2004-05 MSU-Northern Skylights Basketball News

Skylights Basketball
2004-05
News

Mar. 7, 2005 Frontier Conference All-Conference Team
Jaci Heny - 1st Team
Jessi Reome - 2nd Team

Mar. 4, 2005 Skylights end season with loss to Rocky Mountain
BUTTE - Jenny Balgua can beat you in a different ways with different things. She can shoot, she can pass and she can penetrate. But Balgua's biggest play on Thursday evening came by just standing there. Balgua stood firm, taking a crucial charge on Northern's Jaci Heny with 33.5 seconds remaining in overtime to secure Rocky Mountain College's 64-62 upset win over the Montana State University-Northern Skylights during first-round action of the Frontier Conference Women's Basketball Tournament at the Maroon Activity Center.

Mar. 4, 2005 Skylights lose in OT to Lady Bears
MT Standard Article

Mar. 3, 2005 Fourth-seed Northern ready to run tonight
Run your own race. Head coach Mike Erickson has preached that mantra to his Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team for the entire season. Basically, it means the Skylights can't get caught up in the other team's wins, losses or place in the conference standings. If they only worry about the things they can control, then they will be fine at the end.

Mar. 2, 2005 Frontier Tournament Previews
Great Falls Tribune
Helena Independent Record
Billings Gazette

Mar 2. 2005 Helena High's Carroll signs the the Skylights
Helena Independent Record

Feb. 27, 2005 Skylight BB announce 2005 Tribal Challenge

Mar. 1, 2005 Jessie Reome named Frontier Player of the Week
Helena IR Article

Feb. 28, 2005 Northern steps up play to defeat UGF Argos
There are two reactions to losing a key player: Let it affect you and play worse, or shake it off and raise your level of play. The members of the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team chose the latter on Saturday night in a 98-88 win over the University of Great Falls at a packed McLaughlin Center in Great Falls.

Feb. 28, 2005 Frontier Conference Tourney Pairings

Feb. 25, 2005 Skylights take on rival Argos with pride on the line
It's about pride. When you are playing a rival, it doesn't matter if the game has no meaning in the standings, you still want to win. So don't think for a moment that the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team isn't playing to win in Saturday's game against the University of Great Falls Argos. Win or lose, the Skylights will finish fourth in the final conference standings and will face Rocky Mountain College in the first round of next week's Frontier Conference Tournament.

Feb. 22, 2005 Skylights salvage conference split with win over Griffins
With this season, a Frontier Conference road win, no matter how close or who it is over, is an accomplishment. That's why Mike Erickson will gladly take a hardfought 71-67 win over the last-place Westminster Griffins on Saturday night in Salt Lake City. Despite a 3-23 overall record and no wins in the conference, Westminster always seems to play tough at Payne Gymnasium, and Saturday night was no different.

Feb. 18, 2005 Lewis-Clark State sweeps Northern hoop squads
Lewis-Clark State's old facility, Warrior Gym, wasn't very kind to the MSU-Northern women's and men's basketball teams in the past. Unfortunately, the Skylights' and Lights' misfortune carried over into the brand new $15 million Lewis-Clark Activity Center. In the women's game, the two teams battled early in the first half, changing leads often with LC taking a 40-36 lead. Northern shot a solid 52 percent from the field and appeared to be poised to overcome the first-half deficit in the second half.

Feb. 17, 2005 Skylights face Lewis-Clark State in new facility
Pardon the Montana State University-Northern basketball teams for not getting nostalgic when discussing the Warrior Gym on the Lewis-Clark State campus in Lewiston, Idaho. For the Skylights and Lights players and coaches, the best part of the historic old gym is that it is now history. Northern will instead be playing in the brand new $15 million Lewis-Clark Activity Center tonight when they take on the Warriors at 6 and 8 p.m.

