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ELLENSBURG (Mar. 2) -- Sophomore Courtney Johnson (Kent/Kentwood HS) scored a career-high 29 points, but the Central Washington University women's basketball team was unable to keep up with Montana State University Billings in an 85-65 loss on Saturday evening at Nicholson Pavilion.

The loss ended the 2012-13 season for the Wildcats, who lost their last six games and 10 of their final 11 to finish 9-17 overall. MSUB, which earned the third seed for the upcoming Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament, improved to 17-9 overall and 11-7 in conference play.

Johnson accumulated her 29 points on 11 of 20 shooting, making 5 of her 7 three-pointers in the game. She logged 34 minutes, including all 20 in the second half when she scored 17 of her points. The single-game total was the highest by a CWU player since Feb. 12, 2009, when Stephanie Wenke scored 29 at Alaska. No Wildcat has reached the 30-point plateau since February 2006.

CWU trailed from start to finish, and saw its deficit at three or more the entire way after MSU Billings hit a three-pointer on its second possession of the game. The Yellowjackets took an 18-7 lead in the first 6:07 for their largest advantage of the first half, although the Wildcats did close to within three on a Johnson layup at the 6:12 mark. However, seven quick points put MSUB back in front by double digits, and the halftime difference was 10 at 44-34.

The Wildcats were unable to minimize a strong shooting performance from their visitors, as Montana State Billings finished the game at 50.9 percent overall including 12 of 29 (41.4 percent) from three-point range. CWU started the game strong, shooting 42.4 percent in the first half, but saw its percentage taper off to 38.5 percent overall. The Wildcats were 8 of 25 (32.0 percent) from three-point range while making just 7 of 17 (41.2 percent) at the free throw line.

Juniors Jessica VanDyke (Chester, Mont./Chester-Joplin-Inverness HS) and Daisy Burke (Spokane/Lewis and Clark HS) were the only other CWU players to score more than four points in Saturday's loss. VanDyke finished with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Burke tallied nine points and a team-best four assists.

Montana State Billings had five scorers reach double figures, including two players who posted double-doubles. Bobbi Knudsen had 19 points and 10 assists, while Janiel Olson added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Quinn Peoples also scored 14 off the bench for the Yellowjackets, who also finished the game making 17 of 18 free throws (94.4 percent) as a team.

CWU, which finished eighth in the final conference standings with a 4-14 GNAC mark, did not lose any seniors from its 2012-13 roster.