Sports News
Lights & Skylights Basketball
by Lisa Handley
Winter 2003

After a roller coaster 2001-2002 year in the Montana State University Northern basketball department, the thrills of exciting, fast paced and winning ways have quickly been attained.

Coach Shawn Huse, who was hired in June for the men's program, returned only two players and three red shirts from the `01-`02 season, has taken over and turned on the power to the Lights. Through discipline and an uptempo style of play, the Lights have seen a great deal of success this season. They are 18-8 overall and 5-3 in the league play, placing them 4th within the Frontier Conference. Their point difference in their three conference losses totaled only 16 points. LCSC, Westminster and Carroll College all downed the Lights, but the much anticipated rematches are just around the corner. The Lights have been impressive on the offensive side of the ball, by averaging 85.4 points a game. Larry Morinia, an athletic and agile 5' 11 " guard from Albuquerque NM leads all Lights, scoring 20 points per game. As a junior, he also leads the conference in scoring and has been named Frontier Conference Player of the Week, along with his hardworking teammate Charles Ereaux from HaysLodge Pole, MT.

The men will face off in Butte for their Frontier Conference Championship Tournament; play begins Thursday, March 6th and wraps up on Saturday, March 8th.

Coach Mike Erickson was selected in the late spring to coach the Skylights, and with the positive attitude and contagious energy he brings to the squad, they are looking like the Skylights of old. After a bumpy start, the Skylights have won 14 of their last 17 games and started with a 6-0 record in the Frontier. With the motivation of being selected to finish near the bottom of the league, and maintaining a hard core press and pace, the Skylights have surprised and surpassed expectations by currently standing number one in the Frontier Conference. Anna Bateman, a guard and steady floor leader from Rupert, ID, is making her name as one of MSU-Northern's standout players. She has already been named Frontier Conference Player of the Week two weeks in a row, leads her team in scoring with 12 points per game, and has set a school record with an amazing nine steals in a single game. Another quick footed guard, freshman Kristi Pullin from Box Elder, MT, has also helped her team lead the Frontier in scoring average (76.4) by putting in an average of 10 points per game, while adding a. spark on the floor with her defense and intensity after giving up her red shirt year to begin playing in January.

This season, each of the top four women's seeds get to host for the first round of Frontier Conference tournament play on Friday, March 7th. MSU-Northern and its loyal fans are looking forward to the opportunity to once again stand behind the Skylights at home for the playoffs since this scenario has not happened for five years. The Frontier Champion will then be crowned in Butte after finishing with their tournament on March 10th & 11th at the Butte Civic Center.
 

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