Stars next up for Skylights

The MSU-Northern Skylights have been here before. It just so happens, it was eight years ago. But head coach Chris Mouat knows what the NAIA Sweet 16 is all about.

And on Friday morning in Frankfort, Ky., the No. 21 Skylights will know what it’s all about, too.

Northern’s 56-55 win over Columbia College Wednesday sets up a matchup with No. 2 seed Oklahoma City (23-4) in Friday’s Sweet 16 of the NAIA national tournament. The game will tip off at 10:30 a.m. MDT and the winner will advance to Saturday’s Elite 8.

Earlier Wednesday, the Stars defeated Langston 79-71 to advance to Friday’s game against the Skylights. And though Northern was more than elated with its win over the Cougars, Mouat quickly turned his attention to the Stars, who have won six NAIA national championships.

“They’re very, very good,” Mouat said of Oklahoma City. “There is a reason they’re seeded as high as they are. There’s a reason they were ranked No. 1 in the country for a portion of this season. They will be as good as any team we’ve seen this season, and that’s saying something because we just beat a really good Columbia team.”

The Stars are indeed good. They have talent and depth throughout their roster. Like Columbia, OKCU is a high-scoring outfit, averaging close to 80 points per game. The Stars shoot better than 39 percent from three and are also tall and talented in the paint.

So once again, Northern’s A’Jha Edwards has a big matchup on her hands. She dominated Wednesday’s win over Columbia, but Friday, she’ll go head-to-head with OKCU center Ouleymatou Coulibaliy, who stands 6-2, but plays much bigger as she averages 15 points and nine rebounds per game. The OKCU center is also surrounded by athletic talent. Kayla Mackenzie (5-6) is a deadly shooter and is also an outstanding point guard, while Yvonte Neal (5-9) and Autumn Huffman can also go off for double digits, as both did in the Stars’ win Wednesday afternoon.

And while Northern seems to have brought its trademark defense to Kentucky, holding the Cougars nearly 30 points below their season average on Wednesday, Mouat said that Friday’s game will present a whole new set of challenges.

“They (Stars) are super athletic,” Mouat said. “They have great size, they have really good shooters and they are very quick. They are just the total package. So, once again, we’re going to have to defend really well and rebound the ball. Those things will be key for us.”

Keys no doubt, but confidence is a big key, too, and the Skylights have that. Northern was the talk of the first day of the tournament after pulling off the upset over highly-regarded Columbia. And there’s no doubt, the Skylights believe they can win again Friday morning.

“They don’t want to be done,” Mouat said of his team. “They are very focused and determined. Oklahoma City is the real deal. But we’ll go out and fight them as hard as we can and as long as we can.”

Friday’s game between the Skylights and Stars tips off at 10:30 a.m. MDT at the Frankfort Convention Center. The winner advances to Saturday’s Elite 8 game against either Campblesville or Xavier of Louisana at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Sweet 16

No. 21 Skylights (22-9) vs No. 5 Oklahoma City (23-4)

Friday at 10:30 a.m.

In Frankfort, Ky.

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Watch: NAIA.org

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