BILLINGS, Mont. – In a GNAC battle between a pair of top 15 nationally-ranked programs, No. 11 Montana State Billings used a second-half surge and hit a last-second putback to record a 48-46 home victory over No. 13 Western Washington University Thursday evening in Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Vikings held a 13-point 30-17 lead at halftime and had a double-digit lead midway through the third quarter before the Yellowjackets made their move. MSUB went on a 15-2 run in the third quarter to tie the defensive battle at 36-36 heading into the fourth quarter.

The GNAC's top two teams went back-and-forth in the fourth quarter with Western taking a two-point lead at 46-44 with just over three minutes remaining. The Yellowjackets scored the final four points in the game, with Kola Bad Bear scoring the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining off a rebound from a missed three-pointer. 

WWU had a chance at a potential game-tying or game-winning shot come up short when a perfectly-designed inbounds play went out of bounds to end the contest. 

The game featured eight lead changes and four tie scores, with WWU leading for 28:22 of the 40-minute game.

WWU's defense limited MSUB to 28.8-percent shooting for the second-lowest shooting effort of the season and just 2-for-18 from three-point range. 

The Vikings were led by a game-high 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting from senior guard Stephanie Peterson and 11 points by sophomore guard Mason Oberg. Senior forward Brooke Walling had eight points and eight rebounds. WWU shot a season-low 36.7-percent from the field (18-for-49) and was 6-for-16 from three-point range. The Vikings were only awarded six free throws (4-for-6), while MSUB went 16-for-18 (.889) from the charity stipe.

WWU slipped to 20-5 on the season and 13-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, remaining in 2nd place in the conference standings. MSUB improved to 23-4 overall and 14-1 in conference play to keep hold of 1st place in the GNAC.

The Vikings (20-5, 13-3 GNAC) close out the weekend road trip Saturday facing Seattle Pacific with tip-off at 4:15 pm in Royal Brougham Pavilion. The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/WBB.

Senior guard Stephanie Peterson scored a game-high 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting to earn the WECU Player of the Game award. Peterson added eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in 36 minutes.

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2023-24 season:

WWU and MSUB split the season series with each team winning on its home court…WWU won 76-68 on January 27 in Bellingham…the Vikings continue to lead the all-time series 30-19 and have still won eight of the last 11 games in the series…Western is now 10-11 all-time in road games inside Alterowitz Gym.

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

Here is an updated look at the 2023-24 GNAC Women's Basketball standings following play on Thursday. WWU remains in 2nd place at 13-3 in league play with two GNAC games remaining. The top six teams in the standings following the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships held March 7-9 in Ellensburg. Updated standings and conference statistics can be viewed online at GNACSports.com:

WWU has clinched one of the six spot sin the GNAC Championships that will be held March 7-9 inside Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg. WWU and MSUB are the first two teams to punch its ticket to the postseason conference tournament. Western is the defending champion of the event beating Montana State Billings 76-71 in the championship game in Carver Gym marking the first home team – men or women – to win the title on its home court in the 12-year history of the event. The Vikings are 17-8 all-time in the GNAC Championships with three titles, advancing to play in the postseason tournament in 11 of 12 possible seasons (nine championship games). 

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season following the two-point loss at MSUB:

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in 10 of the last 14 full seasons, and 37 times in the 52-year history of the program. WWU has 23 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 687, winning percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 19 of 24 possible seasons at the Division II level with three trips to the Elite Eight (last in 2022) and played in the 2022 national championship game. The program has 1,119 all-time wins in the 53-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.