1/10/26

Saint Martin’s Saints 63, Montana State Billings Yellowjackets 57

(Lacey, WA) The Saint Martin’s Saints Women’s Basketball team has jumped out to a 4-1 start in GNAC play and was looking to keep its momentum going from its 83-43 win on Thursday over Seattle Pacific. The Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (MSUB) had swept the Saints in the regular season, including a 48-43 win at Marcus Pavilion. Saint Martin’s won 50-48 in the GNAC Championships Semifinals last year over MSUB, as Kiana Rios made the game-winning lay-up with 0.3 seconds left to give the Saints their first trip to the GNAC Championship Game. Saint Martin’s was looking to keep their winning ways going against a well-coached MSUB.

The first quarter started slowly offensively, as the defenses were stifling at first, but things shifted halfway through. Both offenses got going as Karyss Lacanlale ended the quarter with another buzzer-beating layup to give Saint Martin’s a 15-11 advantage after the first 10 minutes. The Saints got off to a blistering start offensively in the second quarter, but things slowed back down to MSUB’s favor, as the Yellowjackets closed in with a 13-3 run. Saint Martin’s led narrowly 28-27 at the halftime break. In the third quarter, Saint Martin’s pushed their lead into double figures with Laiken Hill and Jada Travis each draining three-pointers. MSUB fought back with a 9-2 run to end the quarter as Saint Martin’s led 43-37. The Saints once again started the quarter strong and raced out to another double-figure lead. Saint Martin’s led by 11 with under a minute and a half to go, but MSUB made it a 60-55 game with less than a minute left. Saint Martin’s closed it out with a 63-57 victory.

Saint Martin’s was led by former Bellarmine Prep star Jada Travis, who had 20 points to lead all scorers. Travis connected on three three-pointers, had eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Kiana Rios had 13 points and also had eight rebounds and three steals, while going 6-6 from the free throw line. Laiken Hill was 3-4 from three-point land and 4-4 from the charity stripe to join Rios with 13 points.

Saint Martin’s went 14-19 from the free throw line while the Yellowjackets were 6-11. Saint Martin’s was outrebounded 44-35 and 15-9 on the offensive glass. They were also outscored in the paint, as MSUB had the edge, 32-18. Saint Martin’s defended the three well, forcing MSUB to go 5-22 in the game. The Saints are 5-1 on the season at home and have won five home games in a row.

Saint Martin’s is now 9-6 overall and 5-1 in GNAC action. The Saints are sitting in solo second place, behind nationally ranked Central Washington. Saint Martin’s plays their next three games on the road, taking on Western Oregon next Saturday before going to Central Washington on the 22nd. The Saints next home game is January 29 against Western Washington.

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