Skylights set for a big showdown with Saints

The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team was involved in the NAIA Game of the Week just five days ago. Now the Skylights have to play in a similar clash.

Northern, which swept Montana Tech and Lewis-Clark State in Havre last weekend, now faces the only other unbeaten team in the Frontier Conference when the No. 11 Skylights (2-0, 17-1) meet the No. 19 Carroll College Fighting Saints (2-0, 11-4) tonight in Helena. Tipoff is set for 5:30. MSU-N also pays a visit to Rocky Mountain College on Saturday night.

And while Northern passed its first major test of the season, beating then No. 12 Lewis-Clark State 63-61 one night after thrashing Montana Tech by 41 points, tonight's game against Carroll is an entirely different matter. The Saints have won five straight, with their biggest victory coming last Thursday night when they snapped the Westminster Griffins' nearly two-year home winning streak.

"Carroll is the hottest team in the NAIA right now," MSU-N head coach Chris Mouat said. "They have two wins against Top 5 teams, and almost got a third. Those are signature wins. So we know what we're up against."

What the Skylights are up against is a Carroll team that was picked to finish just fifth in the conference at the start of the season but is quickly proving the doubters wrong. The Saints are tenacious on defense, allowing 55 points per game, and they're also third in the NAIA in rebounding. Those numbers stack up well against the Skylights, who are first in the country in both scoring defense (47 ppg), defensive rebounding and rebounding margin.

But on the other side of the ball, the Saints have exploded as of late. They average just 63 points per game, but they are a deadly 3-point shooting team, with three guards who are incredibly hard to defend. For the fourth season in a row, Carroll is paced by seniors Kalee Junkermeier and Bailey Snelling. The tandem has been playing together seemingly forever, and they combine to average 25 points per night. Together, they have also made 72 3-pointers this season. Add in point guard Katy Estey and the Saints have a dynamite backcourt, which compliments the strong inside play of 6-1 freshman Cassidy Hashley.

"They (Saints) shoot it so well," Mouat said. "They have three All-Conference guards and potentially five All-Conference starters. They are a legitimately talented team.

"And in my opinion, Kalee Junkermeier and Bailey Snelling are as good as it gets," he continued. "They have been playing together and have been successful together for a long time. And they are really well coached. They are running really good stuff, stuff that's very hard to defend. They are very tough on the boards, and they always have a great plan. And add in the fact that they play so well in Helena, and it's a very tough matchup for us. It's going to be very challenging."

Of course, Northern is no slouch, and it's certain Carroll feels the visiting Skylights will be just as big of a challenge. Not only is MSU-N the top defensive team in the country, the Skylights rank in the top three in the NAIA in nine different statistical categories. They also have senior A'Jha Edwards playing as well as anyone in the nation. Last weekend, Edwards missed just seven shots in two games, while averaging 23 points and 17 boards in two games.

Coming into tonight's game, Edwards is averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds per contest. Natalee Faupel chips in with 13 points per game, while freshman Jacy Thompson averages nine and is growing by leaps and bounds. Megan Feldman and veteran point guard Taylor Cummings combine for another 18 points per night for a Skylight team that is second in the Frontier in scoring at 73 points per outing.

"Our kids are excited about what we've done so far," Mouat said. "And because of how well they've played thus far, I think they really look forward to the next game. Certainly, we have some confidence right now. And it was a great start at home. So this is the perfect time to hit the road. But it's going to be a big challenge and we know that."

The Skylights are solely focused on tonight's showdown with Carroll, but they'll also have to deal with a much-improved Rocky squad Saturday night. The Battlin' Bears (1-1, 8-5) have already eclipsed their conference win total from last season, and under new head coach Wes Keller, look nothing like the team that went 0-16 in league play a year ago.

"They've (Bears) already proven that they are much-improved," Mouat said. "They are playing well right now, and they got a big win on the road last weekend. They are a very capable team on both ends of the floor, and Wes (Keller) is doing a great job of putting his own stamp on that program right away."

The Bears are a fast-paced attack, averaging 73 points per game, and are led by guards Whitney Mitchell and Jayde LeFevre, who combine to score 29 points per game. RMC also has good size, led by 6-0 forward Bridger Rice and 6-0 center Mya Perrow-Donovan, so Northern will be up against a balanced lineup in Billings.

"They have a lot of firepower," Mouat said of the RMC offense. "Whitney Mitchell can really score the ball, and now that Jayde LeFevre is back, their offense is really dangerous. But I really like the way they defend. They really get after you.

"So like in Helena, we're going to have our hands full with Rocky as well," Mouat added. "These are going to be two very challenging road games, and we're going to have to be at our best right from the start."

Tonight's game between MSU-N and Carroll tips off at 5:30 in Helena. Northern takes on RMC at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Billings.