BILLINGS, Mont. (Dec. 3) – Jasmin Edwards' strong first half was not enough as the Central Washington University women's basketball team fell to the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets, 61-51.  Central falls to 5-2 and 1-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference games on the season, while Billings moves to 3-3 and 1-0 in GNAC play. 

"Tonight we got outworked and outplayed by a physical and tough MSUB team that wanted it more than we did," CWU Head Coach Jeff Harada said after. "There were too many turnovers and missed shots we normally make, that was the difference, credit Billings for a lot of that."

Edwards had the hot hand to open the game for Central Washington, going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first six minutes.  She finished the first quarter 4-for-4 with 11 points. 
 
"Jasmin and Jasmine did what they could to keep us in the game and Mandy gave us some points off the bench, but we need other players to steup up as well," Harada added.  "It's tough when w eonly get eight points and 10 rebounds from everyone else."

She finished the game with 17 points.  Edwards shot 4-for-7 from three-point range and 6-for-10 overall. She added eight rebounds and six assists.
 
The Yellowjackets held a lead for the majority of the first quarter, with the Wildcats taking a pair of brief one-point leads.
 
Rylee Kane hit a pair of jumpers at the end of the first quarter, giving MSUB a 21-15 advantage heading into the second quarter.
 
The Yellowjackets extended their lead to double digits with 4:39 left in the second quarter on a layup by Tiana Hanson. 
 
Jasmine Parker responded with a layup, cutting the deficit back to single digits and a 30-22 score.  Parker converted a free throw with 2:07 on the clock to drop the Yellowjackets' lead to 30-23. 
 
Parker finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.
 
 With 1:22 left in the first half, Edwards found Mandy Steward on open for a three, bringing the Wildcats within four.  The first half closed with the Wildcats trailing just 30-26.
 
Steward added 11 points, three boards, and two steals.  She finished 3-for-7 from beyond the arc.
 
The third quarter started at 30-26 and ended at 45-38 in favor of the Yellowjackets.  The two sides alternated baskets from 9:02 until the 1:34 mark.  Montana State Billings knocked down the opening basket at the beginning of the quarter, before the see-saw battle started, to extend their lead.  The Wildcats and Yellowjackets answered each basket the other made.
 
Neither team scored in the final 1:18 of the third period.
 
The final act opened with a jumper by Steward, cutting the score to 45-40. 
 
Tight defense on both ends prevented either team from scoring from the 6:56 mark until Parker netted a layup at 4:13, bringing the score to 49-42. 
 
Kane expanded the Yellowjackets' lead to double digits, 53-42, on a layup with 3:28 left in regulation.  Montana State Billings did not relinquish their double-digit advantage for the remainder of the contest.
 
Central finished 19-for-47 from the field, including eight threes.  The Wildcats pulled in 31 rebounds and recorded five steals.
 
Central will be back in action on Dec. 12, in Ellensburg, to take on Northwest University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.