ELLENSBURG, Wash. – They don't call it March Madness for nothing. And for the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team, this March has lived up to that title.
 
The Yellowjackets (20-14, 9-9 GNAC) were the ultimate chaos team in the GNAC Championships. After entering the tournament as the No. 6 seed, the team went on tear, winning three games in as many days against the tournament's top three seeds to claim their second GNAC Championship in program history, becoming the first team to win the GNAC Championships after entering the tournament as the lowest seed, and punch their ticket on to the NCAA West Regional Championships.
 
"Winning the GNAC Championship last weekend was very special," share MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "Losing in 2023 and 2024 to Western Washington in close games was difficult, where we had fourth quarter leads but couldn't quite finish the deal. Being able to accomplish that this year felt very nice to get it done."
 
Now the 'Jackets are set to begin the second stage of their postseason run this Friday at the west regional, with the team ranked as the No. 8 seed in the field. But after pulling off one Cinderella run already this March, the Yellowjackets are prepared to prove that the clock has yet to strike midnight on this season, with the team set to open it's tournament run against a familiar foe in the tournament hosts and No. 1 seed Central Washington.
 
"I think we just had a strong will last weekend," said Woodin. "We really locked in and believed in what we were doing. The last month of the season we were in must-win mode several times, so the pressure of the tournament wasn't a new feeling for us. Our players were confident we were playing our best, and if we can continue to execute, anything can happen. We just have such team belief right now, and have no doubt in what we've set out to do."
 
2026 West Regional Championships – First Round
No. 8 Seed Montana State University Billings vs. No. 1 Seed Central Washington University
Date: Friday, March 13, 2026
Time: 6 PM MT | 5 PM PT
Location: Nicholson Pavilion – Ellensburg, WA
Tickets
Live Video
Live Statistics
Billings Watch Party: Highlands Golf Club, event starting at 5:30 PM
 
The winner of that game will move on to the second round of the tournament, where they will face off against the winner of the game between No. 4 Vanguard University and No. 5 Cal State Los Angeles.
 
REGIONAL RECORD: The Yellowjackets are hardly strangers to the regional championships. Despite a newer look from this season's young roster, MSUB is making it's fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA West Regional, along with it's seventh in the past 12 seasons and ninth all-time during the tenure of head coach Kevin Woodin.
 
"It means a lot for us to be back here," said Woodin. "It's the first time we've ever had four teams go in a row. The magnitude of the upsets we pulled, beating 3-2-1 in our league on successive nights to get here and becoming the first six seed to win the tournament is special. All of the credit goes to my staff and my players for believing in what w we're doing all season, and we started peaking at the right time."
 
Under Woodin's tenure, the 'Jackets have won a total of eight regional games, and have made multiple tournament runs, including a pair of trips to the Sweet Sixteen in 2014 and 2024, and winning one West Region Championship in 2018 where they secure a bid to the Elite Eight for the second time in program history.
 
"To succeed in the postseason, you need to have coaches and players that are unselfish," Woodin said. "They need to be dedicated to do everything they can to win each game one at a time. Some games can be high scoring, some can be low scoring. It doesn't matter how many times you've beaten or lost to a team before, it's being able to focus on the present, build a game plan and then execute it, but also just having a strong desire to do whatever you can to come out on top, and keep your focus very present. It's something we've done a great job of over the last few years, and that's such a testament to our players and coaches that have helped create that culture for us."
 
Similar to this year's squad, the 2018 iteration of the Yellowjackets came into the regional tournament as an underdog, winning that tournament as the No. 7 seed, defeating No. 2 seed Hawaii Pacific in the opening round and No. 3 seed in UC San Diego, before taking down GNAC rival Alaska Anchorage 71-70 in the Sweet Sixteen to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight.
 
"There's a little sense of déjà vu," said Woodin. "We went 0-6 in the regular season against the top three teams in both those years, but we had chances to beat them. That team was very senior and junior dominated though, where as this team is made up of so many underclassmen and newcomers. The paths were very similar, but the personnel very different."
 
