Skylights go 2-1 in the desert

The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team had a strong showing at last weekend's Arizona Christian Tournament in Phoenix.

In the first game of the tourney, the Skylights beat Benedictine-Mesa 74-50. The Skylights took the first quarter 19-11. They pushed the lead going into halftime 39-27. Northern extended the lead in the third quarter outscoring them 22-11. The Skylight kept the lead to win the game. The Skylights was led by with 25 points going 10-13 from the field and added six points. Katelynn Forner added 12 points and going 4-6 from the field.

In the second game of the trip, Northern fell in a tough game to host ACU, 70-57. The Skylights pushed the lead early in the first quarter holding the Firestorm to eight points. Arizona cut into the halftime 35-30. Arizona Christian held the Skylights to six points in the third quarter. The Skylights cut the lead to nine in the fourth quarter, but the Firestorm responded back and took the game. The Skylights was led by Canzas HisBadHorse who had 11 points and seven rebounds. Maddie Williamson led the team in rebounds with eight, as Taya Trottier added six assists.  

Northern rebounded in its final game of the tourney, as the Skylights crushed Embry-Riddle 79-49. The first quarter was pretty calm, as the Skylights scored 20 to Embry-Riddles 16. The second quarter was big as they outscored the Eagles 19-8. Long came in off the bench going 2-3 from the three to push the lead. Moran had a big lift going into halftime going 2-3 from the free throw line. After half, the Skylights held the Eagles to six points. The Skylights kept a good lead the fourth quarter to win going away. All of the Skylights scored on the team, but was led by McKenzie Long who went 5-7 from the three with 15 points and added five rebounds. Savannah Toms and Canzas HisBadHorse each added 11 points. Taya Trottier added 10 assists.

With the win, Northern improved to 7-4 overall. The Skylights return to action Dec. 29 against The King's University. Northern also hosts Keyano University Dec. 31.