BILLINGS, Mont. (Feb. 25) – Junior forward Vishe' Rabb led a balanced effort with 15 points and eight rebounds Saturday, powering the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team to a 65-58 upset of nationally ranked Montana State Billings in the regular-season finale at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Seawolves (18-9, 10-8 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got 10 points from senior guard Jahnna Hajdukovich as they concluded the regular season with a four-game winning streak and claimed fourth place outright in the final GNAC standings.

The Yellowjackets (23-6, 14-4) – ranked No. 22 in the WBCA top 25 poll and No. 4 in the NCAA Div. II West Region – got 15 points and five rebounds from guard Aspen Giese, but the hosts were outrebounded 39-31 and outshot .466 to .308.

"We got off to a rough start offensively, but that resolved itself, and our defense was absolutely outstanding all night," said UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy, whose team equaled its best field-goal percentage this season. "After we took control in the middle part of the game, we also did a great job of closing out on rebounds and not giving them second looks. This is some outstanding momentum heading into GNACs, and we hope to continue playing our best as we head into March."

Nearly three months after a dominant Billings victory in the Dec. 1 GNAC opener in Anchorage, the Seawolves shot just 4 of 16 in the opening quarter, but trailed just 12-8.

The visitors got rolling in the second quarter, taking the lead for good at 20-18 on a three-pointer by senior Jahnna Hajdukovich and claiming a 32-27 halftime edge when Nicole Pinckney swished a trey at the buzzer.

Billings sliced its deficit to 38-36 with 6:29 to play in the third quarter, but Rachel Ingram swished a three-pointer to start a 13-1 UAA surge over the next four minutes, capped by consecutive putbacks by Rabb.

The Seawolves led by a least nine points until the final 30 seconds, holding the Yellowjackets to just 4-of-28 shooting inside the arc and outscoring them 36-4 in the paint.

Rabb continued her recent tear as the reigning GNAC Player of the Week shot 5 of 9 from the field and 4 of 4 on free throws, along with three steals and two assists.

Hajdukovich shot 4 of 7 overall (2-4 3FG), and sophomore forward Kate Robertson delivered eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, seven rebounds and two steals.

Senior forward Kimani Fernandez provided a big spark off the bench with six rebounds, two blocks and impressive interior defense, and junior point guard Anaiah Moore had seven points (3-6 FG) and three assists.

The Seawolves will face 5th-seeded Seattle Pacific (14-12, 9-9) in the GNAC Tournament quarterfinals Thursday (6:30 pm AST) in Bellingham, Wash. Surf to GoSeawolves.com or GNACsports.com for live links to video and stats.