EXPERIENCED STAFF: In addition to Woodin, who holds a 22-19 head coaching record in postseason games, MSUB has an experienced staff who have seen their fair share postseason experiences. Associate head coach Alisha Breen has competed in three regional tournaments as a player, including the 'Jackets 2014 Sweet Sixteen run and 2018 Regional Championship, where she was named the Regional Tournament MVP. Since joining staff as a coach following the conclusion of her playing career, Breen has helped see MSUB to four regional tournaments as an assistant. Meanwhile, assistant coach Janiel Olson also competed in multiple regional tournaments as a player and been on staff for each of the 'Jackets previous three tournament trips, while graduate assistant Kortney Nelson was on each of those three tournament teams as the Yellowjacket's starting point guard, including earning West Regional All-Tournament Team honors in 2024 during MSUB's Sweet Sixteen run.
 
"Our success this season has been heavily impacted by my assistant coaches experience," said Woodin. "They've done such a good job of helping this inexperienced team believe that anything is possible. Kortney, Janiel, and Alisha have all been on quality postseason teams as players, and their stories and knowledge help make our players better on and off the court each day."
 
YELLOWJACKETS AT A GLANCE: After losing five seniors from last year's roster, including four players who played over 110 career games for the team, the Yellowjackets were going to need to turn to it's youth this season to find success. And while the growing pains were on display early in the year, the team would continue to improve and grow together throughout the season, peaking in the final month of action. From the beginning of the second half of GNAC play, MSUB would finish the final month plus of action with it's strongest run of play this season, going 8-4 since that point. The team came into that stretch averaging 6.2. points per game, but improved that average to 70.1 points per game offensively, and holding teams to 62.1 points per game on the defensive end.
 
One of MSUB's biggest strengths comes from it's ability to rebound. The team holds a rebounding margin of 5.4 this season, averaging 41.3 boards per game, with six players collecting over 100 rebounds this season. The team has won the rebounding battle in 24 of 33 games this season, including in each of the team's wins this season, using it's ability to convert and limit second chance opportunities to their advantage.
 
Defensively the 'Jackets hold teams to an average of 61.7 points per game, with a 37.1 field goal percentage, and a 28.9% mark from beyond the arc. The team forces an average of 14.8 turnover a game with 8.2 steals on average, while a tall athletic lineup blocks 3.8 shots a game, with the squad finishing with less than five blocks in a game just twice since the beginning of February. The team is 15-1 in games in which it holds teams to below that points per game average, with the Yellowjacket's defense frequently helping to fuel the team on the other end of the floor as well.
 
On the offensive side of the ball, the 'Jackets score an average of 65.9 points per game, shooting 38.8% from the field as a group. The team does the bulk of it's scoring inside the point, but does have the ability to hit shots from three, averaging 5.9 triples a game at a 29.2% clip, and making an average of 11.2 free throws per game at a 71.6% average. When surpassing their points per game average this season, MSUB is 13-2 for the season, passing the mark in each of it's three games at the GNAC Championships.
 
With ball security a point of emphasis for the young team, the 'Jackets now hold a positive assist to turnover ratio of 1.0, as well as a positive turnover margin of 0.6.
 
The team has battled early injury issues during the season. It's second highest returning scorer from last season Layla Baumann, a preseason All-GNAC selection was injured at the tail end of preseason, while a pair of season-ending injuries to sophomores Indie Browning and Camryn Koester, both of whom had seen the court early in the season left a young team further depleted. Things looked tough after a 1-4 start to conference play as well, forcing MSUB to come from behind to even punch it's ticket to the conference tournament. But after battling through so much adversity, the Yellowjackets have become accustomed to playing with pressure, showing that off at the conference championships as they became the first team to win the title after taking down the top three seeded teams at the tourney.
 
