Skylights head north to open a new season

The last time anyone saw the Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team, the Skylights were a long way from home, and ending their 2013-14 season with a magical run to the NAIA Sweet 16.

Well, the Skylights are about to make their 2014-15 season debut and, again, they’re a long way from home.

Northern opens the season with two games this weekend in Edmonton, Alberta. Tonight, the Skylights take on Concordia University of Alberta, then they’ll face The Kings University Saturday afternoon.

Northern enters a new season off of what was a great ride a year ago. MSU-N went 22-10 and finished third in the Frontier Conference (10-6), while losing to Lewis-Clark State in a double-overtime thriller in the Frontier semifinals, before beating Columbia of Missouri 56-55 and falling to eventual national champion Oklahoma City by three points in the Sweet 16. And with the bulk of their roster back for this year, excitement and expectations are high.

“Last year, we had a great run,” said MSU-N head coach Chris Mouat, who enters his 10th season at the helm of the Northern program. “The last three or four games we played, we played some really good basketball. And it was a lot of fun to see us go on the run we did.

“But that was last year,” he continued. “And we are starting over. We do have the luxury of returning some very good and seasoned players. But we also lost some big pieces to that puzzle, especially on the offensive end. So we do have holes to fill, and that’s easier said than done. So certainly, as we start the season, we have some challenges in front of us.”

The Skylights return four starters, including 2014 Frontier Newcomer of the Year, and NAIA All-American center A’Jha Edwards. Also back is senior point guard Taylor Cummings, senior forward Megan Feldman and sophomore standout Natalee Faupel. Taybra Teeters also returns for her senior season, and with Edwards, Feldman and Faupel, she helps to give MSU-N a formidable front line. The Skylights also bring back guards Molly Kreycik and Taryn Norby to help solidify the backcourt.

And with so much talent, Mouat says there’s reason to think the Skylights will be successful again this season, but that they will also face plenty of challenges along the way, and those challenges start with these first games in Canada.

“The road itself is going to be our biggest challenge,” Mouat said. “Obviously, we play a lot of quality teams on the road, but just the amount of travel and time we’re going to spend on the road in the non-conference season will really be a big test for us. We’re playing a lot of quality opponents a long, long way from home.

“I think we have the potential to be a very good team,” he added. “It seems a little early to be playing games, but it’s here now and we’re excited to get started. We’re excited to get out there and play those first few games and see where we’re at. I know this team wants to accomplish great things this season, and now the season’s here. This is what it’s all about, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Northern plays Concordia tonight at 6 and Kings Saturday at 4 p.m. in Edmonton. The Skylights will make their home debut next Thursday night against Northwest Indian College.