Feb. 14, 2005 Valgardson helps Northern salvage conference split
Megan Valgardson wasn't about to let her last set of weekend games end with two losses. Valgardson had a memorable final performance in the MSU-Northern gymnasium, scoring a season-high 26 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball to a 90-73 win over the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears on Saturday night.

Feb. 13, 2005 Skylights defeat the Lady Bears
Billings Gazette Article

Feb. 12, 2005 Skylights drop game to Lady Saints
Helena Independent Record

Feb. 11, 2005 Skylights face No. 17 Carroll, Rocky in key games
There is some consolation for the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team. It can't possibly get any worse than it did last Saturday night for the Skylights in a disappointing 74-51 loss to UM-Western in Dillon. It wasn't quite rock bottom for Northern, but it was down there a bit. Fortunately, things are looking up as the Skylights return to Havre and the MSU-Northern gym, where they've been basically unbeatable this season, for a pair of big Frontier Conference games against Carroll College and Rocky Mountain College.

Feb. 10, 2005 Frontier Conference Notebook
Great Falls Tribune Article

Feb. 7, 2005 Reome's shooting leads Skylights past Tech; Bulldogs get revenge
All things considered, Montana State University-Northern women basketball head coach Mike Erickson will gladly take the split of this past weekend's Frontier Conference road games. A sluggish Skylight squad fought its way back from an early first-half deficit, to knock off the Montana Tech Orediggers 72-62 on Saturday night in Butte.

Feb. 4, 2005 Newly-ranked Skylights look to continue winning ways in road games
Being ranked in the NAIA top 25 basketball poll is definitely an accomplishment for the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team. It's a reward for all of the hard work and success that the Skylight have experienced this season, particularly in the last few weeks. But being ranked isn't just compensation, it's an invitation for opponents to play their best basketball against you.

Feb. 1, 2005 Skylights crack the NAIA Top 25 Poll

Jan. 31, 2005 Skylights stymie UGF
Playing defense should not be a totally bizarre concept in basketball. In fact, it's really simple: If you hold a team under 60 points, it's a lot easier to outscore them. It's a concept the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team has bought into in the last few weeks. For the third straight game, the Skylights held an opponent to under 60 points, stifling the high-scoring University of Great Falls Argos in a 72-53 win Saturday night at the MSU-Northern gymnasium.

Jan. 28, 2005 Skylights, Lights host much-improved UGF squads
There are very few guarantees in the Frontier Conference, but a few years ago, wins over the University of Great Falls in basketball were darn close to a sure thing. But now, about the only sure thing with playing UGF is that you are going to be tested.

Jan. 27, 2005 Frontier Conference Notebook
Great Falls Tribune Article

Jan. 25, 2005 Skylights move up to 26th in NAIA Poll

Jan. 24, 2005 Skylights bounce back in a big way
Consider it a wake-up call answered. The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team got a little complacent a week ago and suffered a pair of frustrating conference losses. However, a rested, refocused and remotivated Skylight squad rebounded with a pair of dominant home wins over Westminster College and Lewis-Clark State at the MSU-Northern gymnasium.

Jan. 21, 2005 Skylights ready to return to winning ways'
When you win 11 straight games, it's sometimes easy to take that success for granted. The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team tasted defeat last weekend, for the first time in over a month. And it was anything but sweet. The Skylights will look to return to their winning ways tonight when they host the Westminster College Griffins at 6 at the MSU-Northern gymnasium. Northern will also host 20th-ranked Lewis-Clark on Saturday at 6 p.m

Jan. 20, 2005 Frontier Conference Notebook
Great Falls Tribune Article

Jan. 17, 2005 Skylights drop close one to Carroll College
The Montana State University-Northern basketball teams have never been so happy to see Havre. The Skylights suffered a loss to Carroll College on Saturday night in Helena to make them 0-2 in their first conference road trip of the season. The Skylights could have very easily been 1-1 or even 2-0 on the weekend. For the second straight game, the outcome came down to the Skylights' final possession. Unfortunately, that final possession wasn't successful in a 78-77 loss.