GROSSMAN KNOWS HOW TO WIN: Kaitlin Grossman entered her senior season as the lone senior on the roster for the Yellowjackets, having been a member of each of MSUB's last three conference and regional tournament trips. Now the Yellowjacket's elder statesmen is coming off of GNAC Championships appearance number four, collecting her first title, and will look to continue to lead the team both on and off the court with her valuable experience.
 
Grossman currently sits at 98 career wins over four seasons in the navy and gold, the most wins by a single player in program history, and is set to play in her 114^th career game for MSUB. The Billings local has found another level this season after being a preseason all-conference selection, averaging 9.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while collecting 42 steals and 23 blocks. Earning All-GNAC Honorable Mention honors coming into the conference tournament, Grossman would be one of the 'Jackets biggest stars on their run to the title, averaging 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.7 steals across the 'Jackets three games.
 
"Kaitlin is such a pleasure to coach," praised Woodin. "She's team oriented, and a hard worker. She's always put in the work she needs to get better. It's neat that she's able to do this for her hometown school. She's really elevated her game this year, she's battled through some injuries and a flu bug this year, but over the last month and a half, she's been playing the best basketball of her life, and has helped lead us on our second half surge. She does the little things for her teammates, and I think she's at peace and just been able to enjoy the ride over the past month. I've seen her smile more than ever, and her leadership has really helped, especially with our younger players."
 
EMBRACING THE YOUTH: Key to MSUB's success this season has been the performances of it's young players, both a strong crop of incoming freshmen and a number of returning underclassmen.
 
Leading the pack is the GNAC Freshman of the Year Cassie Chesnut, who earned the honor in addition to All-GNAC Second Team honors. From Lake Forest Park, WA, Chesnut leads MSUB in points, rebounds, blocks and steals this season, averaging 13.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks and steals per game for the 'Jackets this season. She continued to elevate her game even more in conference play as one of two players in the GNAC to average a double-double with 14.7 points and 10.3 rebounds, and would find another level in the GNAC Championships, averaging 21.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks. Her efforts to help lead the Yellowjackets to the conference title would see Chesnut recognized with GNAC Tournament MVP honors, becoming the first freshman in league history to receive the honor and second Yellowjacket ever, joining Breen who received the honor in 2018.
 
"I was very proud of Cassie," Woodin said. "she's competing at such a high level, and the sky is the limit for her. She impacts the game on both ends with her size and athleticism, and can hit shots from anywhere, but defensively I thought she stepped up and used her size to impact shots and rebound. It was the best that she has played, and it was consistent over three nights."
 
Chesnut is putting up freshman season for the ages, with her 466 total points being the most scored by a freshman in the history of the program. Her 294 total rebounds rank fifth most in a single season by a Yellowjacket. She ranks ninth in the conference in points per game, fifth in rebounds in points per game, and third in blocks.
 
Alongside here, a pair of Billings locals have joined the Yellowjacket's starting lineup this season, and have contributed in big ways in just their first seasons with the program. Tailey Harris earned All-GNAC Honorable Mention honors during the season, averaging 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on the year. Her 106 total assists are a freshman Yellowjacket record, with the point guard improving her averages to 11.1 points 4.3 assists in GNAC games this season. Harris averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists at the GNAC Championships.
 
"Tailey had a great tournament," Woodin said. "She hits shots, but I fell that she's really improved so much on the defensive end. Her energy and smile on the court, and her ability to find the open player is a really big part of our offense. She's learned how to play harder for longer periods of time, and it's really helped our team."
 
Meanwhile, Rae Smart also made an early and immediate impact, starting each of MSUB's games this season while averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steal. Smart would find her form at the GNAC Championships last week, averaging 12.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across their three games on her way to becoming the third All-Tournament Team selection for the 'Jackets. Smart has also etched her name in the GNAC record books already as just a freshman, breaking the conference's record for offensive rebounds in a game on Jan. 24 this season, when she pulled down 13 in MSUB's double overtime win over Alaska Anchorage.
 
