Frontier Notebook: LC State men, women always tough to play at home

Talk about shaking things up.

When the Montana State University-Northern men’s basketball team played six straight Frontier Conference games at home in January, the Lights were able to go just 3-3. But they sure wasted little time starting their six-game Frontier road swing on the right foot.

Not only did Northern beat Rocky Mountain College last Thursday, but the Lights also edged No. 13 UM-Western Saturday night in Dillon. The victory was the Lights’ first in Dillon since they beat the Bulldogs 71-65 back on Feb. 13, 2013, a streak that had stretched to six games before Saturday night’s victory.

And the win certainly put the Lights back in the hunt in the Frontier standings. Northern, which has made 28 3-pointers in its last two games, is still in fourth place in the league standings at 7-5, but the Lights trail LC State, which they play Thursday night, by just a half game, and trail the second-place Bulldogs by just two games. Northern also gets to play Western one last time at home later this month.

Of course, the Lights still have to travel to LC State, Montana Tech, UGF and Carroll before their final home stand against RMC and Western, but there’s no doubt, Saturday night’s win thrust the Lights right back into the thick of things as far as seeding goes.

MSU-N also has the second-best road record in Frontier play. The Lights are 4-2 on the road in league play this season, and if they can find a way to keep that percentage going, the stretch run of the season could be a special one for Northern.

A tough place to play

Both MSU-Northern teams have to play for a second time this season in Lewiston, Idaho. Those games come Thursday night, and outside of Havre, there’s no doubt LC State’s gym is perhaps the toughest place to get a win.

Combined, the LC men and women are 23-3 at home this season, and the LCSC women are a perfect 13-0. That streak includes an impressive win over the Skylights back in December.

However, both Northern teams have found a way to solve to LCSC home riddle before. The Northern men won in Lewiston back in December, while the Skylights beat the Warriors on this very weekend a year ago. So, it can be done.

The LC women also proved they aren’t invincible this season either after they lost at Carroll College last weekend. But make no mistake, winning in Lewiston is never easy, so both the Lights and Skylights will have their hands full Thursday night.

Award Watch

With the season entering the stretch run, it’s time to take a look at how the postseason awards might just shake out.

On the women’s side, there’s no reason to think that Northern senior Natalee Faupel hasn’t already done enough to be the favorite to capture a second straight Frontier MVP. Faupel leads the league in scoring, and has upped her rebounding and her shooting percentage from her junior year when she won the award. Of course, LC State’s Brittany Tackett and Caelyn Orlandi are both having big seasons, and Carroll’s Cassidy Hashley should also be in the discussion.

Northern’s Jacy Thompson should also be a candidate for her second straight Defensive Player of the Year honor. Thompson is having another tremendous season on that end of the floor. UGF’s Whitney George is another candidate for that award, as is Carroll’s Hannah Dean. Montana Tech’s Monica Landdeck is a front-runner for the league’s Newcomer of the Year, while Chris Mouat, LC’s Brian Orr and Western’s Lindsay Wooley are the top candidates for Coach of the Year.

On the men’s side, the Frontier MVP race has a host of players worthy right now. Carroll has two of them in Ryan Imhoff and Zach Taylor, while LCSC’s Doug McDaniel has led the league in scoring wire-to-wire. Also, don’t count out the season Western’s Shyke Smalls is having. And those four are certainly the lead contenders.

For Defensive Player of the Year, Northern center Ryan Reeves is a strong option, as he’s third in the NAIA in blocked shots. Smalls is also in the running as the league’s leader in steals, while Carroll’s Matt Wyman and Rocky’s Zach Hinton should also be considered. RMC’s Riley Bradshaw is the front runner for Newcomer of the Year, while Carroll head coach Carson Cunningham is the outright leader for Coach of the Year.

Frontier Honors

Rocky Mountain College’s Hailee Farvsteet was named Frontier Women’s Player of the Week. Farstveet is a 5-11 junior guard from Beach N.D. Rocky Mountain won a pair of home games. The Bears upset No. 11 MSU-Northern 73-57 and downed the University of Great Falls 68-56. Farstveet averaged 20.5 points, four rebounds and 4.5 assists. She was 14 of 35 from the field and 10 of 12 from the free throw line.

Carroll’s Zach Taylor was named Frontier Men’s Player of the Week. Taylor is a 6-0 senior forward from Duval, Washington. Eighth-ranked Carroll College won two games over the weekend. The Saints edged (RV) Lewis-Clark State 81-78 in overtime and beat Montana Tech 65-42. Taylor averaged 23 points, four rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals. He was 14 of 22 from the field (64 percent) and 16 of 17 (94 percent) from the free throw line. Against Lewis-Clark State, he scored a season high 32 points.

Northern’s Sierra Richards and Tyler Chandler were nominated for this week’s awards.