BILLINGS, Mont. (Nov. 30) – Junior guard Senya Rabouin scored a season-high 27 points for Alaska Anchorage, but the visitors could not keep pace with No. 17 Montana State Billings in an 83-68 league-opening loss Thursday at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Seawolves (2-4, 0-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got 12 points, five rebounds and a career-high six assists from junior guard Jazzpher Evans as they suffered a 44-24 rebounding disadvantage.

The Yellowjackets (7-2, 1-0) were led by 29 points on 8-of-13 shooting from Dyauni Boyce and 20 points and 11 rebounds from Kola Bad Bear, helping the GNAC preseason poll favorites overcome a 30-13 deficit after one quarter.

"We got off to a great start and executed extremely well in the first quarter, but unfortunately we couldn't keep our momentum going," said UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy, whose team was missing three potential starters due to illness and injury.

Facing their first ranked opponent of the season, the Seawolves shot 12 of 18 in the first 10 minutes as Kya Pearson nailed consecutive three-pointers and Rabouin went coast to coast for buzzer-beating layup to end the quarter.

The Yellowjackets answered with the first seven points of the second quarter, however, and trailed just 45-37 by halftime.

Billings continued its blitz after the break, using a 16-0 run to take control. The hosts shot 9 of 12 in the third quarter as guard Chloe Williams finished with seven assists.

A transfer from Central Arizona College, Rabouin tallied her first 20-point effort as a Seawolf on 10-of-23 shooting (4-11 3FG), along with four assists and three steals.

Junior center Tori Hollingshead had 10 points, seven rebounds and a career-high four blocks, while junior guard Ja'Niah Alexander grabbed a personal-best six rebounds.

The Seawolves conclude their league-opening road swing with a Saturday 1 p.m. AST tip at Seattle Pacific. Find live video and stats links at GoSeawolves.com.