"Rae's a competitor," said Woodin. "She does whatever you ask her to do on the court. She can guard all five positions, and she's continued to take steps forward offensively. She's continued to improve her shooting and can post up. But the thing that really sets her apart is her competitive fire and will to win, and she's an awesome teammate."
 
Coming off the bench for the 'Jackets this year as the team's leading reserves has been a pair of second year players with the program in redshirt freshman Brooklynn Brennan, and sophomore Alli Ligocki. After sitting the 2024-25 season and learning, Brennan proved up to the challenge in her first year of action, jumping right into the rotation from the beginning of the season and frequently entering as the first player off the bench for MSUB. Brennan has a strong impact on both ends of the court, averaging 4.3 points,2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 steals with a quick, high energy style.
 
"Brooklynn has become a major key to our team success," Woodin shared. "She gives us major energy off the bench. She can score and can distribute, and her speed always changes the game in our favor. She makes her teammates better, and she plays with great passion."
 
Meanwhile, Alli Ligocki has carved out a role for herself in her sophomore season as a strong forward option. Averaging 2.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, Ligocki has increased her time on the court as the season has progressed, taking a giant leap forward to prove herself as a strong contributor to the team's success.
 
"Alli has improved as much during the season as maybe any player I've ever coached," raved Woodin. "She saw smaller minutes early and wasn't finishing or shooting at a high rate. But over the last two months, her game has just kept getting better and better. She's already such a strong defender, she's becoming a great leader on and off the court, and offensively she's making the right plays now, whether that be making the right pass or hitting a big shot. Her continued improvement has really helped our team."
 
VETERAN PRESENCES: While entering the 2025-26 as newcomers to MSUB, Kyla Momberg and Allison Kunze both had their fair share of experience. Momberg joined the team after three seasons at Montana Western in the rotation for them, while Kunze heralded from Williston State College, where she was an NJCCA All-American.
 
Both players have stepped into the program and been valuable pieces to the roster this season. Momberg entered the starting lineup right away and has averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, all career highs on her way to earning All-GNAC Honorable Mention honors. The junior from Box Elder, MT also stepped up during the conference tournament, averaging 7.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 3.0 steals during the 'Jackets run.
 
Momberg has also executed in the clutch with the ball in her hands, making multiple late baskets in the clutch for MSUB this season. Highlights for the junior include a game-winning basket in MSUB's first win of the season on Nov. 8 against CSU Pueblo, scoring the final four points of the 'Jackets one-point win on Jan. 15 against Northwest Nazarene, and a huge basket in the final seconds to help the Yellowjackets win in double overtime over Alaska Anchorage on Jan. 24. Then to round out the GNAC Championship game last Saturday against Western Washington, Momberg hit four big free throws in the final minute to help push the lead to a multi-score advantage for the 'Jackets, helping seal the title.
 
"Kyla upped her game in the tournament," Woodin stated. "She played a critical role in our success there, and has a very balanced all-around game. She's very good in late game situations both on offensive and defense, she came up with a number of key steals and stops, but she also helped us distribute the ball to the right person at the right time. She's grown into such a great leader on the court, and I really like her composure in high-pressure situations."
 
Kunze meanwhile has performed well as an adept veteran scorer, averaging 6.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. The Malta, MT native is more than capable of scoring in bunches for the team, having finished in double-figures ten times this season.
 
"Allison for being an undersized post player creates a lot of havoc for other teams. She shoots at a high percentage and gives us consistent minutes. She has the ability to come in and get some a couple of baskets really quickly, and I think she's become an improved defender, whether she's guarding on the post or the perimeter."
 
SUPPORTING THE SQUAD: While the eight aforementioned players were the ones that saw the majority of times at the conference tournament last week, the Yellowjackets have received important contributions from up and down the lineup this year, with it's supporting core continuing to play a valuable role, even with less minutes.
 
