Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. (Nov. 29) -- Junior Jessica VanDyke (Chester, Mont./Chester-Joplin-Inverness HS) had 26 points and freshman Jasmine Parker (Spokane/Mead HS) added 11 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocked shots in the first conference game of her career, but the Central Washington University women's basketball team lost to Montana State University Billings, 66-59, on Thursday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The loss was the third straight for CWU, who fell to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. MSUB improved to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

“The difference between the two teams tonight was (MSUB's) ability to hit timely shots,” CWU head coach Shawn Nelson said. “They exposed us on the offensive glass. Both teams played well defensively -- well enough to win with their defensive effort -- but they were able to capitalize on offensive rebounds and we did not.”

CWU had two more offensive rebounds than Montana State Billings (16-14) -- and four more rebounds overall (40-36) -- but the host Yellowjackets had 17 second-chance points to the Wildcats' seven.

The Wildcats started off strong offensively, taking a 19-11 lead at the 13:34 mark, but MSUB countered with a 9-0 run to take a one-point lead. After the game's third tie with 7:38 to go in the first half, the Yellowjackets went in front to stay and finished the first half on an 18-7 run for a 41-30 edge at the intermission.

“Jessica (VanDyke) got us off to a great start offensively,” Nelson said. “We were able to take advantage of the (MSUB) defense early on, and we were executing our offense very well. We just weren't able to make the adjustment after they adjusted their defense.”

The second half saw the Wildcats facing a double-digit deficit most of the way, although CWU closed to within six early in the period after five straight points and the margin was as low as five in the closing minute.

Parker, who recorded her first career double-double, helped the Wildcats finish with the edge on the glass and was also a key factor in the team's eight blocked shots in the game.

“Jasmine had a monster game for a true freshman,” Nelson proclaimed. “Between her and (fellow freshman) Hannah Shine, they were a key part of why we had overall success on the glass. Hannah came in and provided us with some key rebounds in crunch time.”

Shine (Lynden) played just eight minutes but had seven rebounds. Sophomore Courtney Johnson (Kent/Kentwood HS) scored 10 points in 16 minutes off the bench to help supplement an offense that saw just six of the Wildcats' nine players get into the scoring column.

Bobbi Knudsen scored 24 points for Montana State Billings, while Janiel Olson had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.

CWU remains on the road again on Saturday (Dec. 1), visiting Seattle Pacific University for a 7 p.m. contest against the Falcons.