BILLINGS, Mont. - Alira Carpenter scored a game-high 27 points for Montana State Billings as the Yellowjackets defeated the Northwest Nazarene University Lady Crusaders 83-76 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game on Thursday night in Billings.

The Crusaders (9-5 GNAC, 16-7) were led by Janee Olds, who scored 16, with Lindsay Brady adding 11 and both Jennifer Williams and Nicki Schutte scoring 10.  Schutte also led NNU on the glass with 10 rebounds for the only Crusader double-double.

The Yellowjackets (6-7 GNAC, 9-13) out-rebounded the Crusaders 43-38 and held NNU to just 27-percent (3-11) shooting from the three-point line.  In addition to Carpenter, Dani Henderson and Kayla McPhearson each scored 12 and Shantell Marquis and Jen Smith each netted 10.  Kayla Ryan led all rebounders with 11.

NNU shot 42.4-percent (28-66) from the floor, but could only manage 54.8-percent (17-31) from the foul line.  NNU forced 23 Yellowjacket turnovers and comitted 17.

The Crusaders will now travel to Washington and face Seattle University on Saturday night at 7 p.m.