Those players are more than capable of stepping in if needed to contribute. Katelyn Hamilton led MSBU in three-point percentage this season at 37.3, including hitting multiple threes in seven games and a pair of 11-poitn outbursts this season. Lauren Kuhbacher has played in 24 games this season for MSUB while Avery Burkhart has see time in 15 games, with the pair each averaging around a point and rebound a game. In addition to them, both Shelby LaBrie and Kaylie Neary have seen action in a handful of games this season as they've gained valuable experience as freshmen.
 
"Every single player on this team is so important to our team success," Woodin shared. "Whether that be cheering from the bench, providing us minutes when needed, and performing in practice every day. The mantra of this program is that it's all about the team, and I have so much respect for all of our players. We appreciate the work they do on and off the court, and my relationship with a player isn't about how many minutes they play, it's about the level of commitment they have to our program, and every player has accepted their role and believes in putting the group first. Everyone is striving to get better, and if we all grow individually, the team as a whole will grow, and that's the ultimate goal."
 
Central Washington University Wildcats
2025-26 Record: 23-6, 14-4 GNAC
Head Coach: Randi Richardson (9^th season)
 
HOW CWU GOT HERE: The No. 1 seed and tournament hosts for the first time in their program's history, Central Washington comes into the tournament after finishing second in the GNAC this season, operating one of the top offenses in the GNAC. The Wildcats led the conference up until the final day of regular season action, and average 70.3 points per game, and shooting 44.8% as a team. The Wildcats are capable of scoring at all levels, hitting 7.3 three-pointers a game and shooting 32.2% from beyond the arc as a team. The team also poses a threat as a strong defensive unit as well, holding teams to just 57.4 points per game.
 
The team does however struggle with turnovers at times, ranking ninth in the GNAC with a -2.48 turnover margin. But a conference leading 526 assists helps them hold a positive assist to turnover ratio of 1.15, second best in the conference.
 
"Central Washington is a great team," said Woodin. "They run their stuff offensively very well and have multiple players who can score double-figures, and a player in Asher Cai that is great with the ball. They share the ball well and really believe in their system. I've got great respect for them and their abilities."
 
The Wildcats are led by the GNAC Player of the Year and GNAC all-time leading scorer Asher Cai, who averages 22.8 points per game. Far from a one-dimensional player, Cai also averages 6.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, and is a dominant threat on both ends of the floor. Behind her in the lineup are a pair of All-GNAC Second Teamers in Capri Sims, who averages 13.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, grabbing ten double-doubles, while Fiona Snashall has averaged a double-double with 10.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game on the year. Alongside Annalee Coronado, an All-GNAC Honorable Mention pick who averaged 9.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists after missing the early part of the season with injury, and rotation mainstays like Kayla Thorton, Emily Shaw, Aliyah Finch, and Rylee Leihmann, the Wildcats fill out a rotation of players for the top ranked team in the region.
 
The Wildcats are entering the game on a cold streak for their standards, having collected four of their six losses on the season all in the past month. The most recent of which came against the Yellowjackets in the GNAC Championship semifinals, where MSUB would see off an attempted rally by the Cats to win 79-74.
 
Prior to the team's conference tournament meeting, the Wildcats had won both regular season games against MSUB. Central Washington ran away with a 91-57 win after shooting 58.9% as a team in their first meeting on Jan. 17, before MSUB would take them to the brink back on Feb. 12, forcing overtime in Nicholson Pavilion before falling 73-65 in overtime. But after it's most recent triumph, MSUB feels confident it has the ability to do so again, despite heading into the Wildcat's den.
 
"We've had some great games with them this year," Woodin said. "In Billings they really took it to us in the first quarter and we never got close, but I thought when we lost in overtime to them I thought that was a turning point for this team, even though we lost, where it proved we could compete with anyone. And then the semifinal game was just a great game that was close throughout. This will be the fourth time we've played, and I'm sure we'll both tweak a few things here and there, but in the end it'll come down to executing in high pressure situations, but also believing in what your team does well, and going out there and doing that."