Skylights dominate in Great Falls

The Montana State University-Northern Lights were not the only basketball team from Northern to have a great weekend at the Bill Himmelberg Sr. Classic at the McLaughlin Center in Great Falls last Friday and Saturday. So did the Skylights.

The Skylights won both of their games, beating Northwest University of Washington 74-46 and Dickinson State 61-34. It was a big pair of games for Northern, which continues its undefeated season, now at 6-0.

The first game against the Eagles Friday was a great start for the Skylights and head coach Chris Mouat is proud of his team's work on the court.

“We got off to an amazing start,” said Mouat. “Our first-half was about as good that we’ve played all season long. We defended and we hit shots, so it was a lot of fun.”

Northern opened the first two quarters of the bout with a combined 15-of-27 field goals, 2-of-4 3-pointers and 14-18 free throws. The Skylights defense held Northwest to just 20 points in the first two, while MSU-N had the lead 46-20.

The Eagles put up a combined 8-of-36 field goals, 2-of-9 threes and 2-of-3 free throws. It was clear that the Skylights defense stuck Northwest in a hole and did not let them climb out of it easily. The Eagles woes continued in the second two quarters.

Northwest only made nine field goals, one 3-pointer and seven free throws in the second half, while Northern put up 10 field goals, one three-pointer and seven free throws. Though the numbers may not seem different offensively, it is safe to say the Skylights defense held strong throughout the entire bout.

Northern's Hailey Nicholson had a strong game, making six field goals and four free throws to total 16 points, while McKenzie Gunter racked up 14 points. Tiara Gilham came off the bench to add 15 points, as well.

But Mouat sees the game as more of a team effort and commitment to the win over the Eagles.

“It was one of those team wins,” Mouat said. “Twelve kids played; 12 kids contributed. There were kids that kept scoring and rebounding, but from my end, I’m just proud that 12 kids came and played hard, defensively especially.”

Northern’s Saturday game against Dickinson state repeated much of the success the Skylights had the day before. In the first quarter, MSU-N outscored the Blue Hawks 19-11. Northern then held Dickinson State to four points in the second quarter, leading 30-15 at the half. The Skylights kept a strong lead in the second half, outscoring the Hawks 17-6, surging into the fourth and putting up 14 points to seal the game.

Mouat once again is happy his team put up a good performance against Dickinson State, but still knows there are some things that need a little adjusting this early in the season.

“Again, we had a good first-half,” said Mouat. “But, I don’t think we finished like we did in the first game. I think we missed a lot of bunnies and layups that we traditionally make, so I was a little disappointed in that. But, at the same time, to hold a team to 15 points in the first-half of a basketball game, you’re doing something good.”

The Hawks were led by Ashlie Larson, who racked up eight-points on the day. Other players like Danielle Wallace, Ashlie Watts and Kyley Verplogen contributed a total of six points each. Dakota Dosch put up six steals for Dickinson State.

But, Northern was too much for the Blue Hawks, for the second time this season. The Skylights shot 41.9 percent frm the field and made every shot from the free-throw-line. MSU-N was led by junior Sydney Hovde, who accomplished a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, as well as 6-for-9 from the field.

Overall, the Skylights racked up 26 field goals, two three-pointers, seven free throws, 39 rebounds and 13 assists on the day. The pair of games in Great Falls continued what has been a great start to the early season.

Next up, the Skylights (6-0) will face off against Yellowstone Christian College Friday at 6 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium for the MSU-Northern Thanksgiving Classic. Then, Northern will get ready to open Frontier Conference play at home against Montana Western Dec. 5 and Rocky Mountain College Dec. 7.

Skylights 74, Northwest 46

Northwest 10 10 14 12 - 46

MSU-Northern 24 22 20 8 - 74

NWW - Sam Van Loo 4-9 0-0 9, Lexi Biggerstaff 4-12 0-2 9, Ellesse Fitzgerald 3-8 2-4 8, Maya DuChesne 0-4 0-0 6, Athena Taylor 2-5 1-4 5, Jackie Bento 1-5 0-0 3, Andie Kristinat 1-9 0-5 2, Kylie Olson 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 17-70 3-16.

MSU-N - Hailey Nicholson 6-7 0-0 16, Sydney Hovde 2-4 0-0 5, Allix Goldhahn 1-1 0-0 3, McKenzie Gunter 5-10 1-2 14, Peyton Kehr 2-6 0-2 6, Kenya Lorton 1-4 0-0 2, Tiara Gilham 5-8 1-3 15, Reilly Walsh 2-2 1-1 8, Jada Nicholson 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 25-49 3-11.

3-pointers: NWW 3-16 (Fitzgerald 2, Taylor 1), MSU-N 3-11 (Gunter 1, Gilham 1, Walsh 1). Rebounds: NWW 29 (Olson 5, Van Loo 3, Biggerstaff 3, Kristinat 3, Shelaine Lorenz 3, Livi Lindsey 2, DuChesne 2, Deja Andrades 2), MSU-N 42 (H. Nicholson 8, Hovde 7, P. Kehr 5, Gunter 4, Walsh 3, Mason 3, Lorton 3, Gilham 2, Petra Sellin 1, Ryley Kehr 1, Other 1). Fouls: NWW 24, MSU-N 13. Fouled out: none.

Skylights 61, Dickinson State 34

Dickinson State 11 4 6 13 - 34

MSU-Northern 19 11 17 14 - 61

DSU - Ashlie Larson 2-9 2-3 8, Danielle Wallace 3-3 0-0 6, Ashlie Watts 2-6 0-2 6, Kyley Verplogen 3-4 0-0 6 Natalee Hafer 1-2 1-2 3, Dakota Dosch 0-8 0-4 2, Lindsey Peterson 1-7 0-5 2, Luisa Popp 0-3 0-0 1. Totals: 12-52 3-21.

MSU-N - Hailey Nicholson 2-8 0-0 8, Sydney Hovde 6-9 0-0 13, Allix Goldhahn 3-7 0-2 6, McKenzie Gunter 3-13 1-4 7, Peyton Kehr 1-4 0-1 2, Kenya Lorton 2-3 1-1 5, Ryley Kehr 1-1 0-0 4, Tiara Gilham 5-10 0-3 10, Reilly Walsh 2-3 0-1 4, Ryley Kehr 1-1 0-0 4, Jada Nicholson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 26-62 2-12.

3-pointers: DSU 3-21 (Larson 2, Hafer 1), MSU-N 4-16 (Gunter 1, Lorton 1, P. Kehr 2). Rebounds: DSU 26 (Other 5, Dosch 4, Peterson 4, Wallace 3, Mackenzi Reed 3, Watts 2, Verplogen 2, Opp 2), MSU-N 29 (Hovde 7, H. Nicholson 5, Gilham 5, Goldhahn 4, J. Nicholson 3, P. Kehr 2, Lorton 1, Sellin 1, R. Kehr). Fouls: DSU 15, MSU-N 21. Fouled out: none.