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MSU-N hoops swept at LC State

Warriors steal one from Skylights, again

It was just two weeks ago that the Montana State University-Northern Skylights had a great opportunity to knock off nationally ranked Lewis-Clark State. That game, in the Armory Gymnasium, ended in heartbreak for the Skylights, however.

Fast forward two weeks, and Northern found itself in the same position, against the same team. But for a second time, the Warriors left the Skylights brokenhearted,

Saturday afternoon, Northern led the No. 18 Warriors for all but the final 20 seconds in a devastating 61-56 loss in Lewiston, Idaho. The loss dropped Northern to 1-7 in the Frontier Conference, at what is now the halfway point of the season.

“Our kids played extremely hard tonight,” Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. “LC is a good team, and we turned the ball over far too much. We led throughout the game and their pressure got to us in the fourth quarter. This one is tough because we feel like we let it get away from us. Turnovers just cost us. I felt like we defended well and executed on offense. Our kids hit a lot of big shots.”

Northern played more than good enough to win. The Skylights jumped out to a 16-9 lead in the first 10 minutes, and continued to play well, stretching the lead to 31-22 at halftime. And that lead was still in double figures with less than three minutes to go in the contest.

And yet, that’s when the Warriors took control. LCSC ended up outscoring the Skylights 21-6 in the final 10 minutes, and the Warriors closed the game by scoring the last 12 points.

The outcome offset an excellent effort by the Skylights on both ends of the floor. Offensively, MSU-N shot 49 percent and drained six 3-pointers, with Peyton Kehr pouring in a game-high 21 points and five triples, while Hailey Nicholson added 12 points and seven rebounds. On the defensive end, Northern limited the Warriors to just 32 percent shooting, and 22 percent from three, but in the final minutes is where it mattered most, and MSU-N was forced into a season-high 28 turnovers.

Now, the Skylights (9-11) will try to rebound from the tough loss with rematches at Providence Thursday night and Montana Tech Saturday night.

“We just have to get over the hump in tight games, because we are putting ourselves in position to win,” Mouat said. “I’m proud of our effort and the way they came in ready to play. We didn’t get to the foul line enough tonight and need to continue to attack. And I feel like we put them at the line far too often. We battled. Our kids showed a ton of grit especially after a tough game at western Thursday. We just need to finish the deal down the stretch.”

Warriors get revenge

The Montana State University-Northern Lights started a four-game Frontier Conference winning streak with an exciting victory over Lewis-Clark State two weeks ago in the Armory Gymnasium.

Fast forward 14 days exactly, though, the Lights felt the wrath of the Warriors. No. 16 LC State beat the Lights 79-63 Saturday in Lewiston, Idaho, ending MSU-N’s win streak, and dropping the Lights to 4-4 in the Frontier Conference.

And while Northern’s 99-95 win over the Warriors in Havre was an offensive showcase by both teams, it was LC’s defense that set the tone Saturday. The Warriors started fast and led Northern 34-27 at the break, but then shot 57 percent in the second half, including seven 3-pointers, all of which helped them pull away.

Northern shot 44 percent from the field and made eight triples, including four from Caulin Bakalarski who scored 22 points. Adam Huse chipped in with 12 points for the Lights, who fell to 12-8 overall ahead of this week’s road games at Providence and Montana Tech.

“They played great tonight top to bottom, and we did not,” MSU-N head coach Shawn Huse said. “I feel like that was pretty much the story. Despite our poor shooting I feel our defense held against a very good LC State team most of the evening. It was certainly one of those frustrating nights that we need to learn from, then file it away and move on. It is a long season that gives short windows to reflect. We were disappointed overall, yet had some bright spots and know we can play better. We simply need to get back in the saddle and start prepping for next weekend.”

LC State 61, Skylights 56

MSU-Northern 16 15 19 6 - 56

Lewis-Clark State 9 13 18 21 - 61

MSU-N - Petra Sellin 1-1 0-0 2, Allix Goldhahn 1-5 0-0 2, Jessica Curl 2-4 0-0 4, Hailey Nicholson 5-10 2-2 12, Peyton Kehr 8-13 0-0 21, Lily Hilderbrand 0-0 0-0 0, Sydney Hovde 2-2 0-0 4, Tiara Gilham 2-5 0-0 4, Sabin Keo 2-4 2-2 7, Gokce Aslan 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-47 4-4 56.

LCSC - Cali Moscrip 0-3 0-0 0, Peyton Souvenir 2-6 2-2 8, Hannah Burland 1-6 0-0 2, Abby Farmer 1-2 0-0 3, Hailey Turner 3-6 4-4 11, Jamie Nielson 2-7 3-4 9, Abbie Johnson 1-8 2-2 4, Delaney Henery 4-9 4-4 12, Kiara Burlage 1-3 1-4 3, Emily Banks 0-1 1-2 1, Jossilyn Blackman 4-8 0-0 8. Totals 19-59 17-22 61.

FG:Montana State-Northern 6-12 (Goldhahn 0-1, Nicholson 0-2, Kehr 5-6, Gilham 0-1, Keo 1-1, Aslan 0-1), Lewis-Clark State College 6-27 (Moscrip 0-1, Souvenir 2-5, Burland 0-4, Farmer 1-2, Turner 1-1, Nielson 2-5, Johnson 0-4, Henery 0-3, Burlage 0-1, Blackman 0-1). Rebounds: Montana State-Northern 31 (Nicholson 7), Lewis-Clark State College 34 (Burlage 10). Fouls Montana State-Northern 18, Lewis-Clark State College 12. Fouled out: none.

LC State 79, Lights 63

MSU-N - Kamari Burnside 1-1 0-2 2, Mascio McCadney 3-10 2-2 8, Caulin Bakalarski 8-11 2-2 22, Kavon Bey 3-5 1-3 7, Devin Bray 1-2 2-2 5, James Fry 0-0 1-4 1, Justin Dunsmore 0-10 0-0 0, Joe Fons 1-3 1-2 4, Cedric Crutchfield 1-3 0-0 2, Adam Huse 5-8 0-2 12. Totals 23-53 9-19 63.

LCSC - Josiah Westbrook 2-4 0-0 5, Derrick White 5-8 0-1 10, Andre McCowan 1-3 0-0 2, David Shedrick 4-6 0-0 10, Cory Dollarhide 5-9 0-0 13, Cordel Hankerson 2-6 0-0 4, Damek Mitchell 3-6 8-8 15, Blair Moore 1-3 0-0 2, Conner Moffatt 2-2 0-0 5, Trystan Bradley 4-5 3-3 11, Race Martin 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 30-56 11-12 79.

Halftime: LCSC 34-27. 3-pt FG:Montana State-Northern 8-24 (McCadney 0-5, Bakalarski 4-5, Bray 1-2, Dunsmore 0-5, Fons 1-3, Huse 2-4), Lewis-Clark State College 8-21 (Westbrook 1-2, Shedrick 2-3, Dollarhide 3-6, Hankerson 0-3, Mitchell 1-3, Moffatt 1-1, Bradley 0-1, Martin 0-2). Rebounds: Montana State-Northern 28 (McCadney 6), Lewis-Clark State College 37 (Hankerson 9). Fouls Montana State-Northern 13, Lewis-Clark State College 18. Fouled out: none.

 

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