ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Interstat) — Cassie Chesnut scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Montana State-Billings past Midwestern State (Tex.) 66-60 in a women’s NCAA Division II basketball game on Sunday at Nicholson Pavilion. Attendance was 29. The Yellowjackets improved to 1-1, while the Mustangs dropped to 0-2. Montana State-Billings used a strong first half and timely fourth-quarter plays to hold off the visitors. The Yellowjackets led for much of the game, although Midwestern State made a late push. Montana State-Billings protected its home floor with balanced scoring and late defensive stops.

The Yellowjackets built a 35-19 halftime lead, closing the second quarter with Lauren Kuhbacher’s 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds remaining. Victoria Barrera opened the scoring for Midwestern State with a layup, but Brooklynn Brennan tied the game with two free throws and Montana State-Billings soon took control. Kuhbacher made a layup, Molly Hays hit a pullup jumper and Chesnut added a driving layup during an early run. Alli Ligocki added a jump shot and Hays made a layup as the Yellowjackets increased their advantage. Elina Syniakova kept the Mustangs within range with layups, and Caelyn Williams made a free throw late in the first quarter. Montana State-Billings pulled away in the second quarter as Chesnut scored on a jump shot off a turnover, made two free throws and hit a 3-pointer. Hays and Kuhbacher also converted late free throws before Kuhbacher’s 3-pointer gave the Yellowjackets a 16-point halftime cushion. The Mustangs struggled to find rhythm from the perimeter, making only one 3-pointer in the game.

Midwestern State cut the lead to 59-53 on Williams’ layup with 3:06 remaining. Rae Smart answered with a layup at the 2:07 mark, and Chesnut made a 3-pointer with 1:17 left to push Montana State-Billings ahead 64-53. The Mustangs made free throws late, including two from Calyssa Sevier with 7.5 seconds remaining, and Maiya Wesley also converted at the line, but the Yellowjackets closed out the win. Chesnut’s late shooting and Smart’s interior answer were the key sequence after Midwestern State had pulled within six. The Mustangs finished with a stronger fourth quarter but could not complete the comeback at Nicholson Pavilion.

Chesnut finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in 29 minutes. Hays added 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes. Williams paced Midwestern State with 13 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 27 minutes. Smart scored 11 points with four rebounds, three assists and one block in 31 minutes. Syniakova had 11 points, four rebounds and one assist in 15 minutes. Conde contributed nine points, three rebounds, three assists and one block in 38 minutes. Kuhbacher scored nine points with one rebound in 14 minutes. Sevier added six points and one rebound in seven minutes. Peck had eight points, seven rebounds and one assist in 27 minutes. Brennan finished with seven points, four rebounds and one assist in 27 minutes.

Montana State-Billings shot 22 of 57 from the floor and 6 of 25 from 3-point range. Midwestern State shot 20 of 58 overall and 1 of 19 from beyond the arc. The Mustangs made 19 of 23 free throws, and the Yellowjackets made 16 of 20. Midwestern State had 15 offensive rebounds to Montana State-Billings’ 12. The Yellowjackets had 10 assists, six blocks and 19 turnovers, while the Mustangs had seven assists, three blocks and 17 turnovers. Midwestern State scored 60 points from 71 possessions, and Montana State-Billings scored 66 points from 74 possessions.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected Midwestern State (Tex.) 70, Montana State-Billings 62. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Montana State-Billings with a 92.8 percent probability to win.