By: Amanda Clarke 
Staff Writer

The Western Oregon women’s basketball team fell at home to the Montana State University of Billings (MSUB) Yellow Jackets 37-60 on Saturday, Jan. 16.

“The improvement in our post play has opened things up a bit for us on the outside and given us more opportunities to score,” said head coach Holly Howard-Carpenter. “Overall we need to be more consistent with the improvements we’ve made in order to build and be successful.”

Sophomore Sydney Azorr (G) led the Wolves in scoring with 7 points and also posted 3 assists and 5 rebounds. Freshman Ali Nelke (G/F), junior Jazmin Bembry (G), and junior Launia Davis (G) each tallied 4 points.

Western had trouble shooting the ball in the first quarter and MSUB took advantage by scoring 12 unanswered points to take a 23-10 lead into the second quarter.

In the second quarter the Wolves had their toughest shooting quarter of the season, adding only 5 points in a 10 minute span. The first half ended with the Yellow Jackets up 37-15.

MSUB’s lead proved to be too much for the Wolves to come back from. However, the Wolves refused to give up. Bembry hit a 3-pointer with just one second remaining in the game to bring the final score to 37-60.

“I’ve seen several improvements over the course of the season,” added Howard-Carpenter. “We’ve learned to play better as a team and are understanding that it takes all of us, every day, to be competitive.”

After a tough shooting night where nothing seemed to go in the Wolves’ favor, Western finished the game shooting 30 percent from the floor on 15-50 shooting.

The loss brings the Wolves’ overall record to 3-13 and 2-6 in GNAC conference play.

“Regardless of our opponent or whether we are on the road or at home, we need the same focused effort every night. There is plenty of season left and I expect us to continue improving and working hard,” said Howard-Carpenter.

Up next, Western will host Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 5:15 p.m. in the New P.E. Building.