Game Boxscore

BILLINGS, Mont. - Guard Shantell Marquis' strong play led Montana State Billings to a 77-64 win over Northwest Nazarene Wednesday at Alterowitz Gym as the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference campaign tipped off for both teams.

Marquis scored 12 points, including 10 in the second half, and also had nine rebounds, 12 assists, five blocked shots and four steals.

The Yellowjackets (9-3, 1-0 GNAC) Alira Carpenter led the way with 14 points and Jetton Meadors added 13. Kayla Ryan equaled Marquis' 12-point total and Jen Smith, who had a game-high 14 rebounds, had nine points.

Carpenter's three-pointer with 1:12 left in the first half snapped a 32-32 tie and MSUB then used a pair of 7-0 runs early in the second-half to stretch their 35-32 halftime lead to double digits.

Northwest Nazarene, which fell to 7-5 and 0-1 in the GNAC, was led by Brittney Roggenkamp with 16 points. Jennifer Williams had 13 points and Lindsay Brady had 11 points.  Kristin Hein led the Crusaders on the glass with a season-best 11 and added eight points.

The Crusaders will now travel to Ellensburg, Wash. and face Central Washington on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. PT.