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Skylights' sizzling shooting leads to sweep

When people think about transition offense, they think long passes, players running the floor and easy uncontested layups.

But the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team has a different idea when it comes to transition. That idea also includes knocking down wide-open three-pointers.

Three-point shots on a fast break?

Yep, three-pointers were going in like layups as the Skylights picked up a pair of victories at their own Skylight Shootout Invitational, thanks to a blinding transition game and some solid long-range shooting.

"Our transition offense has been our key all week," said Skylight head coach Mike Erickson. "Transition isn't about shooting layups but isolating our players. We did a good job of isolating and finding our shooters for wide-open looks. And we made them."

Indeed, Northern shot a ridiculous 81 percent (9-11) from three-point range on Friday night to cruise to an 89-46 win over Concordia University College of Alberta.

Freshman forward Jessi Reome sizzled from outside, draining six of seven three-point attempts en route to a game-high 22 points.

"We looked at the stats about a week ago and Jessi was averaging close to a point a minute, so we knew we had to get her some more minutes," Erickson said. "She gives us a great lift off the bench. I call her the female Larry Bird because she is probably the slowest player on the court, but she knows how to get her shots."

Northern also got a solid performance from senior Khadiga Mohamed with 16 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Chasi Buffington added 12 points off the bench.

Erickson hoped the hot shooting would continue over to Saturday night for an anticipated matchup with the Minot State Beavers, who defeated Northern 75-56 earlier in the season.

It didn't appear to early, but the Skylights shook off a sluggish start to avenge the earlier loss with an impressive 70-52 win.

After shooting an icy 42 percent from the field in the first half, Northern warmed up in the second half behind the shooting of Reome and senior Anna Bateman. The duo hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend a six-point Northern lead and essentially put the game out of reach.

Both shots came on fast breaks as the Skylights passed up decent shots for wide-open three-point looks. Northern continued to push the tempo and the pace, fast breaking at every and any opportunity.

"It all starts with the rebound and outlet pass," Erickson said. "Having Anna really makes us better. She has a knack for getting the ball right away and pushing it up the floor."

Bateman, who missed much of the preseason, showed signs of returning to her all-conference form, scoring 16 points, including three three-pointers. Reome added 11 points, including three three-pointers. Northern's perimeter shooting opened up things inside. Mohamed scored 15 points and Megan Valgardson chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds.

"We did a good job of spreading them out and using our athleticism," Erickson said.

But it wasn't just Northern's offense that was critical in the win. The Skylights' defense played a key role. Individually, senior Brettney Vermandel turned in a solid defensive performance, holding Minot's leading scorer, Andrea Sebelius, to 0-8 shooting and no points in the game, while scoring six points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists.

"Brettney did an outstanding job defensively," Erickson said. "To hold Minot's leading scorer scoreless wasn't easy. We played so unselfishly the entire weekend. Everyone played and everyone contributed in these wins."

The victory was especially sweet after the earlier loss in Minot, a game that was a stark contrast to Saturday's performance.

"The ladies felt like they owed Minot a better game," Erickson said. "The first game, we weren't even close to being mentally prepared. This time we came out much more ready to play."

Northern will travel to Helena this weekend to face conference foes Carroll College on Friday and UM-Western on Saturday in the Frontier Conference tip-off tournament.

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE (46)

Heather Harasymchuk 0-4 0-2 0; Megan Stevenson 1-3 0-0 2; Stephanie Ratsch 4-7 0-0 10; Amber Smart 6-11 0-1 13; Kayley Brooks 1-6 0-2 2; Leanne Barrett 0-1 0-0 0; Bonnie Hommy 0-2 0-0 0; Meghan Stevenson 1-5 0-0 2; Nicole O'Connor 1-2 0-0 2; Lauren Olson 1-2 0-0 2; Ashley Nelson 2-7 1-2 5; Lisa Francis 4-6 0-3 8. Totals: 21-58 1-10 46.

MSU-NORTHERN (89)

Kristie Pullin 4-8 0-0 8; Kristal Lohse 4-8 1-2 9; Khadiga Mohamed 7-11 2-2 16; Brettney Vermandel 0-0 0-0 0; Megan Valgardson 4-8 0-1 8; Jesse Reome 8-12 0-0 22; Anna Bateman 1-2 0-1 3; Chasi Buffington 6-9 0-0 12; Jena Heggem 2-4 0-0 6; Sheena Darlington 2-3 1-2 5. Totals: 38-65 4-6 89.

Halftime: 47, 20. Three point goals: CUC 3-6 (Ratsch 2-3, Smart 1-1 Barrett 0-1, Olsen 0-1), MSUN 9-11 (Pullin 0-1, Reome 6-7, Bateman 1-1, Heggem 2-2). Rebounds: CUC 31 (Nealon 7, Francis 6); MSUN 37 (Darlington 7) Assists: CUC 4 (Smart 2); MSUN 20 (Bateman 4). Total fouls: CUC 11, MSUN 11. Fouled out - none; Technicals - none.

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY (52)

Brenda Robinson 1-4 2-2 4; Andrea Sebelius 0-8 0-0 0; Leeann Pekovitch 7-8 0-0 14; Jennifer Sundahl 6-8 0-0 12; Lindsey Johnson 3-4 0-0 6; Lauralee Irvine 0-1 0-0 0; Brandy Howard 0-2 0-0 0; Besty Vig 4-12 1-1 10; Rashawna Mays 2-3 0-0 4; Beth Quaintance 0-3 0-0 0; Jenny Castro 0-3 2-2 2. Totals: 23-56 5-5 52.

MSU-NORTHERN (70)

Kristie Pullin 0-6 0-0 0; Anna Bateman 4-11 5-6 16; Khadiga Mohamed 5-9 5-7 15; Brettney Vermandel 3-4 0-1 6; Megan Valgardson 6-11 1-2 13; Kristal Lohse 2-7 0-1 4; Chasi Buffington 1-1 2-2 4; Jena Heggem 0-3 1-2 1; Sheena Darlington 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-59- 14-22 70.

Halftime: MSUN 30, MSU 24. Three point goals: MSU 1-10 (Sebelius 0-3, Vig 1-5, Quaintance 0-2), MSUN 6-14 (Pullin 0-1, Bateman 3-5, Mohamed 0-1, Reome 3-6, Heggem 0-1). Rebounds: MSU 35 (Sundahl 8); MSUN 36 (Valgardson 7, Vermandel 6) Assists: MSU 12 (Johnson 4); MSUN 14 (Bateman 4, Vermandel 4). Total fouls: MSU 20, MSUN 12. Fouled out - Robinson; Technicals - none.

 

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