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MSU-Northern women gear up for Carroll with exhibition game against NCAA DII Yellowjackets
Montana State University-Northern's Rachelle Bennett, left, looks for a shot during an October home game at the Armory Gymnasium. The Skylights play an exhibition game in Billings tonight, then open Frontier Conference play Saturday night against Carroll College.
It's a big week for the Montana State University-Northern Skylights, who open their Frontier Conference season at home on Friday night against Carroll College.
However, before the Skylights (6-0) can start thinking about the Fighting Saints, they'll be put to the test tonight against NCAA Division II power Montana State-Billings. Tonight's exhibition game will tip at 5:30 in Billings.
"They're a very tough team," Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. "They already played both the Lady Griz and the (Montana State) Bobcats really close this season. They've got a lot of size and athleticism, so we'll have our hands full for sure."
Northern, which hasn't played since a weekend sweep of Pacific Union and Nebraska-Kearney Nov. 15-16 in Great Falls, won't be phased by playing up tonight. The Skylights played exhibition games at Wyoming and at Montana earlier this month, and Kearney was an NCAA DII opponent as well, so the Skylights certainly know what they're up against tonight against MSU-B.
Still, the Yellowjackets are indeed a quality team. MSU-B (4-2). Already this fall, the Jackets have blown out Frontier Conference standouts Rocky Mountain College and the University of Great Falls, and in those two games, MSU-B averaged nearly 90 points per contest. Guards Bobbi Knudsen and Austin Hanser are strong shooters, while 6-4 center Chelsea Banis is strong on the middle, as is post player Janiel Olson.
However, Northern can match up with the Jackets. Center A'Jha Edwards is off to a stellar start, with four double-doubles in six games. Meanwhile, guards Taylor Cummings, Kacie McKeon and Rachelle Bennett give MSU-N a powerful scoring punch, and the defensive efforts of Taybra Teeters and Megan Feldman, and the scoring of Kassie Barta off the bench, have helped the Skylights get off to a strong start in regular season play.
"We've played really well for stretches this season," Mouat said. "But playing at MSU-B is definitely a big challenge for us."
Tonight's game between the Skylights and Yellowjackets tips off at 5:30 in Billings. The game can be viewed online at http://www.msubsports.com. Northern's Frontier opener with Carroll is set for 6 p.m. Saturday night at the Armory Gymnasium.
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