Skylights visit Argos, Saints

Women’s basketball is tough in the Frontier Conference. It seems every week, someone is getting upset. It happened last week to the Montana State University-Northern Skylights, and now, Northern will look to show its resiliency.

The No. 15 Skylights (8-6, 18-7) head to UGF tonight and Carroll College Saturday night, coming off their first back-to-back losses of the season. And head coach Chris Mouat said his team must now find ways to rebound, against two very dangerous teams.

“We learned a lot about ourselves last week,” Mouat said. “Those were two really tough games. Now we have to dust ourselves and get ready to go again. We’re playing two very capable, very talented teams, who we’ve had really close games with this season. So it’s tough. Playing anybody a third time is tough because everybody knows each other so well at this point in the season. But our kids are ready to go.”

The Skylights will need to be ready offensively. MSU-N has struggled in recent weeks with its shooting and scoring, even though Natalee Faupel continues to lead the Frontier at 16 points per game, and Sierra Richards and Jacy Thompson both average in double figures. On the other end, Northern’s defense has been fantastic, allowing just 54 points per game, and, the Skylights are No. 1 in the NAIA in defensive rebounding — two keys to this weekend’s road trip according to Mouat.

“It starts on the board,” Mouat said. “Especially against Carroll. They are such a great rebounding team. And we have to play well defensively because both teams are so explosive. But there’s also no question, we have to figure ourselves out offensively. We have to be much more consistent than we have been.”

Mouat also expects two more dogfights with the Argos and Saints. The Skylights are a combined 4-0 against their two rivals this season, but MSU-N’s last game with UGF was a close one, and the two games against Carroll have been decided by a total of six points.

Tonight’s game features a UGF squad that, a month ago, was ranked No. 11 in the NAIA. However, the Argos (1-13, 12-13) are on an eight-game losing streak coming into tonight’s battle in Great Falls. Still, UGF has one of the best guards in the conference in Steph McDonagh, and All-American Nneka Nnadi and sharp-shooter Darrah Huertas-Vining can score points in bunches.

“UGF is extremely talented, and we know that,” Mouat said. “They have lost a lot of close games this year. For whatever reason, they just haven’t gotten over the hump. But we’re not buying into what their record says. We know them well. We know how explosive and dangerous they are, and we know we’ll get their best shot.”

While UGF continues to slump, Carroll (7-7, 17-7) is going in the opposite direction. The Fighting Saints are coming on strong, having won four of their last five, and just two weeks ago, they handed Lewis-Clark State their only loss of the season. Led by Cassidy Hashley’s 15 points and 12 rebounds per game, as well as fellow inside threats Hannah Dean and Baylee Watson, Mouat knows just how tough Carroll will be Saturday night.

“Carroll is hot right now,” Mouat said. “They are really playing well. They have really improved and gotten better and better as the season has gone on. They are so tough on the boards on both ends of the floor. That’s going to be a big challenge for us. And they are very good defensively, so we’re going to have to be at our best on both ends. It’s going to be another dogfight with them.”

Dogfights are something the Skylights are used to. They’re also used to life on the road at this point. But Northern is also looking forward to coming home for its last two games. First, though, the Skylights must deal with the Argos and Saints.

“These are going to be two very challenging games,” Mouat said. “We’re looking forward to those challenges. But, we look forward to coming home, too, when they’re done.”

Tonight’s game between MSU-N and UGF tips off at 5:30 in Great Falls. The Skylights meet Carroll at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night in Helena. The Skylights then come home to wrap up the regular season next Friday against UM-Western and Saturday against Rocky Mountain College.