SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Women's basketball tacked on its first win of the season against Montana State Billings in the season opener Friday afternoon. The Blue and Gold trailed at the Murchison Gymnasium for the first six minutes of the first quarter, but picked up the pieces to end the period in front, and eventually cruise to a 65-54 win.

VU shoots out to a 1-0 start on the year, Montana State Billings shifts to 2-2 overall.

The Lions were led by Emma Schaaf and Kaylee Byon, who each shot 6-9 from the field to coin 13 and 12 points respectively. Freshman Kayla Boozer was next in line on the scoresheet, marking her debut with nine points and five rebounds, spearheading a Vanguard second unit which outscored MSUB 27-19. Fellow freshman debutant Micaela Hanning also got going in the opener, filling the stat sheet with seven points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Akilah Kubi found a team-high seven rebounds, with two on the offensive glass.

VU shot 46.6% from the field and held the Yellowjackets to a 28.6% clip. The Yellowjackets were in front on fast break points (10-2) while VU built a 12-point margin in points in the paint (32-20). Both teams struggled from deep, shooting a combined 9-34 (26%) from three-point range. They were also nearly identical in rebounds (42-40 MSUB) and points off turnovers (15-14 VU).

What Happened? Byon had the first bucket of the 2025 season for the Blue and Gold, but the Yellowjackets set the pace with back-to-back treys to lead 6-2. Byon pinched another jumper one minute later, and Hanning and Aryanna Hudson procured the first three pointers of the season, as the Lions tallied a 6-0 run to wedge their way in front 10-8.

VU's trio of guards continued their assault on the MSU Billings defense, as Byon, Hudson, and Hanning scored or assisted on 14 of the 16 first-quarter points to grant the Lions a six-point (16-10) lead at the period's conclusion.

The Blue and Gold never surrendered their lead from that point forward, but they were outscored 13-12 in the next quarter as the Yellowjackets fought to regroup. Schaaf's roll and finish from Kubi marked her first points of the campaign, as VU went up six (18-12).

VU's next four points were supplied on the charity stripe, as Halle Si'i and Hanning were perfect from the line to inch the Lions forward. MSU Billings mustered an 11-4 push to close proceedings, but the VU buffer was kept in line by Shayla O'Neil and Byon, who both found their home in the paint to plant VU up 28-23 at the half.

The Lions closed the door in the third quarter with a blistering 68.75% field goal percentage and 66.67% tally from three-point range. MSUB, similarly, shot their match-best 33.33 from the field, but were overshadowed by a 26-15 VU point spread in the quarter.

Schaaf and Si'i combined for the first 10 VU points of the quarter, as the Lions charged out on a 13-4 run to lead 41-27. Kubi scored next, ripping down a defensive rebound and finding the ball again on the other end to finish the Lion set in the paint.

Boozer held the reins on the final three minutes of the quarter, first drilling a jumper, then rolling and connecting inside off the dish from Ashlin Crabtree. Boozer broke through in the paint once more on the following possession, this time snaring the pass after a quickfire Hanning steal, and pressing the shot off the glass for another bucket. Jaryn Madsen closed the quarter with a catch-and-shoot trey from the left corner (54-38 VU). It marked the sixth different scorer for the Blue and Gold in the period.

The Yellowjackets won the final quarter 16-11 as the Lions shot 0-4 from deep. The damage, however, was done, as the Lions cushion the previous quarter kept the Yellowjackets at arm's length.

Boozer and Madsen netted the first five VU points before Nyla Cabine opened her account after a defensive rebound on the other end. The Yellowjackets got to the line after a few fastbreaks, but Vanguard closed out the scoring as well as the win through Schaaf and Byon.

What Was Said? "We came out with great energy and effort," started Head Coach Russ Davis. "For the first game of the year with a top opponent, it's a great win. We have lots of work to do and will get better for sure. Bench was a big help tonight."

What's Next? VU continue their time at Mursch with another GNAC opponent as they take on Simon Fraser at 2 pm Saturday afternoon.