NAMPA, Idaho – The Montana State University Billings women's basketball team came up on the wrong end of a contest Saturday night against Northwest Nazarene University, falling 71-44 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Yellowjackets (14-13, 6-8 GNAC) and Nighthawks (16-7, 11-4 GNAC) played an evenly contested first half, trading the lead 11 times until a late run from NNU would help the home team build up a small cushion going into the second half, before the Nighthawks would catch fire from the field in the second half, outscoring MSUB 40-18 across the final 20 minutes of action on their way to collecting a big win over MSUB. The Yellowjackets finished the game shooting 16-48 (33.3%) from the floor, ten percentage points lower than the Nighthawks, while MSUB struggled to control the ball, committing 26 turnovers.
 
"This was a difficult loss for us tonight," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "The first half was very competitive; we were able to get a lead at the end of the first and hung around in the second quarter. We were a little too sloppy with the basketball and missed some shots inside, but got to give NNU credit; they really came out in the third quarter and put a big run together, and we just didn't respond the way we needed to. We just didn't protect the ball well, and didn't have the fire we usually do on the boards. Those are things we've got to get back on track with next week, and we just need to have a better plan. I know our team is disappointed with tonight's game, but we're looking forward to next week's home games very much."
 
Cassie Chesnut scored a team leading 11 points for the Yellowjackets, scoring 11 points in addition to her five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal and assist each. Brooklynn Brennan and Allison Kunze would each score seven points, with Brennan totaling a pair of steals and an assist, while Kunze posted five rebounds and an assist. Kaitlin Grossman grabbed seven rebounds while adding five points, two steals, and one assist and steal each. Kyla Momberg scored five points to go with four steals and a pair of assists. Katelyn Hamilton scored six late points off the bench with a pair of three-pointers, while Rae Smart scored two points with five rebounds and an assist, while Avery Burkhart made one free throw.
 
A back-and-forth opening to the game would see the Yellowjackets and Nighthawks trade the lead seven times in the first quarter as the team's battled closely. After the 'Jackets took a 6-5 lead with 4:49 remaining, the teams would trade made baskets over the next two minutes as the lead flip-flopped, until a layup from Rae Smart helped to spark a 7-3 run to end the half for MSUB, including back-to-back baskets late from Chesnut to give the Yellowjackets a narrow three-point lead. The second quarter would proceed in a similar fashion, with both teams continuing to exchange the lead while turning the ball over a combined 23 times between the two teams. But after MSUB would grab a 23-20 lead with 4:16 remaining, the Nighthawks would proceed to score seven consecutive points with no response, building on that stretch to head into halftime on an 11-3 run, building up a 31-26 lead over the 'Jackets at the break.
 
In the third quarter however, the Nighthawks would catch fire from the field, scoring 24 points and shooting 10-21 (47.6%) and hitting four threes on their way to a 24-point quarter. Their hot shooting streak would coincide with a cold streak from MSUB, who would score just six points in the third as the Nighthawks would turn on the jets, taking a six-point lead coming out of halftime and turning it into a 23-point advantage going into the fourth quarter. The Nighthawks would continue to pull away as the final ten minutes ticked away, pushing their lead over MSUB to as high as 29 as they saw out the remainder of the game with little issue, sinking the Yellowjackets and claiming victory on home court.
 
THE BUZZ: Kunze was named the Intermountain Health Player of the Game… Momberg's four steals tied a career-best mark.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjacket return home for their final two home games of the regular season next week, kicking things off on Thursday, February 19 when the 'Jackets play host to University of Alaska Anchorage. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:15 PM at Alterowitz Gym, with MSUB hosting it's annual Faculty Appreciation Night. Live video will be available on the GNAC Network, with live statistics available here, and tickets available for purchase here.