Skylights finish Arizona trip with a blowout win

Both the Montana State University-Northern Skylights, and their final opponent in the Frontier Phoenix Challenge, Benedictine-Mesa, came to Arizona undefeated.

Both however, suffered tough losses during the tournament, and, last Friday, only one was going to leave the desert a winner.

That winner turned out to be the No. 11 Skylights, who, after suffering their first loss of the season last Thursday to Bethel University, thrashed Benedictine-Mesa 85-55, improving to 11-1 on the season.

The win over the Redhawks was a big one, because the Skylights were short-handed and because Benedictine-Mesa has been playing at an extremely high level this season. However, Northern jumped out to a 25-10 lead in the first 10 minutes, and never looked back.

Once again, the Skylight defense was impressive, allowing the Redhawks to shoot just 25 percent from the field and a mere 20 percent from three, while also forcing a whopping 25 turnovers. However, Northern’s offense was equally as good.

The Skylights rolled to a 48-26 halftime lead and went on to shoot a season-best 57 percent from the field. Northern also made five 3-pointers on just eight attempts, and they piled up an incredible 48 rebounds.

Five Skylights also scored in double figures, with Peyton Kehr pouring in 16 points, Allix Goldhahn adding 15 and Kenya Lorton scoring 14. Northern also had not one, but two double-doubles in the game. Hailey Nicholson had her second double-double in three days with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Tiara Gilham added 13 points and 10 boards, as well.

The offensive explosion, coupled with another stingy defensive performance, meant Friday’s win over the Redhawks was one of Northern’s most complete of what has been a stellar season thus far.

The Skylights will now close out 2019 a pair of games against Alberta-Augustana in this weekend’s Duck Inn Holiday Classic. The Northern women play the Vikings Saturday and Sunday at noon in the Armory Gymnasium.

Skylights 85, Benedictine-Mesa 55

MSU-Northern 25 23 14 23 - 85

Benedictine-Mesa 10 16 9 20 - 55

MSU-N - Peyton Kehr 7-11 1-2 16, Tiara Gilham 6-10 0-0 13, Sydney Hovde 2-2 3-4 7, Hailey Nicholson 3-8 4-4 10, Allix Goldhahn 5-8 4-4 15, Jada Nicholson 1-2 0-0 2, Morgan Mason 3-6 0-0 6, Ryley Kehr 0-1 2-2 2, Kenya Lorton 3-6 6-6 14. Totals 30-54 20-22 85.

BMA - Anna Gorman 1-2 0-0 2, Theresa Gutierrez 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Kruthaupt 4-14 3-4 13, Shay Smith 2-4 1-1 5, Grace Russell 3-10 0-0 6, Allie Coldwell 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Kappel 0-0 0-0 0, Stephanie Teller 0-1 0-0 0, Leah Goodman 0-11 3-6 3, McKenzie Alton 6-11 3-3 18, Gabby Zagari 1-7 1-2 4, McKenzie Dockerty 0-1 0-0 0, Ryan Jenkins 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 19-67 11-16 55.

3-pt FG:Montana State-Northern 5-8 (Kehr 1-2, Gilham 1-2, Goldhahn 1-2, Lorton 2-2), Benedictine - Mesa (Ariz. 6-30 (Gorman 0-1, Kruthaupt 2-6, Smith 0-2, Russell 0-2, Coldwell 0-1, Goodman 0-6, Alton 3-5, Zagari 1-5, Jenkins 0-2). Rebounds: Montana State-Northern 48 (Nicholson 15), Benedictine - Mesa (Ariz. 19 (Kruthaupt 4, Goodman 4). Fouls Montana State-Northern 17, Benedictine - Mesa (Ariz. 18. Fouled out: Hovde .