Breaking Sports: Powerful Griffins too much for Skylights

Stopping a two-game, Frontier Conference losing streak is hard to do sometimes. But it becomes even more difficult when you're playing one of the NAIA's best teams, even on your home floor. And that's what the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team was facing in what turned into a 70-53 loss to the No. 4 Westminster Griffins Saturday night at the Armory Gymnasium. Saturday's game was Northern's home finale, and the Skylights dropped to 7-7 in league play, but remain in fourth place in the standings.

Northern finished strong, becoming one of the few teams to out-score the Griffins in the seocnd half of a game in league play this season. But the start doomed the Skylights as they fell behind 12-1, and were down by 18 points at halftime as Westminster canned seven first-half 3-pointers. Seniors Jordan Bruursema, who scored 16 points and Kylee Denham, who had 11, to go along with seven from Nikki Tresch, played in their final regular season home game Saturday night. Laci Keller added eight points and seven rbeounds, while Allie Eastman added 18 for the unbeaten Griffins, who have all but locked up their fifth straigth Frontier regular season title.

MSU-N is not just battling for one of six Frontie rplayoff spots, but the Skylights could secure as good as third place in the league and hosta first-round game depending on what happens in the final weekend of the regular season. MSU-N (15-11) finishes the season at Rocky Mountain College Thursday night and Dickinson State on Saturday.

Northern senior Jordan Bruursema, middle, lets go of a shot during the seocnd half of Saturday night's women's game at the Armory Gymnasium.

For full coverage, see Monday's Havre Daily News.