BILLINGS, Mont. – November 23, 2019 – The Chadron State College women's basketball team led early, gave up a 13-point lead, then nearly tied the game in the third quarter on Saturday against Montana State Billings. However the Yellowjackets were able to outscore the Eagles 33 to 17 in the paint on their home court, finishing with a 68-54 win over CSC.

"We lost momentum in a variety of situations," said CSC Head Women's Basketball Coach Janet Raymer. "The point swings would be five to seven at a time, but we kept fighting back. We couldn't get to the free throw line as much as I would've liked."

Chadron State hit its first two shots from the floor while holding Billings off the three-point line in two consecutive attempts, taking a 5-2 lead in the opening three minutes.

At that point, the Yellowjackets found their footing from the arc. Three different players hit from three as part of Billings' 19-3 run.

The Eagles' defense clamped down in the second period, holding Billings to only two field goals as they chipped into the hosts' lead. Melisa Kadic, who was 3-of-6 for CSC from long range, cut the MSUB lead to four with 30 seconds until halftime, but Danielle Zahn hit a last-second two-pointer to make it 29-23 Yellowjackets at the midpoint break.

Another dagger from three by Kadic in the third quarter made it 38-37 for Billings.

However, the Eagles were assailed at the free throw line in the fourth. Billings was 10-for-13 in the final 10 minutes from the charity stripe, while CSC took only four shots, as MSUB pulled away down the stretch.

"I'm really proud of our defensive efforts in the second quarter," said Raymer. "We gave up some points in transition in the first, which forced us to step up in the second. We did well on the boards and played aggressively on the offensive end. We're showing growth and fight."

CSC won the rebound battle, 39 to 36. Turnovers were even at 18 apiece.

The Eagles were 40 percent (6-of-15) from outside the arc, but struggled to fill the rim on the inside, going 5-for-25. MSUB shot 43.4 percent from the floor, with a 35.3 percent three-point percentage.

Leading the Eagles with 16 points was Taryn Foxen, who put up 9 of the team's 13 points in the fourth quarter. Kadic each had a team-high six boards, and Jori Peters led CSC with four assists.

Hannah Collins was Billings' leading scorer with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor and was 5-of-6 from the foul line. Taryn Shelley double-doubled with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Chadron State travels to Fairbanks, Alaska next week, for games on three consecutive days beginning Thanksgiving Day, at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.