Yellowjackets Drop Tough Conference Contest, 78-60

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NAMPA, Idaho. – Strong second half shooting from Northwest Nazarene handed the Montana State Billings women’s basketball team their second consecutive conference loss, 78-60, Saturday night in Nampa, Idaho, completing a four game road trip for the Jackets.

“The first half seemed to be a half of runs,” said head coach Kevin Woodin. “We got on a run and held a lead but then fell behind when NNU got on a run. We missed some shots in the second half and dug ourselves in a hole. We were unable to make enough plays in the second half and got beat by a very good team.

Junior, Kayla Ryan had a team-high 12 points, six rebounds and a season-high five blocks, including going 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Sarah McNamee added 10 points, including three triples, while Mandy Jacobs had six points and six boards.

MSUB (9-7, 2-3) led for much of the first eight minutes of the game, holding a five point cushion, 12-7, until just under 12 minutes to play.

The Crusaders’ regained the lead when Kristen Hein hit a jumper to take a 13-12 lead with 11:36 to go in the first half. The Crusaders slowly built a 14 point lead over the next nine minutes, taking a 38-29 lead into the half as Kayla Ryan hit a three with 10 seconds left.

The second half belonged to the Crusaders as they hit 14-of-33 from the floor and were 10-of-12 from the line. The Crusaders built their largest lead of the game to 24 points as Brittany Roggenkamp put the ball off the glass for two of her seven points and the Crusaders finished the game with the 18 point victory.

NNU (13-3, 3-2) had three players in double-figures as Hein and Lindsay Brady both scored 16 points and combined for 18 rebounds. Jennifer Williams finished the game with 10 points and Janee Olds had a team-high 10 rebounds for the Crusaders.

The Yellowjackets shot 31.4 percent from the field and were 7-of-15 from beyond the arc. The Jackets were outrebounded 53-32 and committed 20 turnovers in the game, but came away with eight blocks on the night.

MSUB finished the four game road trip with a 1-3 record and will now return home for their first home game since Jan. 7, taking on Western Washington Thursday, Jan. 28, at Alterowitz Gymnasium starting at 5:15 p.m.