MSU-N Basketball Preview: Talented Skylights aim to shine this winter

Last winter, the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team endured a season of untimely injuries, and near misses. Those factors, coupled with an overall young roster, led to some tough times for the Skylights.

But, as a new season dawns, the Skylights certainly aren't young anymore, and, they're hoping that, a veteran, healthy team will ultimately be a recipe for success in 2019-2020.

"I really like this group," longtime Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. "They are a fun group to coach, and everything so far has been nothing but positive. We have five players back who started games for us last year, so we have a lot of experience and leadership with this group.

"We were a young team the last two seasons," he continued. "That's not a crutch, it was just reality. We also had some very tough injuries, where we didn't have kids for long stretches of the season. So, the biggest thing for us this season is, not only do we have a lot more experience back, but we need to stay healthy. That will be huge for us."

Staying healthy will be key for the Skylights, who went 13-18 overall a year ago, and 5-13 in the rugged Frontier Conference because, if they can stay healthy, Northern has a lineup, and a roster full of talented, experienced players.

Leading the charge for the Skylights are returning All-Conference juniors Peyton Kehr and Sydney Hovde. Kehr had a breakout campaign a season ago, leading Northern with her 12 points per game average. Hovde, a former Columbia Falls' teammate of Kehr's, added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds for the Skylights a season ago, and, she had many notable double-double performances. Sophomore guard Allix Goldhahn also returns for the Skylights after starting much of her red-shirt freshman season.

Also back are two very key players for MSU-N, who fall into the staying healthy department. Senior Hailey Nicholson and junior Tiara Gilham are a pair of dynamic inside-out players for Northern, both of whom missed extensive time last season with injuries. Nicholson, a former Montana Lady Griz, averaged seven points and four rebounds a year ago, while Gilham averaged six points and three boards. But at full strength, both are capable of being high-impact players for the Skylights this season. Petra Sellin and Jada Nicholson also return from last year's roster and will have important depth roles in Northern's rotation.

"Our returners have a lot of experience," Mouat said. "They have been through a lot together. All of them also had a great offseason. They've worked hard to improve, to get better. So with that group, the level of expectations has certainly been raised."

Mouat also has a host of newcomers at his disposal, led by three junior college transfers.

Guards McKenzie Gunter (Walla Walla CC), Kenya Lorton (Lower Columbia College) and Reilly Walsh (Western Wyoming CC) all were brought in with the intention of having an immediate impact on Northern's roster, while red-shirt freshman Morgan Mason and true freshman Ryley Kehr round out the MSU-N roster for the upcoming season.

"All of our new kids bring something to the table," Mouat said. "Reilly Walsh is a kid who started at an NCAA DII as a freshman. She was a steal for us. She is a diamond in the rough. McKenzie Gunter is a true point guard. She's tough and gritty, and Kenya Lorton is a pure shooter. She has great 3-point range, but she can also finish at the rim. Morgan Mason is another kid who is a tough, hard-nosed point guard. She brings it every day.

"So all of our newcomers, they bring something special to the table, they're all very good, accomplished basketball players, he added."

Indeed. With the new talent, mixed with a steady group of veterans, the Skylights won't be a team overlooked this winter. And Mouat said that there are key points of improvement that he's watching for.

"We lack some overall size," he said. "so we're going to have to be tougher than we've ever been, and we're going to have to play bigger than we actually are. We're going to have to bring that toughness every single day. Offensively, I think we have a chance to be pretty dangerous. I think we'll be able to execute at a high level. But we also need to bring our shooting percentage up and our free-throw percentage up. Those are two areas where we needed to be better than we were last year.

"And a big emphasis is, we have to finish games," he added. "From day one this year, we've been emphasizing that. We let a lot of opportunities slip away last season. So we need to be a team that will do whatever is needed to close out games."

The Skylights did lose a slew of heartbreakers a season ago. Of course, that can happen playing in the Frontier Conference. But it isn't just Northern's Frontier slate that will be tough this season. As always, Mouat has put together one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in all of NAIA women's basketball.

"The schedule is really good," Mouat said. "We're playing two NCAA DIs, and three national tournament teams from last year, among many other difficult games, both at home and on the road. So we're biting off a lot, but that's what we want. We want to challenge ourselves and get ready for the conference, which is as good as it's ever been."

Northern's non-conference schedule has what Mouat calls, an early gauntlet. The Skylights play an exhibition game at Montana Nov. 6, then host what is sure to be a Top 5 NAIA squad in famed Vanguard University the following night in the Armory Gymnasium. One night later, MSU-N takes on rival Dickinson State in Havre, before hosting another powerhouse in Corban University Nov. 15, then traveling to Bozeman to take on the Montana State Bobcats in an exhibition game Nov. 17.

The Skylights also have tough games at a tournament in Great Falls, as well as the Phoenix Frontier Challenge in Arizona, where they'll take on another NAIA tournament team in Bethel University. Oh, and sandwiched in between the first half of their schedule are their Frontier openers against defending national champion Montana Western Dec. 5 and Rocky Mountain College Dec. 6.

"It's a tough schedule," Mouat said. "We're playing a lot of really good teams. Those home games with Vanguard and Corban will be huge home games for us. Those are two elite programs. Overall, it's a schedule that will test us. We're going to find out a lot about ourselves before January."

No doubt, with playing teams like Vanguard, Corban, Dickinson State, Bethel, as well as both the Lady Griz and Lady Cats, MSU-N will know, and learn plenty in a short amount of time.

However, with the team Mouat has this season, he already knows plenty, and he likes what he sees thus far.

"This is a great group," Mouat said. "They're a very high energy team. They bring that level of energy and enthusiasm every day, and even though our season is a long, sixth-month grind really, I know they'll bring that energy all year.

"I'm very proud of this group already," he continued. "They are great in the classroom and in the community, and they get after it on the basketball court. They are a lot of fun to coach and fun to be around. They are a group who works hard; they want to get better. It's all been positive, so I'm excited. I'm excited for this season, and excited for this team."

The season for the Skylights is almost here, too. Northern opens its new campaign Sunday at 2 p.m. against Canada West powerhouse Mount Royal University inside the Armory Gymnasium.

"It's time," Mouat said. "You never feel like you're completely ready. But it's time for us to go out and play. It's time to see where we're at. So I'm excited. I'm looking forward to our first game and looking forward to this season. It's going to be a lot of fun."