Round One: Skylights host Saints

There have been a lot of really good games between the Montana State University-Northern Skylights and Carroll College Fighting Saints over the years - and especially the last decade with the programs being led by great head coaches in Chris Mouat and Rachelle Sayers.

So, it stands to reason that, with at least three games between the Skylights and Saints on the docket in 2020, there should be plenty of fireworks, and the first salvo comes tonight when the No. 25 Saints (1-1, 9-5) come to Havre to take on the No. 11 Skylights (2-0, 13-1) in what is being billed not only as a huge Frontier Conference opener, but quite possibly the NAIA Game of the Week.

"They're (Saints) really good," Mouat said. "And they're really getting it going now. Ever since our trip to Phoenix, they've really turned it up a notch or two, and you can just see it, they're playing at a really high level right now."

No doubt, the Saints are playing good basketball, but so, too, are the Skylights. Ranked as high as they've been in four years, Northern is already the only unbeaten team left in what figures to be a treacherous Frontier Conference season. And for much of that stretch, the Skylights have had to do it without injured point guard and leading scorer McKenzie Gunter, who along with junior Peyton Kehr, averages 12 points per night. But, injuries or whatever, the Skylights have been stellar so far this season because of defense - they allow an NAIA best 46 points per game - and depth. MSU-N has seven players scoring at least six points per night, with Tiara Gilham and Hailey Nicholson each averaging 10 and Sydney Hovde and Allix Goldhahn chipping in eight points apiece.

"Carroll and us are very similar," Mouat said. "We don't have a lot of individual stats that jump off the page at you. I think we both have been very tough defensively, and we both rely on our balance and depth."

And make no mistake, Carroll does have a ton of balance, with eight players averaging five points or more per game. But the catalyst is junior Dani Wagner - the former Havre High three-sport star who is scoring a team-high 14 points per game, while grabbing six rebounds and shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor.

"Dani can do it all," Mouat said. "She's become a very complete player. She shoots the three, she gets to the rim, she rebounds, she defends. She's just very complete, she's one of the best players in our league, and she's going to be a tough matchup for us."

Wagner is having a huge junior season thus far, but she's got help, too. Fellow All-Conference performer Christine Denny and Sienna Swannack each score 10 points per night, while the Saints' front court is as formidable as ever.

"Traditionally, they are a very good rebounding team and are very good defensively," Mouat said. "And they are again this year. They're very balanced offensively, as well. As a team, they are getting done collectively, and right now, they're really playing well."

So, too, are the Skylights though, and a big week, which also includes a road trip to rival Providence Thursday night, starts with a battle against the Saints tonight at 6 inside the Armory Gymnasium.

"We've got two games against two really good teams," Mouat said. "Both present really difficult matchups. But I do like how we're playing. We've battled through injuries, had different kids step up, and we keep finding ways to get it done. It's been a collective effort, and I'm really proud of the kids for where we're at right now."

#11 Skylights (2-0, 13-1) vs #25 Carroll College Fighting Saints (1-1, 9-5) tonight at 6 p.m.

In Armory Gymnasium

Radio: 92.5 KPQX

Streaming: golightsgo.com

Twitter: HavreDaily

Skylights Projected Starters

G McKenzie Gunter, 5-5, Jr., 12 ppg

G Allix Goldhahn, 5-8, So., 8 ppg

G Peyton Kehr, 5-10, Jr., 12 ppg

F Hailey Nicholson, 5-11, Sr., 10 ppg

F Sydney Hovde, 6-0, Jr., 8 ppg, 7 rpg