Top-seeded Carroll knocks Skylights out of Frontier playoffs

It's hard enough to just beat the Carroll College women, let alone do it in Helena. But when the Fighting Saints make 14 three-pointers, it's going to be next to impossible.

And that's what happened to the Montana State University-Northern Skylights in the semifinals of the Frontier Conference playoffs Saturday night in Helena, as No. 6 Carroll made 14 triples on their way to a 76-49 win, ending Northern's season.

"They (Saints) played really well," Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. "They're playing at such a high level right now, and then when they shoot it like that from three, it's so tough. So hats off to them, they played great tonight. I thought we played pretty well at times, too, but not well enough, and I think we really started to run out of gas once it got to double digits, and we had to chase them."

Northern hung tough early on, trailing just 17-13 after the first quarter, but the Saints went on a 23-7 run in the second stanza, and the Skylights were playing catchup the rest of the way. And in the end, Northern couldn't overcome Carroll's hot shooting, which included 20 points and five threes by former Havre High star Dani Wagner, as well as a stingy Saints defense that held the short-handed Skylights in check.

Northern did get 16 points form senior Peyton Kehr, while Tiara Gilham finished with eight in a game that ended the Skylight's season - a season that had its share of tough moments due to the pandemic, as well as injuries and more.

"It was a tough game, but it was one our kids earned their way to get here and I'm proud of them for that," Mouat said. "No excuses, everybody had to deal with what has been a really weird, really challenging season. But it seemed like we certainly had more than our share of challenges, so for our kids to finish strong like they did, earn a home game and make it to the top four of the league, I'm very proud of them for that because it wasn't easy.

"These kids just remained resilient all season," he continued. "They came to work every single day and they continued to fight. Our seniors were amazing of this year. I'm just really proud this whole team. They never quit, they never gave in."

While Northern finishes with 8-14 overall record, the Saints move on to Monday night's championship game where they'll host Montana Western. The Bulldogs beat Providence in Saturday's second semifinal.

Carroll 76, Skylights 49

Semifinal

MSU-Northern 13 7 12 17 - 49

Carroll College 17 23 21 15 - 76

MSU-N - Brandy White 0-0 0-0 0, Allix Goldhahn 2-5 0-0 4, L'Tia Lawrence 3-11 0-0 7, Riley Kehr 2-4 0-0 5, Peyton Kehr 5-10 5-6 16, Dulci Skunkcap 0-1 0-0 0, Morgan Mason 1-2 2-2 4, Cameron Mooney 1-3 1-1 3, Sydney Hovde 1-2 0-0 2, Tiara Gilham 3-10 2-2 8. Totals: 18-48 10-11 49.

CC - Genesis Wilkinson 2-5 0-0 5, Rakiah Grende 1-2 0-0 3, Jaidyn Lyman 0-1 0-0 0, Dani Wagner 7-11 1-2 20, Christine Denny 2-5 1-2 4, Kylie Olson 2-2 0-2 6, Kamden Hillborn 2-5 0-0 5, Sienna Swannack 3-5 2-2 11, Emma Madsen 103 0-0 2, Jamie Pickens 6-10 3-3 16, Maddie Geritz 2-4 0-0 4. Totals: 28-54 6-9.

3-pointers: MSU-N 3-15 (Lawrence 1, R. Kehr 1, P. Kehr 1), CC 14-24 (Wilkinson 1, Grende 1, Wagner 5, Olson 2, Hilborn 1, SWannack 3, Pickens 1). Rebounds: MSU-N 29 (Goldhahn 6), CC 29 (Denny 6), Fouls: MSU-N 8, CC 13. Fouled out: None.