Skylights back on the court

The season started early for the Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team. But, after two home victories to open the 2015-16 season, the Skylights already got an early break.

Now however, Northern (3-0) returns to action, and the Skylights do so once again in the friendly confines of the Armory Gymnasium. MSU-N is home tonight to take on Canadian women’s powerhouse Mount Royal University, with the action starting at 6.

Following MSU-N’s two wins at the Duck Inn Classic two weeks ago, as well as forfeit victory over Northwest Indian College, MSU-N has had two weeks to get ready for tonight’s game. But grinding through practice wasn’t the only thing the Skylights did to keep their season going. Last Saturday, MSU-N conducted a five-quarter scrimmage against Miles Community College in Glasgow, and head coach Chris Mouat said that was instrumental in helping his team move forward.

“The scrimmage in Glasgow really helped us,” Mouat said. “We played five quarters, we were able to move forward under game-like conditions, and I feel we definitely got better. We were able to also put on a clinic for kids and do some community out-reach stuff so it was a really good day for us.

“But this two weeks has all been about making progress,” he continued. “I feel like we definitely have improved.”

And the Skylights will get to put those improvements to the test tonight. Mount Royal is a CIS squad, which is the Division I of Canadian college basketball. And the Cougars come to Havre fresh off a victory over rival University of Lethbridge, so Mouat’s team won’t be overlooking them in any way.

“They are CIS and they have already played some of the best teams in Canada,” Mouat said of the Cougars. “They’re coming off a big win against Lethbridge, and they have our full attention.”

“They are a fast, athletic team that will push the tempo,” he added. “They have two post players who are very good, and they can step out and shoot it from the perimeter. So they will be a big challenge for us defensively.”

Challenged isn’t something the Skylights were in their first two games, blowout wins over Concordia-Alberta and The King’s University. While the Skylights will have their hands full with the Cougars, so too will Mount Royal with Northern’s shooting attack.

MSU-N is led on the perimeter by Jacy Thompson and Natalee Faupel, but early this season, the likes of Peyton Filius, Kate Fetterer and Tina Doughty have proven to be lethal as well, while point guards Molly Kreycik and Brandy Lamboure have also made an impact. MSU-N will also present matchup problems in the post tonight, as Sierra Richards, Makhayla Farmer and Jessica Anderson will look to dominate the Cougars’ front line.

No matter how Northern plays tonight, the Skylights are just excited to get back to game action, and they are particularly excited to once again play at home. MSU-N is in the midst of four straight home games, a stand that will conclude with a Nov. 7 showdown with Dickinson State.

“The girls are excited to be back home,” Mouat said. “It’s always huge for us to be playing in our gym. They’re looking forward to playing in a game again, and they’re excited to be doing it at home in front of our great fans.”

Tonight’s game between the Skylights and Cougars will tip off at 6 in the Armory Gymnasium.