career rebounds, finishing her career tenth in MSUB history… Nelson finishes her season with 144 assists, tying for the seventh most in a season by a Yellowjacket… for her career, Nelson finished fifth in program history for career assists with 457, eighth in career rebounds with 741, and second highest mark in career free throws with 413… Giese finished with 101 made three-pointers this season, most in program history and second most in GNAC history… her final career total of 221 made three-pointers ranks fourth in MSUB history.