Northern sweeps Tech, awaits big games with Warriors

The Montana State University-Northern men's and women's basketball teams have huge Saturday night games at home with Lewis-Clark State. But neither the Lights, or Skylights could afford to overlook Montana Tech. And neither did as MSU-N swept the Orediggers Friday night inside the Armory Gymnasium.

The Northern men exploded for 38 second-half points, as well as hitting six 3-pointers in a seven-minute span to hand Tech a 62-36 loss, which was the Orediggers' 10th straight defeat.

After a first half in which the two teams struggled mightily from the floor, and the Lights led just 24-16, MSU-N came out hot the rest of the way. Northern shot 44 percent in the final 20 minutes, and got back-to-back three's from both Adam Huse and Cameron Epps, while defensively, the Lights stymied the Diggers' in their second win over Tech this season.

David Straughter paced the Lights, who improved to 4-3 in Frontier Conference play, with 15 points, while Epps added 11. Chris O'Neil was high man for Tech with just seven points, as Tech shot just 28 percent for the game.

"Our guys set the tone defensively tonight," MSU-N head coach Shawn Huse said.

The Northern women also used the first three quarters to set the tone against the Orediggers, but, for the final 10 minutes, the No. 11 Skylights had to hold on for dear life, as Tech erased a 15-point deficit, and cut the lead down to three with :11 left. A Molly kreycik free throw proved to be the difference for Northern, as the Skylights escaped with a 56-52 win.

"I thought we executed on both ends of the floor really well for three quarters," Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. "But, Tech never quit playing, and we got tight down the stretch. So all the credit to Tech for how hard they fought."

Tech had to fight, as the Skylights led 19-15 after the first quarter, then extended the lead to 35-21 at the half. Northern then played even better in the third and led by 15 with 10 minutes to go. From there however, Martha Dembek went off for the Orediggers, and the Skylights managed just one field goal the rest of the way, making the game a dogfight right to the end.

Sierra Richards led all scorers with 17 points for Northern, while Dembek finished with 15 for the Diggers'.

Now, the Skylights, who are 5-2 in the Frontier, will brace for Saturday night's showdown with No. 2, and undefeated LC State. That game tips at 6 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 8 p.m.