Skylights begin league play against Argos, Fighting Saints

The Montana State University-Northern Skylights are nearly a full month into their season. And while non-conference play has been the focus, that all changes Thursday night.

Northern (3-2) opens Frontier Conference play at the University of Providence (6-1), before coming home to host defending Frontier champion Carroll College (4-3) Saturday afternoon.

And while it's an exciting time for the Skylights, who average 65 points per game, and get 13 points apiece from Ryley Kehr and newcomer Brianna Mccullough, as well as 10 points per game from Savanna Toms, Frontier play is a whole new set of challenges.

"I think we are truly a work in progress right now," Northern head coach Chris Mouat said. "Our inexperience has shown at times, but I believe we are working through it and getting better all of the time at both ends of the floor. The one thing about this team is that they come to work every day in practice and get after it. After our last game we had plenty to address and we've done that over the past week. "

While Northern may be a work in progress, they will find out even more about themselves with the next two games.

The Argos are off to a hot start this season, averaging 61 points per night, with Maddy Dean, Brooklyn Harn, McKenna Reggear and Reed Hazard all averaging in double figures.

"Providence, despite the loss of two All-Americans, is still a very good basketball team," Mouat said. "They have some very experienced returners and a lot of weapons. Reed Hazard is a really fast point guard who gets them into their offense very well and she has the ability to put up big numbers. She, Kennedy Cartwright, Maddy Dixon, and Brooklyn Harn have been a big part of their teams for a long time now, and their experience shows. They know what coach Himmelberg wants and expects and any of them can have a big night scoring. Their only newcomer in the starting lineup is really good. McKenna Reggear is a 6'1" guard who can score it from everywhere and brings a ton to the table for them. As a team, they do a great job in transition and are really strong on the boards. They have a lot of firepower and we are going to have to do all we can to win on the boards and locate them in transition. They just have a lot of firepower all over the floor."

The Argos, who are a perennial nations power, are tough at home, but even when the Skylights return to the Armory Gymnasium Saturday, they will get a stern test from No. 9 Carroll on their home floor. The Fighting Saints graduated a ton of talent, including former Havre Blue Pony Dani Wagner, but they returned the likes of All-Americans Jamie Pickens (16 ppg) and Sienna Swannack (11 ppg), while adding former Blue Pony and Montana transfer Kyndall Keller (9 ppg). Carroll also has returning standouts like Maddie Gertie, Genesis Wilkinson and Kamden Hillborn, and the Saints have played a difficult schedule, so they'll be ready when they get to Havre Saturday afternoon.

"Carroll is a top-10 team in the nation for many reasons," Mouat said. "They start three NCAA Division I transfers and have a ton of talent around them. I think they are as good defensively as anyone we will play this year. They are good in both man and zone and find ways to really disrupt teams. As always, they are really good on the boards at both ends. Jamie Pickens, Sienna Swannack, Kamden Hillborn, and Maddie Geritz are returners and they provide so much at both ends. I think Jamie is one of the best - if not the best - post players in the NAIA. She can just hurt you from all over the floor. Sienna and Kamden are both great athletes who do a good job at both ends and are kind of the engine for them on the defensive end. Maddie is a low-post threat who can step out and hit the three and is a force on the boards. Kyndall Keller is their only newcomer in the starting lineup, and she's doing great things for them at both ends. They are just a deep, talented team who seems to be in mid-season form right now."

Thursday night's game at Providence will tip at 5 p.m. inside the McLaughlin Center. Saturday's game against Carroll is set to start at 2 p.m. in the Armory.