BILLINGS, Mont. - Three Yellowjackets scored double-digit points as the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team won 65-48 at home over Western Oregon during the ROOT SPORTS Great Northwest Athletic Conference Game of the Week and Think Pink Night at Alterowitz.

In front of a crowd of pink and wearing pink uniforms, MSUB defended its home court during the first Yellowjacket-hosted ROOT SPORTS game in Billings.

"It was a great win for our program tonight," MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. "I would like to thank ROOT SPORTS for broadcasting our game and everyone who helped with the organization of our annual PINK game. The crowd was also tremendous tonight and the game atmosphere was awesome."

"Our team got off to a great start," Woodin said. "I thought we defended very well in the first quarter. We played a lot of people in the first half and I felt that was a key to us establishing a double-digit lead at halftime."

The 'Jackets rocketed out to a 9-0 start, building their lead as high as 21 points in the first half and led by 14, 34-20, at half-time. Knowing they needed to get their offense going, Western Oregon fought hard through the back half of the game, matching the Yellowjackets in points during the third quarter and dropping the deficit to under 10 points in the fourth frame before MSUB responded with a 13-5 run to end the game.

Junior Alisha Breen led all players with 18 points. The forward from Choteau, Mont., also had seven rebounds and was 4-5 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Marissa Van Atta shot 5-11 from the field finishing with 13 points. Senior Janiel Olson was just short of a double-double, adding 12 points and nine rebounds.

The win moves MSUB to 16-7 overall and 12-3 in the GNAC. Western Oregon slides to 4-20, 3-13 GNAC. MSU Billings remains tied for third in the conference and has five regular season games remaining. The Yellowjackets host one more at home on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. against Concordia (Ore.), followed by four games on the road to end conference play.

MSUB made just two more baskets from the field (22-20) than Western Oregon, but a solid night at the free-throw line (16-19) combined with defensive pressure kept MSUB ahead for the entire game.

The Yellowjackets shot 35.5 percent for the game (22-62) and an uncharacteristic 21.7 percent (5-23) from the 3-point arc. Western Oregon was 36.4 percent from the field (20-55) and 46.2 percent from 3-point territory (6-13).

The 'Jackets won the battle on the glass, 42-36, and pushed through 21 second chance points compared to six from the Wolves.

The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 9-0 start. A jumper from Van Atta at the seven minute mark had MSUB cruising ahead to the lead before WOU's Ali Nelke scored the first points for the Wolves on a layup.

MSUB held the Wolves to five points in the first 10 minutes, but a five minute lull in offense from both teams had the game stalled.

The drought was broken by free-throws from Breen and MSUB's Tiana Hanson. Jasmine Miller went out high and wide for the first 3-pointer of the night for the Wolves. MSUB's Rylee Kane ended the quarter with a layup to push the 'Jackets back ahead by double-digits.

Miller finished 2-2 from the 3-point arc with eight points and a team-best eight rebounds. Emily Howey was the WOU's high-scorer with 12 points.

Western Oregon found its footing in the second quarter scoring three times as many points as the first 10 minutes, but MSUB pushed ahead, leading by 21 points in the middle of the frame.

Breen pulled up for an open 3-pointer to drive the 'Jackets above the 30-point mark. Two points from WOU's Sydney Azorr from the paint kept the Wolves from falling back. In the corner, MSUB senior Monica Grimsrud made a defensive stop to regain possession. Back-to-back rebounds and baskets from Olson pushed MSUB ahead 25-7 and had WOU calling for a timeout.

Western Oregon put together a 9-4 run at the end of the second quarter, but MSUB held a 14-point, 34-20, lead at half-time.

"Give Western Oregon credit , "Woodin said. "They fought hard to get back into the game and whittled away at our lead over the second and third quarters. We could not put them away and that is a tribute to them. I thought we executed well down the stretch. I also thought our starters played their best minutes together over the final few of the fourth quarter. It seemed like all of them had key baskets during the final quarter. Two offensive areas where we excelled tonight were limiting turnovers (only seven) and getting offensive boards (18)."

The Yellowjackets tied their season-low of seven turnovers and had their second-best showing in offensive rebounds.

Olson opened the second half with a 3-pointer and Van Atta completed a 3-point play to draw MSUB ahead 40-22. A 3-pointer from Azorr pulled the Wolves to within 15, 42-27, half-way through the third quarter. Olson buried a 3-pointer to counter. Kane made a steal at half-court and dished the ball to Van Atta who broke free for a layup.

Van Atta scored two more points with a jump shot and Breen worked hard under the basket for a layup. She made one of two at the line for a 50-36 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Not going away WOU's, Michelle Bromagem hit her first 3-pointer and the team's fifth to pull WOU back within nine.

Rallying back, Breen went up again under the basket for two points and Grimsrud added five points on free-throws and a 3-pointer from an inbounds play.

Kane kept up the momentum working hard on both ends of the floor. She was fouled on two MSUB possessionas adding to the scoreboard from the free-throw line.

WOU's Jordan Mottershaw made an open 3-pointer at the two minute mark.

With under 30 seconds left in the game, MSUB's Kasie Christensen ended the scoring with a jump shot for the 17-point win.

Before tip-off, tonight's game-sponsor - the St. Vincent Healthcare's EVA Project, and MSUB honored breast cancer survivors at center court with a rose donated by Gainan's. This is the 10^th annual Think Pink Night hosted by MSU Billings. All proceeds from a raffle and t-shirt sales commemorating the event will go toward the EVA Project which provides local women with free mammograms.

THE BUZZ: Kane led all players with seven assists and three steals and was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game...Grimsrud and Van Atta were both 3-3 from the free-throw line.

UP NEXT: Saturday, MSU Billings plays its last home game of the season hosting Concordia (Ore.) at 7:30 p.m. Following the game, MSUB will honor its two seniors this season Janiel Olson and Monica Grimsrud. MSU Billings then heads out onto the road for four straight contests to end the GNAC regular season. Next week the Yellowjackets head to Simon Fraser on Thursday, Feb. 18, before heading south to face Western Washington on Saturday, Feb. 20.