Skylights snap losing streak with win over Whitman

The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with a 58-48 win over the Whitman College Missionaries Saturday night in Walla Walla, Wash.

Northern broke open a 22-22 game at halftime with an 11-5 run to open the second half, highlighted by three buckets from Michele VanDyke.

Whitman rallied to tie the game at 38 with 9:31 left in the game. The two teams traded leads four times until a Khadiga Mohamed jumpshot put Northern ahead 44-43 with 5:08 remaining. The Skylights would never trail again as Megan Valgardson and Chasi Buffington combined for 10 points down the stretch to put the game away.

The game was a defensive battle with both teams shooting under 40 percent from the field and combining for 37 turnovers. Northern won the game on the boards, outrebounding Whitman 50-31 including 15 offensive rebounds.

VanDyke finished with a game-high 17 points while Valgardson added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Mohamed also had a solid game with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Whitman was led by Sarah Laird with 15 points.

With the win, Northern improves to 7-4 on the season. The Skylights will return home for a short break before returning to action Dec. 28-29 for the Grant MacEwen invitational tournament.

MSU-NORTHERN 58, WHITMAN 48

MSU-NORTHERN (7-4)

Michele VanDyke 8-14 1-1 17; Khadiga Mohamed 5-12 2-4 12; Megan Valgardson 4-10 3-5 11; Anna Bateman 2-5 1-2 7; Chasi Buffington 2-5 1-2 6; Kristie Pullin 0-1 2-2 2; Sheena Darlington 1-1 0-0 2; Brettney Vermandel 0-2 1-2 1; Jessi Reome 0-6 0-0 0; Jena Heggem 0-1 0-0 0; Kristal Lohse 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 11-18 58.

WHITMAN (4-2)

Sarah Laird 6-18 0-0 15; Katie Pateneaude 3-6 2-2 8; Megan Higgins 3-6 0-0 7; L. Vertatschitsch, 2-13 1-1 5; Denise Kirstein 2-3 0-0 4; Mandee Romero 2-8 0-0 4; Shea Morrisey 1-4 0-0 3; Lizzy Washburn 1-3 0-0 2. Totals

20-61 3-3 48.

Halftime score: MSUN 22, WC 22. Three-point goals: MSUN 3-13 (Bateman 2-5; Buffington 1-1; Pullin 0-1; Reome 0-4; Heggem 0-1; Mohamed 0-1), WC 5-19 (Laird 3-9; Morrissey 1-3; Higgins 1-1; Romero 0-2; Vertatschitsch 0-4). Fouled out- Washburn. Rebounds: MSUN 50 (Valgardson 11), WC 31 (Patneaude 6). Assists: MSUN 13 (Bateman 5), WC 11 (Kirstein 4). Total fouls: MSUN 8, WC 17.