Warriors nip Skylights in a thriller

All season long, the Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team has been among the elite teams in the Frontier Conference. And if not for two bad first halves in games against the Lewis-Clark State Warriors earlier this season, the Skylights might have been even better.

But in a third meeting with the Warriors, this time playing for a spot in the Frontier championship game, the Skylights were engaged in a game for the ages. The No. 21 Skylights and No. 15 Warriors had to go to double-overtime Saturday in Lewiston, Idaho to settle on a winner, and it was the Warriors who came out on top 71-65. The win pushed LC State (26-4) into Tuesday night’s championship game at Westminster, while the Skylights (21-9) will wait to receive an at-large bid to the NAIA national tournament, which starts March 19 in Frankfort, Ky.

“I’m very, very proud of this team,” Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. “We went in there ready to play. We went in there focused and determined, and we got off to a good start. The kids did everything they could do to go in and win and get into the championship game, against a very good team, in a very tough place to play. We came up short and I think they’re disappointed because they really wanted to get to that championship game. But at the same time, I’m really proud of the way we played Saturday night.”

The Skylights did play exceptionally well, and for a time, had the Warriors reeling. A’Jha Edwards was dominant, and wound up scoring 22 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and blocking four shots, while the Skylights jumped out to a 32-25 halftime lead. LCSC would claw back into the game in the second half, and actually held the lead in the closing minute. But tied again late, Northern was able to stop LCSC on what was a possible game-winning possession and push the contest into overtime tied at 52-52.

In the first extra frame, the Skylights went back in front almost the whole way. But LC found what looked like a way to steal the game yet again, and the Skylights were without Edwards, who fouled out late in regulation. Tanis Fuller grabbed a steal and got a layup to put the Warriors ahead 57-56 with :12 left, and when Northern turned the ball over on its ensuing possession, it looked like the game was over. But LC only made one of the subsequent free throws and left the lead at two points. And on the inbounds play, Northern freshman Natalee Faupel was fouled on a screen with one second remaining, and the true freshman from Butte sank both free throws to send the game to an second OT knotted at 58-58.

In the second extra frame, however, MSU-N ran out of momentum. LC’s Loree Hill nailed back-to-back 3-pointers that finally broke the game open. Northern erased one with a 3-point-play, but the Skylights just couldn’t quite catch LCSC in the end.

“We made huge plays, one defensive and one with Natalee’s free throws,” Mouat said. “We defended them (Warriors) really well all night, and when we had to have a stop at the end of regulation, we got it and secured a rebound to push it to overtime. Then, for Natalee to go make those two big free throws that was absolutely huge. So I’m really proud of the fact that all game long, our kids just kept making plays to give us a chance.

“But credit LC,” he continued. “They played great. They made some big plays in the second half, and those two threes in the second overtime were big. Especially when neither of us was shooting the ball well from three. So give them (Warriors) credit. Their kids made huge plays when they had to.”

So did Faupel, who lit it up in the second half and wound up with 18 points and five rebounds before she fouled out in overtime. Megan Feldman also came up huge for the Skylights with 13 points and eight boards as MSU-N out-rebounded the Warriors 57-44. But Feldman would also foul out, and eventually losing three double-digit scorers was too much for Northern to overcome in the second OT. Junior Taybra Teeters came off the bench to add seven points, five rebounds and three crucial free throws for the Skylights. LCSC got 20 points and nine rebounds from Fuller.

“A’Jha was outstanding, and that was with her being in foul trouble,” Mouat said. “Megan (Feldman) had a great game too, so did Natalee (Faupel), and Taybra Teeters gave us a huge boost. Her play on both ends of the floor was huge for us.

“Again, I’m very, very proud of the kids for fighting the way they did in this game,” Mouat said. “They played at a very high level and gave themselves a chance at the end of regulation, at the end of the first overtime and again in the second overtime. LC made the big plays when they needed them, but I’m very proud of the effort and focus and determination our kids showed ion that game.”

The Frontier Conference championship game is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Salt Lake City. The men’s championship game, between Rocky Mountain College and Westminster will take place tonight in Billings. The men’s and women’s national tournament fields will be announced on Wednesday night.

Skylights are 21-9 overall; Next Up: Eliminated from Frontier playoffs

LC State 71, Skylights 65, 2OT

MSU-N – Kassie Barta 0-7 0-0 0, Kacie McKeon 1-6 0-0 3, Natalee Faupel 5-12 7-7 18, Rachelle Bennett 1-13 0-0 2, Taylor Cummings 0-5 0-0 0, Megan Feldman 6-12 1-4 13, Molly Kreycik 0-0 0-0 0, A'Jha Edwards 10-14 1-1 22, Taybra Teeters 2-4 3-4 7. Totals: 25-73 12-16 65.

LCSC – Megan Risinger 5-9 4-8 16, Caelyn Orlandi 4-16 3-4 12 Loree Hill 2-3 1-2 7, Brittaney Niebergall 1-11 5-6 7, Brooke Litalien 0-0 1-2 1, Kelli Rice 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 23-69 20-30 71.

Halftime: Northern 32-25; 3-pointers: MSU-N 3-19 (Faupel 1, McKeon 1, Edwards 1), LCSC 5-18 (Risinger 2, Orlandi 1, Hill 2); Rebounds: MSU-N 57 (Edwards 14), LCSC 44 (Risinger 10); Fouls: MSU-N 24, LCSC 15; Fouled out: Niebergall, Faupel, Edwards, Feldman.