Jan. 14, 2005 Rocky completes sweep of Northern
The first road trip of the Frontier Conference season wasn't too kind to the Montana State University-Northern basketball teams. In the opening game, Rocky overcame a nine-point first half deficit and held on to a 72-67 win to hand the Skylights their first conference loss of the season.

Jan. 16, 2005 Skylights lose by one to Lady Saints
Helena IR Article

Jan. 13, 2005 Skylights look to remain atop Frontier
For the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team, playing on the road has become pretty much a routine. After all, the Skylights played 13 road games this season already, so don't think that a trip to Billings for tonight's Frontier Conference matchup with Rocky Mountain College has them shaking in their sneakers.

Jan. 11, 2005 Skylights receive 5 votes in NAIA Top 25 poll

Jan. 11, 2005 Jaci Heny receives Frontier Player of the Week
Billings Gazette Article

Jan. 10, 2005 Skylights start with a sweep
Jaci Heny's introduction to the Frontier Conference was a memorable one. With her team trailing by one, the junior transfer guard sank a pair for free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining, securing a 88-87 win for the MSU-Northern women's basketball team over UM-Western Friday night at the MSU-Northern gym.

Jan. 9, 2005 Skylights run past Lady 'Diggers
MT Standard Article - Women's BB Frontier Conference Roundup

Jan. 8, 2005 Skylights slip past Lady Bulldogs
MT Standard Article

Jan. 7, 2005 Skylights look to continue winning ways in conference season
Montana State University-Northern women's basketball coach Mike Erickson doesn't have to be reminded of the last time his team played a conference game.Nope, there is a daily reminder when he walks into his office in bold letters of the headline: "Bulldogs thump Lights." Technically, it should be the Skylights, but it really doesn't matter to Erickson.

Jan. 6, 2005 Frontier Conference Notebook
Great Falls Tribune Article

Jan. 6, 2005 Frontier Conference Games Preview
MT Standard Article

Jan. 4, 2005 Skylights receive 3 votes in NAIA Top 25 Poll

Dec. 31, 2004 Skylights grab another win in L.A.
The weather might not have been good on the outside, but the basketball sure was on the inside. The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team didn't let rainy California weather dampen its spirits. Instead, the Skylights turned the heat up on the basketball court, scoring their second win of their California road trip with a 70-67 win over Biola University.

Dec. 30 ,2004 Skylights pick up win in Los Angeles
While snow falls in Havre, the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team is basking in the somewhat fairer weather of Los Angeles. The Skylights are also winning some basketball games too. Northern picked up a 59-55 win over NCAA Division III Occidental College on Wednesday after a long Christmas break.

Dec. 15, 2004 Skylights receive 2 votes in NAIA Top 25 Poll

Dec. 13, 2004 Skylights win three games in three days
Hopefully, the next time the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team plays three games in three days is at the Frontier Conference tournament. The Skylights completed their third three-game weekend of the season with three straight wins. Northern opened the stretch of games with a hardfought 75-70 non-conference win over the University of Great Falls on Friday at the McLaughlin Center and two home wins in a pair of home games against Augustana University College of Alberta.

Dec. 10, 2004 Skylights face busy weekend against UGF, Augustana
Conference records won't be on the line, but don't think for a second that tonight's non-conference matchup between the Skylights women's basketball team and the University of Great Falls will be lackadaisical. The will still have a conference game like intensity when the two teams step to the floor at 7 p.m. in Great Falls.

Dec. 2, 2004 Skylights receive vote in NAIA Top 25 Poll

Dec. 6, 2004 Skylights complete sweep of Lethbridge
When you haven't played a home game in over a month, coming out flat isn't an option. After a month-long road trip, the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team made the most of a long-awaited home weekend with a pair of wins over the University of Lethbridge.

