Billings, Mont. – The Mayville State Comets Women's Basketball team was back in action Saturday night taking on the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears who are currently receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. 

In a thrilling game, the Comets were able to hold off the Bears 84-75 to get their 8th win of the season.

"Our third game in five days, all on the road and we were still able to get the job done tonight," said head coach Ryan Carpenter. "We talked this week about having a relentless approach to the game regardless of outcomes and I think we were able to accomplish that."

Here's how it happened:

1^st Quarter:
- It was a fast paced back and forth first quarter with high pressure from the Comets.
- After being tied at 8, the Comets took the lead 11-8 with a swish from behind the arc by Alex Page.
- Mayville State made a set of stops and Page nailed back-to-back threes to put the Comets up 17-8.
- Mertens hit the 4^th three of the first quarter extending the Comets lead 20-11.
- With two minutes remaining in the first, freshman Berkley Neubauer scored her first bucket of the night with a three pointer that extended their lead by ten.
- The Comets went 5-9 from behind the arc in the first and lead 27-18.
- Alex Page scored 11 points.

2^nd Quarter:
- The Bears chipped away in the first minute of the second quarter, scoring a quick 4 points to cut their deficit to five.
- At the 7:20 mark, Neubauer sank her second 3 of the game, followed by a layup by Mackenzie Hughes to put the Comets up by ten, 34-24.
- With four minutes remaining, the Bears scored 11 unanswered points to bring them within three with a minute remaining.
- Neubauer sunk another 3 with 30 seconds remaining & the Bears flew down the court and hit one themselves.
- The Comets led 43-40 after the first 20 minutes.
- Page put up 17 points in the first half. Her career high overall is 23.

3^rd Quarter:
- The Bears got their first lead of the night at the start of the 3^rd quarter with back-to-back buckets, making the score 43-44.
- The quarter would eventually have 8 total lead changes.
- Hannah Stark and Hughes scored two quick lay ups to put the Comets back up 47-44, but the Bears came right back and did the same to take the lead 48-47.
- Hughes found her way to the free throw line, sinking both to give the Comets a 49-48 advantage with 6:30 remaining.
- Hughes quickly made her way back to the line, sinking her 15^th and 16^th point of the game, giving the Comets the lead once again 51-50.
- With 1 minute remaining in the third, Jes Mertens grabbed her 10^th rebound of the night.
- The Comets closed out the third quarter ahead 60-58.

4^th Quarter:
- Hughes rattled off 6 points in the first minute of the fourth quarter followed immediately by Page's fourth 3 on the night to put the Comets up 69-62.
- The Bears tied it up at 69 with a shot behind the arc, but Hughes continued to be on fire as she had back-to-back layups to tie her career high at 28 points and give the Comets a 73-69 lead with 6:30 remaining.
- Hughes would then come out of a time out and drive to the basket to give her a career high 30 points and a Mayville State lead of 6.
- With 2:30 remaining, Neubauer and Mertens hit back-to-back threes, putting the Comets up by 10 with a score of 81-71.
- The Bears would come within six, but with 30 seconds remaining Hughes would nail a three to put her at 33 points on the night to seal the win for the Comets.

Mackenzie Hughes led the night with a career high 33 points. She added 8 defensive rebounds.

Jes Mertens continued to contribute to every aspect of the game with her 4^th double double of the season. She had 12 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists.

Alex Page put up 20 points and she also had 8 rebounds. 

Berkley Neubauer had a career high in points with 12. She went 4-5 from behind the arc, had 3 steals and 3 assists.

"Obviously we got a great game from Kenzie with 33 points but we also got a big time game from Berkley who went 4-5 from deep and chipped in defensively with 3 steals," added Carpenter. "Overall, it was a great team win and I'm glad we could come back from this trip 1-1 against two very good teams."

The Comets improve to 8-2 overall and will open up NSAA conference play next weekend at Bellevue. 

"It's not going to get an easier as we start getting into conference play next weekend with two other good teams in Bellevue & Dak, but we are ready to embrace the challege of playing the entire month of December on the road," said Carpenter.

For full schedule details visit: https://msucomets.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule