by Logan Tracy
ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings women’s basketball team (26-5, 17-2 GNAC) used a second half rally to defeat Central Washington University 62-60 in the semifinals of the GNAC Championships, punching their ticket to the conference title game tomorrow evening.
Facing the No. 4 Seed Wildcats (19-12, 10-8 GNAC) on their home court, the Top-Seeded Yellowjackets (26-5, 16-2 GNAC) battled hard to rally back into the game, outscoring the Wildcats 33-24 over the final two quarters to take the lead late and grab their 26th victory on the season, setting a new record for most wins in a single season.
“It was a grind for us tonight,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “Central played their hearts out tonight. It’s really tough when you get to the tournament and have to play on somebody’s home court. Their crowd was electric, but I thought our crowd who traveled was great too. It was a fun environment.”
Kola Bad Bear finished as the games leading scorer with 21 points, shooting 7-13 from the field and 7-10 from the free throw line. The GNAC Player of the Year also chipped in nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal. Kortney Nelson finished with her first double-double of the season, going off for 19 points, ten rebounds, and three assists, while making things tough defensively all night. Aspen Giese added 12 points, six rebounds, and a team high four assists, while Dyanui Boyce had ten points, five rebounds, and two blocks. Shayla Montague ended the night with four boards and two assists, and a block, while Chloe Williams had two rebounds, two steals, and a block. The Yellowjackets shot 40.4% from the field as a team, while knocking down 14-18 free throws, and outrebounded the Wildcats 40-37, despite being outrebounded in the first half.
The first quarter was a low scoring affair in the first five minutes, but the home Wildcats would take control of the game as the opening period carried on, finishing the quarter on a 17-4 run to put the ‘Jackets behind early, trailing 20-11 at the conclusion of the first quarter. But the Yellowjackets would come racing back, holding the Wildcats scoreless over the first 5:01 minutes of the second quarter, while jumping out to a 9-0 run to pull the game within one. But Central Washington would battle back and recover to close out the half, taking a 36-29 lead into halftime.
“Central really hurt us on the offensive boards in the first half,” said Woodin. “And they had five threes to our one in the first half. At halftime we talked about improving in those two areas, but we had to get on the boards especially, and I thought we did a great job of making those adjustments.”
But as they’ve done so many times late in this season, MSUB came out with an improved start to the second half. They would quickly close the gap, starting the third quarter on an 11-4 in the first six minutes. The final minutes of the third were tense, with both teams trading big baskets and crucial defensive plays as they battled for control, with two big baskets late in the quarter bringing the Wildcat advantage back to just two as the fourth quarter started. Both squads continued to trade baskets are the ‘Jackets battled to take the lead for the first time since the first quarter. They’d tie the game multiple times down the stretch, before finally regaining the lead with a Giese free throw with 2:29 remaining. The Wildcats would continue to push to regain the lead in the closing minutes, but big shots from Giese and Bad Bear, who scored 12 of the Yellowjackets 18 points in the fourth quarter would help keep the ‘Jackets in the lead, and with just five seconds remaining, Central’s last second attempt would hit off iron, punching the ‘Jackets ticket to the Championship Game.
“These close games late are moments every player wants to be in,” said Bad Bear. “And with our veteran team, I was confident we were going to come out on top no matter what. It was just a matter of when we’d take that lead.”
