By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The MSU-Northern Skylights look to hit the road this weekend and just get better.
The Skylights (2-3 overall) travel to Fresno, Calif., to play at the Fresno-Pacific tournament.
"The most important thing right now is to go on the road and improve," said head coach Ray Peters.
Northern will face Biola University on Friday.
Biola relies on perimeter scoring to drive its offense, with at least four girls on the floor who can, and will, shoot the 3-pointer.
While the team averages just 54 points per game, they also average about 20 3-pointers per game, making about 33 percent.
With not one dominant player, Biola boasts a balanced offensive scoring attack, with four players averaging double figures.
Sherry Andreason, a senior, averages 10 points per game, Heather Dowd, 11 points, Heidi Hardaman, 11.2, and Sarah Montabon, 10 points per game.
Most recently, Andreason posted a season-high 24 points to lead Biola.
"We need to be able to guard everybody," Peters said.
Biola, as the Skylights, has played top 10 teams in the nation, thereby lending to a deceiving record.
"I expect a fast-paced game," Peters said. "They will play primarily man-to-man defense, and, because they're not very big, they will try to extend the floor and make you take time off the clock."
Laura Munson, the 6-foot-1 Skylights sophomore from Chinook, could pose problems inside for Biola.
Munson, who has been quiet in the scoring department lately, posted 23 points in the opening-season game against nationally-ranked Black Hills State.
Brianne Dunn a junior forward from Colstrip, has returned after an injury and looks to be about 70 percent healthy.
Dunn, a team leader, scored seven points in the 66-57 loss to Vanguard last weekend.
Kristine Noel has been stable offensively for the Skylights this season.
She notched a team-high 16 points against Vanguard, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the effort.
Anna Fabatz stepped into a stronger role with Dunn on reserve.
She tallied 12 points in the 74-63 win over Minot State last weekend.
Abby Hjorth shot 55 percent from the field, 100 percent from 3-point land, and 78 percent from the free throw line in the win over Minot.
Jana Smith, a freshman from Ronan, can shoot the three, and is a threat from at the point guard, with her penetrating dribble, creating looks offensively for the Skylights.
Smith scored 11 and 14 points, respectively, last weekend.
Kelsy Burgmaier and Lynn Kansteiner have come off the bench strong for the Skylights throughout the season.
Fresno-Pacific (4-5 overall), on the other hand, has two post players who lead the offense.
Its strength lies in the half-court offense, and the go-to on the inside.
"When it goes inside, we need to double-down, but be quick enough to get back on the perimeter to cover their shooters," Peters said. "At times, they will put two very good 3-point shooters on the floor."
"Fresno is probably the best 4-5 team we've seen to this date," Peters said. "We're going to have to play an efficient game to ahve a chance."
Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. Friday, and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Fresno.
