Lights, Skylights host Frontier Conference first-round playoff games this week

The 2013 Frontier Conference regular season came to a close on Saturday night. And in a matter of just 24 hours from now, the men's and women's playoffs will get under way.

With the addition of Dickinson State, making the Frontier a nine-team basketball league, the conference decided to go to a six-team playoff this season, meaning the top two men's and women's teams will have byes and host semifinal games. The Frontier released the pairings on Saturday night.

MSU-Northern's Will Perry, middle, drives the lane during a Frontier Conference men's game last month in Havre. The Lights are home to host Great Falls in a playoff game Wednesday night, while the MSU-N women host RMC Tuesday night.

The first round of the women's playoffs begin Tuesday night with No. 3 Montana Tech hosting No. 6 UM-Western and No. 4 MSU-Northern hosting No. 5 Rocky Mountain College. On Friday, in the semifinals, top-seeded Westminster College will host the lowest remaining seed and No. 2 Carroll College will host the highest remaining seed. The semifinal winners will play for the championship at the highest remaining seed on Monday, Mar. 4.

The first round of the men's playoffs begin Wednesday night with No 3 MSU-Northern hosting No. 6 UGF and No. 5 Rocky Mountain traveling to No. 4 Westminster College. On Saturday, in the conference semifinals, top-seeded Lewis-Clark State will host the lowest remaining seed and No. 2 UM-Western will host the highest remaining seed. The semifinal winners will play for the championship at the highest remaining seed on Tuesday, Mar. 5.

The men's and women's champions will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament. The men's national tournament is in Kansas City, Mo., and the women's national tournament is in Frankfurt, Ky. The Northern men and Westminster women are the defending Frontier champions.

Tickets for both Northern men's and women's playoff games go on sale this afternoon. Prices are $10 for adults and $6 for senior citizens and students up to age 18. For more information, call the athletic office at MSU-Northern.

Final Frontier Conference

Women's Standings

Conf. All

W-L W-L

Westminster 14-1 25-3

Carroll 13-3 19-8

Montana Tech 9-7 16-12

MSU-Northern 8-8 16-12

Rocky Mountain 7-9 10-16

UM-Western 7-9 15-15

Lewis-Clark 5-10 8-21

Great Falls 4-12 14-16

Dickinson State 3-11 8-20

Final Frontier Conference

Men's Standings

Conf. All

W-L W-L

Lewis-Clark 11-4 26-4

UM-Western 11-5 21-8

MSU-Northern 10-6 22-8

Westminster 9-6 22-7

Rocky Mountain 9-7 18-12

Great Falls 8-8 17-13

Montana Tech 6-10 15-15

Dickinson State 5-9 12-18

Carroll 1-15 2-25