Skylights welcome in NAIA powerhouses

The Montana State University-Northern Skylights opened Frontier Conference play last month against a pair of NAIA Top 25 teams. Now, the Skylights will begin January in the same fashion. Only this time, they'll be at home.

Northern (0-2, 8-6) starts 2019 with the resumption of Frontier play tonight when the Skylights host No. 4 UM-Western at 6 inside the Armory Gymnasium. The Skylights then turn around and play No. 16 Lewis-Clark State Saturday night. And with both teams surging, and the Skylights still short-handed due to injury, both nights in the Armory are going to be daunting according to head coach Chris Mouat.

"Both UM-Western and Lewis-Clark State are talented, well-coached, nationally ranked teams," Mouat said. "They pose huge challenges for our team across the board."

Challenging indeed. The Skylights are still without starters Hailey Nicholson and Tiara Gilham, and MSU-N comes into its first Frontier homestand led in scoring by a pair of sophomores in Peyton Kehr (13 ppg) and Sydney Hovde (11 ppg). Hovde is also one of the top rebounders on a young Northern squad that also features red-shirt freshman Allix Goldhahn and Frontier newcomer Gokce Aslan, each who average just shy of 10 ppg.

So, to say Northern is inexperienced in Frontier play at this point is putting it mildly, and yet, the Skylights have also been growing as the season has gone on.

"We've all worked really hard," Kehr said. "I think we've been getting better and better."

But as much as a young Northern team has improved, the Skylights will have to be extremely sharp tonight against a Western (2-0, 11-0) squad that is looking more and more like a national title contender, than just a Frontier crown hopeful.

Led by star senior Brianna King's 22 points per night, as well as veteran standouts in Cierra Lamey, Britt Cooper and Brandy Bookout, all who stand 5-10 and can shoot the rock, Western is an offensive juggernaut, averaging over 80 ppg. However, the Bulldogs are also one of the best defensive teams in the country, allowing just over 43 points per contest.

"Western has, to me, one of the very best players in the nation in Bri King," Mouat said. "She can score from anywhere, and is playing at an extremely high level. Not only can she score, but she makes her teammates better and sets them up really well. She has a talented, seasoned group around her. Western returns every starter from their Final Four team last year, and they are playing with a ton of confidence at both ends of the floor. They are not the biggest team in the league, but they play as big as anyone and Coach Woolley has everyone embracing their roles."

Western might be as good as it gets in the Frontier this season, but, the L-C State (1-1, 13-2) isn't far behind. After a rare down year last season, head coach Brian Orr's team is back to its dominant self. Centered around a strong post game with Jossilyn Blackman (6-0), Abbie Johnson (6-2) and Hailey Turner (6-1), the Warriors use brute force inside, but also possess talented guards led by Peyton Souvenir (5-5), among others.

"Lewis-Clark State has a deep and talented team," Mouat said. "They return an All-American in Hailey Turner, and Jossilyn Blackman is one of the better posts in our league. They have great size across the board and are playing really fast offensively and they can put up points in a hurry. They have played a good non-conference schedule and picked up some very big wins. They are really deep and have a lot of kids contributing for them. As in every year, they do a great job on the boards and play extremely hard."

Of course, Northern is used to playing really good teams, so, the Skylights won't be intimidated by either the Bulldogs or Warriors. A strong non-conference schedule, as well as road games at Carroll College and Rocky Mountain College have prepared the young Skylights for what they'll see this weekend.

"We are going to have to be sharp in both games and do a good job of taking care of the basketball, as both Western and L-C State convert turnovers to points very well," Mouat said. "We're excited though, we're looking forward to playing at home. I think this team has improved every step of the way this season."

Tonight's game between Northern and Western tips at 6, followed by Saturday's game against LCSC, which also tips at 6 p.m. in the Armory. MSU-N is back on the road to take on Providence Tuesday night in Great Falls.

Skylights (0-2, 8-6) vs #4 UM-Western (2-0, 11-0) tonight at 6 p.m.; vs #16 LC State (1-1, 13-2) Saturday at 6 p.m.

In Armory Gymnasium

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Skylights Projected Starters

G Gokce Aslan, 5-3, Sr., 9 ppg

G Sabin Keo, 5-8, Jr., 6 ppg

G Allix Goldhahn, 5-8, Fr., 9 ppg

G Peyton Kehr, 5-10, So., 13 ppg

F Sydney Hovde, 6-0, So., 11 ppg