Skylights Have Season Ended By Top-Ranked Freed Hardeman

The Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team may not have advanced the final four of the NAIA national tournament—but the Skylights proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can hang with the best in the country.

Freed Hardeman, the No. 1 team in the NAIA coming in, found itself tied with the Skylights with just over five minutes left in the game at 50-50 following a 14-4 Northern run. But, in the end, FHU was just too much for MSU-N, capping the game on a 13-0 run that sealed the 63-50 victory over the Skylights, ending their season.

“I thought our effort was really, really good,” Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. “I thought our foul trouble early on hurt us and then their post players gave us problems throughout the night but our effort was great, our kids sold our souls and played as hard as they can play. We just didn’t get it done down the stretch once we got it tied up.”

Early on, the Skylights, who were making their first final eight appearance since 1999, went toe-to-toe with FHU and following a 3-pointer by Molly Kreycik, the score was tied at 9-9 with just over 13 minutes left in the first half.

After that the Lions outscored Northern 17-10 to grab a 26-19 lead. But, Kreycik would hit from downtown again with just over two minutes left in the half to trim the lead to 28-24 and at the half, the Skylights trailed by just five at 29-24.

In the second half, A’Jha Edwards scored a couple baskets to keep Northern within five, but the Lions went on another mini spurt and eventually built up a 46-36 lead. However, the Skylights refused to wilt under the pressure and responded with a 14-4 run that included five straight points from Jacy Thompson and five points from Faupel that included a trey and two free throws that tied the game at 50-50 with 4:36 remaining.

“We tried doing a bunch of different things defensively to slow them down,” Mouat said. “And we finally got some stops. Then, we were able to hit a couple threes and I think that got us going a little bit.”

Yet, that was the final basket that the Skylights would score. Northern went cold at the worst possible time and watched the Lions reel off 13-straight points to close out the game and ice the win.

“We just weren’t able to execute down the stretch,” Mouat said. “And they were and that was the difference.”

In her final game as a Skylight, Edwards, a two-time All-American, had another stellar performance with 14 points and 20 rebounds. Kreycik added 12. Faupel pithced in with 11 and Jacy Thompson contributed with 11; Grace Alonso de Armino poured in 26 for the Lions, while also grabbing 12 rebounds. Taleeah Cross also finished with 16.

With the loss, Northern finishes the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 29-6, while also putting together its best showing in the NAIA tournament in 16 years.

“I am really proud of this team,” Mouat said. “It seemed like every time we had adversity this year we stepped up and found a way to respond. And we came down here and played two good games and a third one that was pretty good. That just wasn’t good enough to beat a team like that. But I am really proud of this team and thankful for everything all they have done for the program.”