Skylights hit the road

The Montana State University-Northern Skylights have been dominant in four wins to start the 2016-17 season. But, the Skylights are about to be tested in ways they haven’t been thus far.

Northern starts a four-game, NAIA road swing this weekend, with two games this weekend in Kirkland, Washington. Both games will be against NAIA competition from the tough Cascade Conference, as the Skylights take on Evergreen State Friday and Northwest University Saturday.

And, despite a start to the season that has seen No. 16 Northern win every game by more than 20 points, Skylight head coach Chris Mouat said his team will need to play even better.

“Both games will be big challenges for us,” Mouat said. “It’s our first real road trip, and we’re playing to tough teams, both which are athletic and have very good players.”

Of course, Northern has very good players, too, maybe none better than senior Natalee Faupel. The reigning Frontier Conference Player of the Year is off to an incredible start this season, averaging 17 points and six rebounds per game, while shooting an astounding 68 percent from the field. Junior sidekick Jacy Thompson is also a scoring threat, as is point guard Molly Kreycik. But the Skylights have talent throughout their roster.

Sierra Richards led Northern with 14 points and nine rebounds in last Friday’s win over Central Baptist, and thanks to the excellent play from newcomers Kaelani Sagapolu and Shiloh McCormick, was well as the trio of Brandy Lambourne, Peyton Filius and Katie Fetterer, the Skylights are getting almost 30 ppg off their bench.

And still, as good as Northern has been thus far, again, Mouat said this weekend’s challenges will be as big as anything the Skylights have faced this season.

“Northwest and Evergreen are two very good Cascade Conference team,” Mouat said. “These games will be very similar to conference games for us. Both teams are very well coached, they’re big and athletic and they are talented. So we’re going to be challenged. And we’re excited about that. We’re excited to get out on the road and see what happens.”

Friday’s game between MSU-N and Evergreen State will tip at 5:30 p.m. P.S.T., while the Skylights will play Northwest University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. P.S.T.