Dec. 3, 2004 Skylights happy to be home against Lethbridge
If it wasn't for practice, the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team would scarcely remember what it's like to play in the friendly confines of the MSU-Northern gymnasium. Northern has been on a longer road trip than most rock stars, not having played a game at home in almost two months. But the Skylights will make their triumphant return home this weekend with a pair of games against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.

Nov 23, 2004 Skylights rebound with pair of wins
After three straight losses, just about any team - high school, college or pro, would have some confidence issues. But nothing ends those issues like winning. The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team restored some of its confidence with a pair of wins this past weekend at the Argo Invitational tournament in Great Falls.

Nov. 22, 2004 Skylights look to end losing skid with games in Great Falls
In most situations, losing usually tears teams apart. But not for the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team. Nope, losing has only brought the Skylights closer together. After rolling to a 5-1 start, Northern received a bit of an eye-opener with three consecutive losses last weekend on a four-day North Dakota road trip.

Nov 16, 2004 Road unkind to Skylights with three losses
Montana State University-Northern women's basketball coach Mike Erickson called this past weekend's four-day road trip to North Dakota a trip his team would remember in March. Unfortunately, the memories will be bad ones.
Northern dropped three games in four days to fall to 5-4 overall on the season.

Nov. 12, 2004 Skylights venture east for extended North Dakotan road trips
North Dakota. It's not just the fodder of Montanan's jokes. There is also some solid basketball being played in the Badlands, and the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team will get to see that firsthand weekend. The Skylights will be spending the next four days in the Dakota flat lands, with each team playing three teams against opponents from a steadily improving DAC-10 conference.

Nov. 9, 2004 Skylights gladly take two road wins at Montana Guard Classic
Montana State University-Northern women's basketball coach Mike Erickson will gladly take a pair of road wins, even his team didn't play its best basketball of the season. The Skylights picked up a 72-67 win over the Dickinson State Bluehawks on Friday night of the Montana National Guard Classic in Helena. Northern then added a 64-50 win over Albertson College on Saturday.

Nov. 5, 2004 Skylights head to Montana National Guard Classic in Helena
You don't get any better beating up on weak teams. That's the philosophy of Montana State University-Northern women's coach Mike Erickson. For the second straight weekend, the Skylights will face some very solid competition at the Montana National Guard Classic starting tonight at the Carroll College P.E. Center in Helena.

Nov. 2, 2004 Skylights go 2-1 at Canadian tourney
It wasn't perfect, but Montana State University-Northern women's basketball coach Mike Erickson will gladly take it. The Skylights' first road foray was a successful one with a 2-1 record at the University of Regina tournament in Regina, Sask. "Obviously, we wanted to come home 3-0," Erickson said. "But overall, I saw a lot of positives from this weekend."

Oct. 29, 2004 Skylights top U. of Saskatchewan

Oct. 29, 2004 Skylights set lofty goals for 2004-05 season
For the first two years as head coach of the Montana State University-Northern Skylights basketball program, Mike Erickson almost needed to pass out name tags to go with all the new faces donning Skylight practice gear. In all, Erickson brought 26 new players in those two years, which meant much of the early season was spent just having the players get to know each other and getting used to playing together.

Oct. 26, 2004 Skylights receive vote in NAIA National Poll
NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Poll

Oct 14, 2004 Skylights picked 4th in preseason poll

Oct 11, 2004 Skylights open season with a win over Regina
It wasn't pretty, but first games never are. The Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team opened its season with an 80-67 win over the University of Regina Sunday at the MSU-Northern gymnasium. Newcomer Jaci Heny scored a game-high 25 points, including 13-13 shooting from the free-throw line, to lead the Skylights.

May 4, 2004 Skylights ink JC point guard
With the graduation of all-conference guard, Montana State University-Northern women's basketball coach Mike Erickson can cross one of his biggest things on his to-do list for the offseason.