Skylights bury Tech in Frontier playoff opener

It’s hard to play the same team three times in a row, let alone three times in five days, and win. But that’s exactly what the Montana State University-Northern Skylights did, and the third win over Montana Tech came when it mattered most.

In the opening round of the Frontier Conference women’s playoffs, and despite a half-hour delay to start the game, the Skylights withstood two big Tech runs on their way to a victory in the Armory Gymnasium, a victory that catapulted them into the conference semifinals.

“Extremely happy for our kids, and our seniors,” Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. “Playing at home in the playoffs was a goal, and we got here with a big win at Tech last weekend. So we knew tonight would be tough having just played them. But our kids were ready to go, and they just battled. It was a tough game. Tech is really good, so I’m just really proud of this team and what they’ve accomplished here in the last couple weeks, and tonight was really exciting.”.

The Skylights indeed were happy. After a season of ups and downs, Northern has won four of its last five games, and overcome plenty of obstacles, including on Thursday night when Tech ripped off an 11-0 run to open up a six-point lead late in the first half. That run, sparked by a pair of Mollie Peoples shots, came on the heels of a 12-0 run by Northern in the first quarter.

The Skylights got an early 3-pointer from Tiara Gilham, then back-to-back triples from Peyton Kehr and Allix Goldhan as they raced out to a 21-12 lead, only to see that lead go away as they trailed 31-29 at intermission.

“It was back-and-forth,” Mouat said. “We had a nice lead and then we lost it. But one thing I’ll say is we were steady all night. We were pretty consistent on both ends of the floor. We got stops and played pretty good defense for 40 minutes and we did a great job on the boards tonight. So whether we were up or down, I thought we were really steady throughout the game.”

Indeed. Northern came right back in the third quarter and went on a 7-0 run to start, with strong inside play and rebounding from Sydney Hovde. MSU-N’s bench also gave the Skylights a big lift, with Cameron Mooney and Ryley Kehr making key baskets, as well, as they led 48-46 after three.

Tech, however, wasn't going anywhere. Behind back-to-back buckets from Mesa Williams, the Orediggers rattled off a 7-0 spurt and led 55-54 with just under four minutes to play. But, as they’ve done so often, the Skylights rose up, and when true freshman L’Tia Lawrence canned back-to-back threes, not only did Northern get the lead back at 60-55, it was the start of a 10-0 run that put the game away.

“Those back-to back threes by L’Tia were clutch,” Mouat said. “That was a big moment, and we needed it. At the same time, I thought we also got the stops and rebounds we needed on the other end during that stretch, and that, combined with those big threes, really helped us put this thing away, so it was a great all-around effort by all of our kids.”

They were big shots, clutch shots that helped keep the season alive for the Skylights, who got 17 points from Peyton Kehr, a monster double-double, 13 points and 11 rebounds by Hovde, who was perfect from the foul line, too, and eight apiece from Lawrence, Gilham and Mooney. Northern’s defense also forced 17 turnovers, and the Skylights dominated on the boards, 32-27. And, on top of it all, the Skylights put an end to Tech’s season while advancing their own.

“Advancing in the playoffs is always the goal,” Mouat said. “So I’m just really happy our kids get to keep playing. They really earned it with some big wins the last week or so, going back to beating Western here. So it’s exciting.”

Mouat should be happy for his team because it was another thrilling win in what has been a strong second half of the year. Overall, MSU-N improved to 8-13, but more importantly, they’re still playing. Of course, the task of advancing to Monday night’s championship game will be a tall one, as the Skylights visit top seed and No. 6 Carroll (19-2) Saturday night. The Skylights and Saints, who are led by former Havre Blue Pony great Dani Wagner, met four times this season, with Carroll winning all four. The fifth meeting will be Saturday night at 5 in the Carroll P.E. Center in Helena.

“They’re really good,” Mouat said of the Saints. “They’re ranked where they are for a reason. And we’re going to have to play at a really high level to even give ourselves a chance down there. We understand that. But we have had three pretty close games with them, and I think our kids know what it takes to go down there and play well. But no question, they’re (Saints) really good, they’re playing really good, their size hurts us and they really get after it defensively.

“So it’s a tall order,” he continued. “But our kids are excited and looking forward to the challenge, and I’m just happy for them that they earned that opportunity by winning a playoff game at home. It was a special night for us tonight, and I couldn't be more proud of this team.”

Skylights are 8-13 overall; Next: at

Carroll Saturday

Skylights 68, Montana Tech 57

Montana Tech 12 19 15 11 - 57

MSU-Northern 21 8 19 20 - 68

MT - Brooke Heggie 8-13 0-0 16, Madison Allen 4-8 0-0 9, Dani Urick 1-2 3-5 5, Mesa Williams 5-9 2-4 14, Soda Rice 0-7 0-1 0, Mollie Peoples 4-10 0-0 10, Jaden Comings 1-1 0-0 3, Aubrie Radamacher 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 23-52 6-10.

MSU-N - Sydney Hovde 3-8 8-8 13, Tiara Gilham 1-8 5-7 8, Allix Goldhahn 1-4 0-0 3, McKenzie Gunter 1-3 2-2 4, Peyton Kehr 8-11 0-0 17, Brandi White 0-0 0-0 0, L'Tia Lawrence 3-8 0-0 8, Ryley Kehr 1-2 2-2 4, Dulci Skunkcap 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Mason 1-1 1-2 3, Cameron Mooney 4-5 0-0 8, ShaAnn Danelson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-50 17-21.

3-pointers: MT 5-12 (Allen 1, Williams 2, Peoples 2), MSU-N (5-14 (Gilham 1, Goldhahn 1, Kehr 1, Lawrence 2), Rebounds: MT 23 (Rademacher 5), MSU-N 32 (Hovde 11). Fouls: MT 18, MSU-N 14; Fouled out: None.