Skylights sweep in Canada

The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team was a long way form home to open the 2012-13 season. But the distance didn't seem to bother the Skylights,

Northern went 2-0 on its season-opening road trip to Edmonton, Alberta this past weekend. The Skylights dominated both Concordia of Alberta and the King's College.

In the season opener, the Skylights beat Concordia 67-45 behind a 10-20 performance from the 3-point-line and some outstanding defense. Northern went up 20-10 in the first quarter, led 38-27 at halftime, then used a 21-11 run in the fourth to put the game away.

Nikki Tresch scored 13 points and hit three trey's for MSU-N, while sophomores Rachelle Bennett and Taylor Cummings scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. Senior Jordan Bruursema scored nine, on all on three's, and Laci Keller added nine points and five rebounds.

MSU-N kept rolling right through Saturday as the Skylights crushed the King's College 84-45. Northern jumped out to a 26-15 lead in the first quarter, then used a 41-16 second half to blow the doors off the game.

The Skylights again hit 10 three's, and four Skylights in double figures led a balanced attack. Keller and Tresch each scored 12 points, while Kassie Barta scored 11 and Bennett added 10. Barta and Tresch combined for six trey's. Bennett also had eight rebounds.

The Skylights 2-0 will now have two weeks off before their home-opener against the University of Lethbridge on Oct. 26 at the Armory Gymnasium. The Skylights also have home games schedule for Nov. 9-10 as well as a road game at the University of Montana Lady Griz on Nov. 13 in Missoula.

Skylights 67, Concordia 45

MSU-N - Kassie Barta 1-3 1-2 4, Kacie McKeon 1-4 0-0 3, Nikki Tresch 5-13 0-0 13, Kylee Dunham 1-4 2-4 4, Rachelle Bennett 3-10 5-8 12, Taylor Cummings 3-9 4-5 11, Leah Olson 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Bruursema 3-8 0-0 9, Macey Cox 0-0 0-0 0, Maurisha McKissic 1-1 0-0 2, Michaela Howe-Cobb 0-0 0-0 0, Laci Keller 3-7 3-4 9. Totals 21-61 15-23 67.

3-pt FG:MSU-N - 10-20 (Barta 1-1, McKeon 1-2, Tresch 3-7, Bennett 1-2, Cummings 1-2, Olson 0-2, Bruursema 3-4), Rebounds: MSU-N - 43 (TEAM 12). Fouls: MSU-N 15, Concordia University Co 17. Fouled out: none.

Skylights 82, King's 45

MSU-N - Kassie Barta 4-11 0-0 11, Kacie McKeon 0-3 2-2 2, Nikki Tresch 4-8 1-1 12, Rachelle Bennett 3-4 4-5 10, Taylor Cummings 1-4 0-0 3, Leah Olson 2-3 0-1 4, Jordan Bruursema 2-13 1-2 7, Macey Cox 0-2 0-0 0, Maurisha McKissic 4-9 0-0 8, Michaela Howe-Cobb 3-5 0-0 7, Laci Keller 5-11 2-5 12, Taryn Norby 0-0 0-0 0, Tiffany Kittelson 0-0 0-0 0, Micah Kirkpatrick 0-0 0-0 0, Kylee Denham 3-7 0-0 6. Totals 31-80 10-16 82

3-pt FG:MSU-N 10-25 (Barta 3-6, McKeon 0-3, Tresch 3-6, Cummings 1-2, Bruursema 2-4, Cox 0-1, Howe-Cobb 1-1, Denham 0-2). Rebounds: MSU-N 52 (TEAM 10). Fouls: MSU-N 9, The King's University 13. Fouled out: none.