by By Logan Tracey
BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings women’s basketball team won their fifth game in a row Saturday, taking down Western Oregon University 86-59 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
The Yellowjackets (15-3, 6-0 GNAC) continued their unbeaten start to conference play in style offensively, shooting 53.3% from the field as a team and recording a season high 28 assists. They didn’t skip a step on the defensive side of the ball either, forcing 14 turnovers by the Wolves (9-7, 2-3 GNAC), and holding Western Oregon to just two made three-pointer in the game.
“Tonight was another great game for us,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin. “We played consistent basketball again, and did a great job putting four good quarters together for the second time this week. We did a great job sharing the ball on the offensive end. 28 assists is a stat I’m incredibly proud of. We do a great job of passing the ball around and finding our best shot each time down the court. Our team is very close on and off the court. We have great leadership from our seniors and captains, and I believe that unity helps us on the court too.”
Dyauni Boyce led MSUB in scoring with 27 points, her fifth 20 point outing of the season. The junior also added seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Kola Bad Bear scored 19 points, finishing with six rebounds and assists, to go with a block and a steal. Aspen Giese had 12 points, going 4-5 from beyond the arc and grabbing four rebounds to go with two assists. Kortney Nelson had nine points, while tying Bad Bear for a team high six assists. Danielle Zahn and Natalie Andreas each scored five points, while Shayla Montague had three, and Layla Baumann had two. Chloe Williams grabbed seven rebounds, and finished with three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
“Everyone who entered the game today did their job” said Woodin. “We did a good job defensively, and it helped set us up on offense. Kola and Dyauni played very good inside, they play off each other so well, and it helps open things up for our shooters. We spread the ball around so well, and get everyone involved in our offense.
The game opened with a competitive first quarter between the two sides, with the Yellowjackets and Wolves swapping the lead back and forth over the opening minutes of the game. Both teams shot over 50% in the opening quarter, but the Yellowjackets took advantage of a pair of three pointers, while holding Western Oregon scoreless from three-point range to take a 19-14 lead at the end of the quarter. MSUB continued to make things difficult outside for the Wolves in the second quarter, while successfully attacking the paint on offense, expanding their lead to take a 39-25 lead into halftime.
The ‘Jackets quickly put all hopes of a comeback to rest at the start of the third quarter, coming out of the break red hot from the field. MSUB shot almost 70% from the field, going 11-16 to expand the lead to 24 as the game made its way into the fourth quarter. From there the ‘Jackets were able to put the game on cruise control, seeing things out to remain unbeaten in conference play, and move to 8-1 at home this season.
