BILLINGS, Mont. – Three massive performances by Makenna Schultz, Saniah Simpson-Patu and Jayla Russ, were not enough to over the Yellowjackets of Montana State Billings, as MSUB held on for a 69-61 victory.
 
The big three for the Saints (6-14, 2-10) scored a combined 52 points, along with 18 rebounds and eight assists; however, the Yellowjackets (15-6, 8-3) shut down the Saints other offensive weapons and survived a fourth quarter comeback attempt once again.
 
The Saints started the game perfect, scoring the first eight points, and playing stellar defense. However, the Yellowjackets quickly responded with their own 8-0 run to tie the game with 2:53 left in the quarter. After a pair of Jayla Russ free throws, who wrapped up the first quarter with seven points, the Saints carried a 12-11 lead into the second quarter.
 
A couple key 3-pointers gave Montana State Billings a 17-14 lead halfway through the second quarter. Saniah Simpson-Patu connected on a corner 3-pointer to tie the game at 17-17 with 5:53 remaining. MSUB quickly responded with a 10-0 run that stretched roughly three minutes and helped the Yellowjackets to a 31-23 lead at halftime.
 
The Saints came out firing in the second half, with a 3-pointer by Makenna Schultz, and baskets by Russ and Simpson-Patu, SMU trimmed the score to 36-33 with 7:01 remaining in the quarter. On the following Saints' possession, Simpson-Patu, in transition, found Mercedes Victor who finished at the rim and completed the and-one opportunity to tie the game at 36-36. Once again, the Yellowjackets found an answer and went on an 11-2 run to regain control of the game. MSUB's lead held in the final minutes and gave them a 51-41 edge in the final quarter of action.
 
The Yellowjackets lead extended to as many as 14 in the fourth quarter before Saint Martin's began their comeback attempt. Five straight points by Schultz helped SMU cut the score to 55-48 with 7:12 remaining. After trading baskets for a couple minutes, Russ connected on a 3-pointer to cut the score to one possession at 58-55 with 4:16 remaining. Despite baskets by Schultz and Lauren Lindley, the Yellowjackets were able to fight off the Saints and claim the 69-61 victory.

"We need to do a better job of sharing the basketball and creating for each other," said head coach Christy Martin. "Once we learn to do that, we will improve tremendously. Defensively, we have thrown some new schemes in to accommodate for the loss of Elin (Johansson). The team has responded very well in a very shot amount of time. We look forward to the much needed rest and are excited to come together for the remainder of the season."
 
Once again Schultz led the Saints with 19 points, on 7-for-12 shooting, along with three assists. Simpson-Patu put together another great game, 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists, while Jayla Russ finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Russ' 17 points fell just one shy of her career-high.
 
The Saints as a team shot 18-for-58 (31.0 percent) from the floor, 6-for-20 (30.0 percent) from beyond the arc, and 19-for-26 (73.1 percent) at the free throw line. The Saints recorded 38 rebounds, 10 assists on 14 turnovers, along with eight steals and one block.
 
Saint Martin's will stay on the road, going to Northwest Nazarene on Feb 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. MST with live stats and video links available on smusaints.com.