Skylights head to Tech, Carroll

Momentum is a big thing this time of year. And even with a loss to Westminster College last Saturday night, the Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team has plenty of momentum right now.

The Skylights are 4-1 in the Frontier and 14-3 overall. They’ve won five of their last six games and have risen to No. 15 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll. Northern possesses the top-ranked defense in the NAIA, allowing just 49 points per game, and the Skylights are shooting 38 percent from the 3-point line in conference play. So clearly, they have a lot going for them right now.

But keeping that momentum going won’t be easy this weekend. Northern heads out on the road for a pair of rivalry games, starting tonight at Montana Tech and finishing up with a huge tilt against struggling Carroll College Saturday night in Helena. Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s a big weekend for us,” Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. “We’re playing two very good teams on their home floor. I feel like we’re playing well, but we need to stay the course. We need to continue to get better. We need to be focused on one game at a time, and so far our kids have done a good job of that.”

With how well the Skylights have played recently, staying the course and getting better hasn’t been an issue. As a team, Northern’s defense has been stifling. Even in last Saturday’s 14-point loss to Westminster, the Skylights held the NAIA’s best 3-point shooting team to just five triples on 16 attempts. Offensively, the Skylights are extremely balanced and are getting great contributions from everywhere. A'Jha Edwards lead the way, averaging a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds per game. After Edwards, the Skylights have six players averaging between nine and seven points per game in, Rachelle Bennett, Taylor Cummings, Natalee Faupel, Kassie Barta and Megan Feldman, as well as sophomore Kacie McKeon, who recently returned from an ankle injury.

But as balanced as Northern is, as good as the Skylight defense is, this weekend’s road trip will be a true test.

Montana Tech (2-3, 6-5) is always tough at home, and the Orediggers possess a lethal 1-2 punch in center Kelsey DeWit (6-3) and guard Mandy Machinal (5-7). Together, the duo combines to average 24 points per game, while Machinal shoots nearly 40 percent from three. The addition of Kabri Emerson has also been big for the Diggers. The 6-0 center averages 10 points and eight rebounds per game, and is a standout defender down low.

“They (Orediggers) have two First-Team All-Conference kids, who have been very good together for a very long time,” Mouat said. “We’ve had our battles with them in the past, but I think what sets this Tech apart is their supporting cast. Emerson is a quality post player, and they have several guards who can really shoot it from the perimeter. They have a new coach, a new style and they are very tough to defend. So the key for us is playing disciplined defense and finding ways to score against them.”

After the Skylights do battle with Tech, they’ll turn their attention to a rematch with the Fighting Saints (8-8, 1-4). Picked to finish second at the start of the season, Carroll has slid to last place in the Frontier standings, with one of their four losses coming at the hands of the Skylights. Northern beat Carroll 52-42 back in November in Helena.

Still, Mouat won’t let his team be fooled by Carroll’s record, or by the win back in November. The Saints are as talented as any team in the league, with guard Bailey Snelling and Kailee Junkermeier dangerous 3-point shooters. The Saints also get outstanding play from the likes of Katie Estey, Jordan Pfau and veteran forward Jordan Bagley.

“They (Saints) are very talented and they’re always well prepared,” Mouat said. “They defend and rebound really well, and they have dangerous shooters. They’re also a very physical team. So like we did when we played them here, we’ll have to be ready for a very physical game. We’ll have to rebound very well, and we’ll have to find ways to score against a very good Carroll defense.

“I know Carroll will still be in the mix this year,” Mouat added. “You can count on that. They are talented and they play extremely hard. So this will be a big game for us. And hopefully, we’ll still have our legs under us after playing a very good Tech team on Friday night. This is just going to be a really tough weekend all the way around.”

Tonight’s game between MSU-N and Montana Tech tips off at 5:30 in Butte. Northern’s game at Carroll tips off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night in Helena. The Skylights return home to host arch rival the University of Great Falls next Friday night.