Skylights play Lady Griz tough

Just last year, the University of Montana Lady Griz bludgeoned the Montana State University-Northern Skylights in early November. However, history didn’t repeat itself one year later.

Tuesday night, the No. 16 Skylights were back in Dahlberg Arena for another exhibition with the Lady Griz, and this time, while the outcome didn’t change, things were decidedly different as Northern hung with the Griz, even pulling to within four points with a minute to go, before finally falling 64-56.

The game won’t count against the Skylights’ 3-0 record, but, head coach Chris Mouat felt it will serve to make his team better going forward — something that last year’s meeting may not have done.

“We put forth a great effort, we battled,” Mouat said. “I was really happy with how our kids hung in there and weren’t intimidated this time. We always want to win and tonight was no different, so we still fell short. But there’s a lot of things we can learn from this game.”

Northern showed resiliency, falling behind by double digits in the first quarter. But, big buckets from Natalee Faupel helped the Skylights climb to within six at 17-11. The Lady Griz pulled ahead again early the second stanza and, thanks to big plays inside from senior Alycia Sims, led 33-22 at intermission.

The two teams played even in the third as Northern got hot from the field. Then, MSU-N got even closer when it ripped off a 16-4 run that carried into the fourth stanza, and with just over a minute to go, the Skylights trailed just 60-56. But, another bucket by Sims ended Northern’s run, and the Skylights ended up falling short in a great battle that even impressed Montana first-year head coach, longtime Robin Selvig assistant and former Lady Griz great Shannon Schweyen.

"They (Skylights) are a good team, and they are experienced," Schweyen said. "They were down, and they kept battling. We tried to get everybody in the game, but it was tough because they kept answering."

Mouat saw the same thing happening the other way too.

“Credit Montana,” Mouat said. “Every time we would have a good possession, they would come right back and counter it with a big three, or a big basket inside. They just always had the answers and a lot of those shots were absolute daggers.

“It’s the Lady Griz,” he continued. “Nothing has changed. They are a very, very good program and they have a lot of talent. They were physical and strong and they can shoot it. We made it competitive and that’s good. But they were certainly the more physically dominant team, and they came up with all the big shots and rebounds when they need them.”

Northern got great shots and great performances too. Faupel finished with 14 points, while fellow senior Sierra Richards had a huge game, with 14 points and nine rebounds. Jacy Thompson added nine points, while Shiloh McCormick and Brandy Lambourne combined for 10 off the bench as Northern shot 37 percent from the field. On the other side, the Griz shot 50 percent from the floor, made five three’s and got 17 points and 11 boards from Sims. Freshman Taylor Gologoski added 16 points and Gabi Harrington scored 11, while UM out-rebounded the Skylights 36-28.

Northern will now come home to restart the regular season with a matchup against NAIA member Central Baptist Friday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium.

Lady Griz 64, Skylights 56

Northern 11 11 16 18 – 56

Montana 17 16 16 15 – 64

MSU-N – Kealani Sagapolu 2, Sierra Richards 14, Jacy Thompson 9, Natalee Faupel 14, Molly Kreycik 3, Katie Fetterer 4, Brandy Lambourne 5, Peyton Filius 0, Shiloh McCormick 5, Makhayla Farmer 0. Totals: 19-51 14-20 56.

UM – Alycia Sims 11, Mekayla Isaak 6, Sierra Anderson 6, Taylor Gologoski 16, Madi Schoening 4, Maddie East 2, Gabi Harrington 11, Jace Henderson 2. Totals: 28-55 3-6 64.

3-pointers: MSU-N 4-15 (Faupel 2, Lambourne 1, McCormick 1), UM 5-10 (Gologoski 2, Harrington 3). Rebounds: MSU-N 28 (Richards 9), UM 36 (Sims 11). Fouls: MSU-N 10, UM 18. Fouled out: None.