MSU-N Basketball 2022-23: Northern women aiming high

The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball program has had some tough luck in recent years. From devastating season-ending injuries to heartbreaking losses in the loaded Frontier Conference, it just seems like the Skylights have had their fill of tough breaks.

But with each passing season, another chance to turn things around dawns, and that's what head coach Chris Mouat's team is looking to do this fall and winter.

Coming off a sixth-place finish in the Frontier last season, Northern is looking for a bounce-back year, and with plenty of fresh faces on the roster, the Skylights are starting anew.

"They (Skylights) have done a great job to start the year. We have a long way to go, but their overall effort and energy have been awesome," Mouat said. "I like our athleticism as a team and think that we have a good mix between returners and newcomers. They've come together quickly, which is great to see. We have had good, competitive practices and energy in the gym has been great. I think we have a chance to be very good defensively."

The Skylights did lose a pair of longtime starters in Peyton Kehr and Sydney Hovde. Kehr was an All-Conference performer a season ago, while Hovde became Northern's all-time leading rebounder, and both were Academic All-Americans.

However, the cupboard is most certainly not bare.

Veteran forward Ryley Kehr returns for the Skylights, while sophomore forwards Savannah Toms and Shyan Krass are joined by returning guards Dulci Skunkcap and ShaAnn Danelson.

That core group of returners will mix with a host of new Skylights, including Briaunna McCullough a 5'6" guard from Lackawanna Community College who was a two-time all-region in junior college and all-tournament team at the NJCAA national tournament. Freshman Taya Trottier a 5'6" guard from Harlem was the all-time leading scorer in Harlem history, played in the Montana-Wyoming game and was a three-time, first team all-state selection. Jalen Callender a 5'9" guard/forward from the College of Southern Idaho also joins the program. Her JC team was top 10 in the nation all season long a year ago. Rachel VanBlaricom a 5'8" guard from Jefferson County High School was a three-time all-state, and the all-time leading scorer in Jefferson history. Guards Sydney Hansen, a transfer from Northwest College, and Abigail Keltner, a former Skylights volleyball player and former Chinook star round out MSU-N's roster.

"Chemistry and competitiveness stand out right now," Mouat said. "This group really has gelled fairly quickly. They get along and look after each other on and off of the court. I think we have a group of girls who really want to be successful and they are working to that end. But when it's time to compete, they roll up their sleeves and get after each other."

Northern gets plenty of chances to roll up their sleeves and compete, as the non-conference slate gets underway.

"We have a mix of everything in the non-conference," Mouat said. "We have a lot more games at home to begin the season, which we are excited about. Having a home-and-home with Dickinson State has been good because they are one of the closest teams we can get for games. And they are much-improved and will be again this season. MSU-Billings is going to be a huge test for us, as they are one of the top teams in the GNAC. Willamette - we play them in Helena - is extremely well-coached and they always do a good job. In Phoenix, we will have two, top 25 opponents in Rust (Mississippi) and Eastern Oregon. We are also hosting a field trip game on Dec. 8 for 3rd and 4th grade students from Havre and the surrounding area. Those games are always a lot of fun. The non-conference schedule will give us a chance to look at a lot of different lineups and combinations."

Of course, the entire non-conference slate is preparation for a Frontier Conference schedule that starts in early December and ends with the league's tournament at the end of February in Great Falls. And once again, Mouat expects the league to be as challenging as ever.

"The league is going to be as competitive as ever," Mouat said. "With four of six teams getting into the national tournament a year ago, you know that there is a high level of play in the Frontier. And add on to that the fact that we play each other three times, it sets up to be a grind."

The Skylights are ready to grind. They open the season at home with a game against King's University at Havre High School, and overall, they play their first four games at home. But home or away, the Skylights are excited for the new season, and looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

"Obviously, we want to produce more wins. We are in the number-one ranked conference in the nation based on RPI and Strength of Schedule and it's as competitive as it gets," Mouat said. "Getting back into the top half of our conference is always a goal, because the a top-half finish has generally meant that you have a great shot at the national tournament.

"Beyond that, I think we just want to put a team on the floor that plays very hard and gets better all of the time," he added. "We want to be playing our best basketball in February and March. With five newcomers and six returners, we will need to continually grow to get there, but it's what we'll be pushing for. For now, it's just one game at a time and one practice at a time. I like the direction we are going and really like this group."