Three Skylights garner Frontier Conference accolades

Three Montana State University-Northern Skylights were honored by the Frontier Conference when the league announced its 2020 All-Conference Teams and postseason honors Wednesday afternoon.

Northern's Tiara Gilham was named Frontier Sixth Player of the Year, while teammates McKenzie Gunter and Hailey Nicholson were both named Honorable Mention All-Conference. Unfortunately, all three players who earned Frontier accolades, also suffered season-ending injuries.

Nicholson's injury was heartbreaking, as she was in her final season as a Skylights, but Gunter, who led Northern in scoring, and Gilham will return next season for head coach Chris Mouat. Northern senior Petra Selin was given the Champions of Character Award, as well.

Meanwhile, Rocky Mountain College forward Markaela Francis was named Frontier Player of the Year, while Lindsey Wooley of Montana Western was named Frontier Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Montana Tech's Tavia Rooney garnered freshman of the year honors, Providence' Bailey Cartwright earned the Newcomer of the Year Award and Western's Paige Holmes was selected Defensive Player of the Year.

The All-Conference First Team included Carroll College and former Havre Blue Pony star Dani Wagner, as well as teammate Christine Denny, LC State's Kiara Burlage, Francis, and UP's Parker Esary and Emilee Maldonado.

In other NAIA hoops news Wednesday night, the NAIA announced a plan to limit fan attendance at the Men's and Women's DI national tournaments, the women's tourney being held at the Metra in Billings for the final time, due to the spread of Covid-19.

The NAIA men's bracket for the national tourney was also revealed Wednesday night, with LC State, Carroll and Providence all making the field, while the Northern Lights, just missed out on an at-large bid.