Two Skylights honored for Frontier preseason

The basketball season is less than two weeks away for the Montana State University-Northern men and women. But the preseason predictions and accolades have already begun.

On Tuesday, the Frontier Conference announced its Preseason All-Conference Teams, and two Skylights made the list.

Among them is Northern senior Natalee Faupel. She was named Frontier Preseason Player of the Year, and is also the reigning Frontier Conference MVP. Faupel, a now four-year starter for the Skylights, was also a First-Team NAIA All-American a season ago and is a three-time Frontier All-Conference performer.

Northern also returns junior Jacy Thompson, who was part of Tuesday’s Preseason All-Conference Team. Thompson was a First-Team All-Conference selection last season and is also the returning Frontier Defensive Player of the Year for head coach Chris Mouat’s Skylights.

The rest of the women’s Preseason All-Conference Team includes, Lewis-Clark State’s Brittany Tackett and Caelyn Orlandi, UGF’s Nneka Nnadi and Carroll College’s Cassidy Hashley.

On the men’s side, Carroll College senior guard Zack Taylor was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. The Preseason All-Conference Team also includes Carroll’s Match Burnham and Ryan Imhoff, Rocky Mountain College's Taylor Longo, LCSC’s Doug McDaniel and UM-Western’s Shyke Smalls.

The Skylights open their season Oct. 20 at home against Mount Royal University, then host Lethbridge the following night. The Lights open their season Oct. 21 against Yellowstone Christian College, also in the Armory Gymnasium.