BELLINGHAM, Wash. – In an overtime thriller that featured nine lead changes between a pair of top 20 teams, the No. 8 Western Washington University women's basketball team dropped a 66-64 overtime thriller to No. 20 Montana State Billings on a last-second three-pointer Thursday night on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

WWU junior forward Brooke Walling hit a running jumper with 2.8 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Vikings a 64-63 lead, but after advancing the ball following a timeout, MSUB sophomore guard Aspen Giese hit a long three-pointer to give the Yellowjackets the dramatic victory.

Before the last-second drama in overtime, the Vikings staged a ferocious comeback in the fourth quarter, erasing a nine-point deficit in the final two minutes to send the game into overtime. WWU hit a trio of late three-pointers, including a go-ahead triple by Stephanie Peterson with 10 seconds left in regulation to give the Vikings a 57-56 lead. A tough foul was called on WWU's Avery Dykstra with three seconds left, but Kortney Nelson hit only one of two free throws to tie the game 57-57 to send the game into overtime.

The Vikings endured just their third loss of the season to drop to 20-3 overall and 14-2 in GNAC play, with both conference losses against MSUB. The Yellowjackets extended their winning streak to 11 consecutive games improving to 22-4 overall and 13-2 in league play. 

Playing without starting point guard Mollie Olson after an early first quarter injury, and with backup point guard Mason Oberg out for a sixth consecutive game with an injury, the Vikings were forced to rely heavily on their depth after trailing 32-22 at the half and by as many as 16 points late in the second quarter.

WWU started on the comeback trail out-scoring MSUB 21-14 in the third quarter and held a 14-11 advantage in the final quarter to push the game into overtime.

Walling led the Vikings with 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting, also grabbing eight rebounds, recording three assists, three steals and a pair of blocked shots. Sophomore forward Truitt Reilly had 12 points and seven rebounds, including a big three-pointer down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Avery Dykstra, Katrina Gimmaka and Carley Zaragoza each tallied eight points and Peterson hit a pair of three-pointers for her six points.

Giese scored a career-high 25 points on 10-for-11 shooting, going 2-for-3 from three-point range and also recording three steals. Dyauni Boyce added 13 points and Shayla Montague contributed 10 points for the Yellowjackets.

WWU hosts Seattle Pacific University Saturday for Pride Night in Carver Gym, with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court.

WWU (20-3, 14-2 GNAC) remains at home for its final two games of the regular season, hosting SPU on Saturday at 7 pm and then Simon Fraser next Thursday (Feb. 23) for Senior Night. The complete 2022-23 WWU women's basketball schedule and season results to this point can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/22-23_WBB. Tickets for home games can be purchased at wwuvikings.com/Tickets.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and MSUB:

WWU entered the weekend ranked No. 8 (WBCA Coaches) and No. 8 (D2SIDA Media) in the national polls, and No. 2 in the D2SIDA West Region Poll. MSUB entered the game ranked No. 20 (WBCA) and No. 18 (D2SIDA) nationally, and No. 3 in the D2SIDA West Region Poll.

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2022-23 season:

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings, complete with Thursday's results from around the conference.

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2022-23 season following the overtime loss to MSUB:

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in nine of the last 13 full seasons, and 36 times in the 52-year history of the program. WWU has 22 seasons of 20 or more wins under head coach Carmen Dolfo, who is the winningest coach of any sport at WWU and ranks among Division II active and all-time coaching leaders in wins with 663, winning percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 18 of 23 possible seasons at the Division II level with three trips to the Elite Eight (including 2022) and played in the 2022 national championship game. The program has 1,095 all-time wins in the 52-year history of the program, and according to available records, is one of less than 20 women's college basketball team across all divisions and levels to reach the 1,000-victory milestone.