Lights back in the Armory Thursday and Friday

After a couple of long road trips, the Montana State University-Northern men's and women's basketball teams have to get right back at it.

In the case of the Skylights, they are headed right back out on the road after playing a pair of games at the University of Providence Tournament last weekend in Great Falls. Northern lost a pair of tight games to Corban University and Central Baptist, and now, head coach Chris Mouat's team will have three more tough games on the road.

Tonight, the Skylights are in Tacoma, Washington, to face Pacific Lutheran University. The Lutes are an NCAA Division III program, who have played just one game this season. They've also played just one game thus far, so they'll be somewhat of a mystery to the Skylights.

This weekend's opponents won't be a mystery, however. After playing PLU, the Skylights will go north to Kirkland, Washington, for a pair of games against top Cascade Conference opponents. The Skylights will face Northwest University Friday and Evergreen State Saturday. Both are perennial tough teams in the CCC, so the Skylights will have their hands full.

Still, MSU-N will look to battle, as the Skylights are led by the senior duo of Peyton Kehr and Sydney Hovde. Both average in double figures, while Kehr joined Northern's elite, 1,000-point club after scoring 22 points against Central Baptist.

While the Northern women have another long trip ahead of them, the Lights (3-1) get to come back home after their trip to Michigan last weekend. Back in the Armory Thursday and Friday, Northern hosts Yellowstone Christian College. The Centurions have already played a tough schedule that has featured almost all Frontier Conference teams, so they'll know just what to expect with the Lights.

And what they can expect are two tough games with Northern's veteran trio of David Harris, Mascio McCadney and Jesse Keltner coming off a fantastic two-game performance against Siena Heights last weekend in Michigan.

"It was a great trip," head coach Shawn Huse said. "Our guys showed great focus yet understand there are still areas to improve on. We know there's a long way to go but what more could I ask for right now. I am just extremely proud of how this team represented Northern on this trip."

The Lights will now face YCC Thursday and Friday night, with both games tipping off at 6 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium. The Lights also have a rematch with Dickinson State Sunday in Dickinson, North Dakota. The Skylights play at PLU tonight at 8 p.m. They will take on Northwest University Friday at 8:30 p.m. and Evergreen State Saturday at 6 p.m.