Skylights excited for new-look season

The Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team has gone through so many ups and downs over the last several seasons. From the COVID-19 year, to inquiries and heartbreaking losses, Northern just hasn’t been able to break through in recent years.

But with an absolutely loaded roster for the 2024-25 season, and the return of longtime head coach Chris Mouat, this season could certainly eb the dawning of a new era in Northern women’s basketball.

After going 5-10 in Frontier Conference play last season, the Skylights were already a team on the rise. And while MSU-N lost star forward Ryley Kehr, and point guard Jalen Callender, Mouat has a depth-filled and talented roster, including key returnees like forwards Savannah Toms and Turner’s Shyann Krass, as well as guards Taya Trottier and L’Tia Lawrence.

Adding to the nucleus of veterans on Northern’s roster is a star-studded group of transfers, including former Class B prep stars Becky Melcher of Forsyth, who transferred from MCC, and Malta’s Maddie Williamson, who comes to Northern from North Idaho College. Senior transfer Emma Wass, a 6-1 post from Alaska Anchorage, is another former Montana Class B standout, while North Idaho transfer Addie Kiefer (5-10) will also bolster the paint, as can Canzas HisBadHorse, a transfer from Williston State, who also prepped at Class B Lame Deer in high school.

More transfer help also comes in the way of 5-7 guard Aiyanna Big Man, a former standout at Class A powerhouse Hardin, while 5-7 guard Katelynn Forner comes to Northern from Vancouver Island College. Lynnea Morab, a 5-4 freshman, and returning guard McKenzie Long will also give Northern plenty of depth in the backourt.

And depth and talent is something that will help Northern return to the top of the loaded Frontier. The Skylights are picked to finish fourth this season, behind national runner-up Providence, Carroll College and Rocky Mountain College.

“(I believe), we’re more talented than we have been,” Mouat said at Frontier Media Day.

Of course, the Frontier is the premier conference in NAIA women’s basketball, so to prepare for league play in January, Mouat has once again stacked a preseason schedule.

The Skylights open the regular season with a Nov. 1 game in Billings against Park University-Gilbert, then they play GSAC power The Masters Nov. 8 in Great Falls. MSU-N faces Jamestown Nov. 9 in Great Falls, and the Skylights make their long-awaited home debut Nov. 18 against long-time rival Dickinson State. Northern also faces ERAU in Great Falls Nov. 22, before traveling to future Frontier schools Valley City Nov. 29 and DSU Nov. 30.

December begins with a home game agains Saint Mary’s University and then the Skylights play the Phoenix Frontier Challenge in Arizona Dec. 19-21.A trio of games against King’s University, Lakeland University and Keyano University Dec, 29-31 in Havre wrap up the non-conference schedule.

Frontier play begins at home agains Montana Western Jan. 4. Once again, league games will be played Thursday’s at 5 p.m. and Saturday’s at 2 p.m.

The new Northern women’s basketball season begins this Sunday with an exhibition game agains NCAA DII power Montana State-Billings in Choteau.