LACEY, Wash. – The Saint Martin's women's basketball team (4-8, 0-4 GNAC) nearly pulled off a stunning comeback Thursday evening, but in the end, didn't have enough gas in the tank to down regionally ranked MSU-Billings (12-4, 3-2 GNAC), falling by a score of 66-58.
 
Head Coach Christy Martin went with a different look to start as three different freshmen were slotted into the starting lineup, including first career starts from Madelyn Brown and Sarah Lamet. An experiences Yellowjacket squad controlled the early part of the contest, breaking out six-points lead at the end of the first quarter, getting it up to nine at half, and doubling that advantage with 18-points going into the fourth.
 
When all hope seemed lost, it was time for the freshmen to take over. Kiana Rios started the frame with an and-one which she converted at the line, before Lamet go fouled to earn two more from the charity stripe. It was Lamet and Lauryn Morris with back-to-back buckets after that before the entire gym started to realize that MSU-B hadn't scored in the fourth. The run continued with another post move from Lamet, which also rounded out the run, with an Anjel Galbraith free throw in between. With the final Lamet bucket, it capped off a 14-0 run from the Saints in the first 4:28 of the final quarter, the largest run by SMU this season.
 
Saint Martin's cut it to a one possession game a few moments later with two Rios free throws, and even after the momentum swung back to the Yellowjackets, SMU was even able to get it within four again after a Rios three. In the end, MSU-B knocked down their free throws and escaped victorious.
 
Rios led the way with 19 points and seven boards, Lamet added a career-high 18, and Morris came awfully close to her second straight double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Saints continue conference play with a battle against Seattle Pacific (9-4, 4-1 GNAC) on Saturday, January 7^th. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:15 PM at Marcus Pavilion.