By Rob Everingham
It was a must win situation for the Carroll College Saints and a needed win for the MSU-Northern Skylights on Saturday night as the two teams battled. It was the Skylights coming away with a 68-65 win.
The Saints (2-8, 9-16) opened up a quick 9-0 lead to start the game. The Skylights then went on an 18-2 run to go up 18-12.
Carroll though came back to regain the lead and led 25-20.
Northern again answered with a run. This time it was a 16-4 run to lead at the half 36-27.
The Skylights controlled the majority second half, never letting the Saints back into the game until the very end. With one minute to play Carroll's Erica Gilliland hit a bucket pulling the Saints to within a point at 66-65.
Northern Abby Hjorth was fouled with 14.0 second left on the clock and sank both her free throws to ice the game for the Skylights.
Jana Smith led the way for the Skylights with 14 points. Also in double figures for Northern were Hjorth with 11, while both Jennifer Young and Laura Munson added 10.
Carroll was led by Mary Earley who had 19, and Gilliland had 16.
The win moves the Skylights to 6-4 in conference and 16-12 overall.
Skylights head coach Ray Peters said Carroll is a very talented team and was able to put together some runs. Peters though said it speaks volumes of his team when they were down early and were able to come back.
Peters said he is very proud of the effort his team put forth in this game by his bench players.
Peters said Jackie Rasnick came in and hit some key shots, did not turnover the ball and played great defense. Peters also said Rasnick had some real hustle plays and picked up some loose balls for the Skylights.
"She came down most of the time in the middle, giving up five or six inches," Peters said.
Again MSU-Northern's Lynn Kansteiner came in off the bench and posted up well in the first half, Peters said.
Peters said he can't say enough about the bench play of Young.
"She comes in and handles the ball, has just two turnovers, and scores 10 points," Peters said.
Smith again played big for the Skylights. Peters said Smith had an injured knee but still contributed.
"If there's a way, she'll play," Peters said.
Next up for the Skylights is a road trip to Western Montana College this Thursday night. The Bulldogs are currently second in the Frontier Conference with the Skylights in third.
Carroll College 65
MSU-Northern 68
Carroll Jennifer Driscoll 1-2 0-0 2; Cortnee Dees 3-9 1-2 8; Danielle Zelinski 2-6 2-2 7; Erica Gilland 6-12 4-5 16; Mary Earley 6-11 3-4 19; Jodi Fisher 2-7 0-0 4; Nicole Woody 3-5 3-7 9. Totals: 23-54 13-23 65.
MSU-N Kristine Noel 2-7 2-2 7; Abby Hjorth 3-7 5-8 11; Jana Smith 2-10 10-10 14; Jennifer Young 3-5 2-3 10; Laura Munson 4-6 2-2 10; Brianne Dunn 1-6 0-0 2; Jackie Rasnick 2-4 1-2 6; Kelsey Burgmaler 0-0 4-6 4; Lynn Kansteiner 2-3 0-0 4. Totals: 19-48 26-33 68.
Halftime: Northern 36, Carroll 27. Three-pointers: Carroll 6-14 (Dees 1-5, Zelinski 1-3, Earley 4-5); Northern 4-9 (Noel 1-2, Young 2-3, Rasnick 1-2). Assists: Carroll 10 (Zelinski 2, Gilliland 2, Earley 2, Dees 2); Northern 12 (Hjorth 6). Rebounds: Carroll 37 (Woody 8); Northern 35 (Munson 7). Total fouls: Carroll 23, Northern 22. Fouled out: Munson.
