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Skylights out to improve in rematches with Western, Tech
By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
Nothing against the town of Dillon, but Mike Erickson's recent memories of
the place haven't been exactly fond. Can you blame him? The last time the
Montana State University-Northern women's basketball coach was there, his
team was lambasted by 41 points by the UM-Western Bulldogs.
It's a memory that Erickson and his returning players wouldn't like to relive
when they travel to Dillon for tonight's Frontier Conference basketball game.
"Not at all," Erickson said. "But it's still there in the back
of your mind. It isn't something that is easy to forget."
Not even a 78-71 loss to Western at the Frontier Conference Tip-off tourney
earlier in the season can erase the feeling of walking off the UM-Western gym
floor after a shelling like last year. Perhaps the best way to rid themselves
of the memory is to pick up a win tonight.
"We have to have the attitude of going in with a chip on our
shoulders," Erickson said. "We're going into their house and even
though they lost some players from last year, there is still that sense of a
winning tradition."
No team in the conference was hit harder by graduation than Western. The
Bulldogs lost all-everything forward Bobbi Suhr, who finished her career as
Western's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Also gone is all-conference
forward Karly Tait and shooting guard Vanika Dickerson to graduation, while
point guard Shyla Epler, who led the nation in assists, decided not to
return. Also out for the season is 6-4 center Jill Feller, who will have back
surgery.
With roughly 80 percent of its offense
missing from last year, Western relies heavily on several younger players for
production.
The Bulldogs don't have one dominant scorer. Rather they have a foursome
averaging in double figures led by freshman center Katherine Sunwall at 11.8
points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
Guards Hillary Taylor and Megan Schmitz are averaging 10.9 and 10.8 points
per game, respectively, while former Havre High standout Alyssa Matter
averages 10.4 points per game.
In the past, the entire offense went through Suhr, this year's foursome makes
the offense much more diverse.
"Every one of their players can hurt you," Erickson said.
"Taylor can get hot from the three-point line. We have to know where
she's at so we don't let her get going."
In the earlier game this season, the foursome combined for 48 points and 22
rebounds. But it wasn't just those four that hurt Northern. Sophomore Verna
Hugs scored 14 points aided by four offensive rebounds, while junior Megan
Gradert pulled down 11 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds.
"Hugs killed us with putbacks and scores inside," Erickson said.
"We didn't expect that out of her.
Hugs and Gradert were part of a greater problem for the Skylights in the
game. Western outrebounded Northern 48-36, including 22 offensive rebounds.
"We gave up 22 offensive rebounds; that's unacceptable," Erickson
said. "It's impossible to win against any team giving up that many
second chances."
Looking at its roster, Northern shouldn't be outrebounded by many teams.
Still, it has happened on more than a few occasions this season. Fortunately,
Erickson was able to add a little help during the semester break. Transfer
DeLayne Johnston will suit up for the first time as a Skylight this weekend.
Johnston comes to Northern from the University of Montana, where she spent
red shirt years for the basketball team and competed for the volleyball team
this season.
The 6-foot Johnson was a three-time all-state basketball player and should
provide instant offense and rebounding immediately.
"She's picked up everything faster than I planned," Erickson said.
"She's really made a smooth transition onto the team. You worry about
that with mid-season transfers, but she's Jena Heggem's cousin and played
against Michele (VanDyke), Sheena (Darlington) and Kristie (Pullin)."
Even with the addition of Johnson, Erickson admitted winning in Dillon is
going to be a challenge.
"They're playing some good basketball right now," Erickson said.
"They lost two very close games last weekend. And their players have
played quite a few more conference games than ours."
Basically, it boils down to the little things that Erickson seems to preach
every week: cutting down on turnovers, rebounding and making free throws.
Simple enough in saying, but a little more difficult to accomplish those
things on the road.
"I think we're playing with more intensity and aggressiveness,"
Erickson said. "We're more mentally prepared. Something has switched in
their heads and they realize what the conference season is all about."
Part of the mental aspect of the conference season is playing back-to-back
road games. Northern is no stranger to that. The quality of competition will
be a little tougher on Saturday night, but at least it will be familiar.
The Skylights will head to Butte to face a Montana Tech squad that dealt them
a 68-63 loss almost two weeks ago at the Mount Royal Classic in Canada.
In that game, the Skylights, suffering from the effects of three games in
three days, stumbled in the beginning, shooting 6-36 from the field in the
first half.
Along with the frigid shooting, Northern played the game without both of its
point guards. Still, the Skylights had opportunities to win the game.
Erickson believes that because it's a conference game, his players won't let
fatigue bother them this time around.
"A lot of it is mental when it comes to overcoming fatigue,"
Erickson said. "Our preseason schedule prepared us for road games. I
would hope they know what's ahead for us."
What's ahead is an Oredigger team that is still very dangerous despite
dropping its first two conference games and its 6-13 record.
Tech is led by 6-foot senior all-conference post player Melissa Ritter and
6-foot sophomore post Marcie Alzheimer. Ritter torched Northern last year
inside, while Alzheimer averages 11.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. The
Diggers got additional help this season from transfer Kaila Fowler, who is
averaging 12.5 points per game and give Tech a solid outside threat.
"Fowler is playing some great basketball right now," Erickson said.
"With Ritter and Alzheimer inside, they have three players you really
have to respect."
The prevailing rule in the Frontier is to try for a split on the road, which
would be satisfying for the Skylights. Still, Erickson knows his team can do
better than that if they play the defense that has them holding opponents to
under 60 points per game.
"Our defense has to remain constant," Erickson said. "I'm
really pleased with our intensity on defense. We need it to continue because
it can carry us through tough spots, especially on the road."
Along with wanting wins, Erickson wants to show Western and Tech that his
team is much different and much improved from earlier in the season.
"We owe it to these teams and to ourselves to give them a better
game," Erickson said. "We've told our players to play with their
backs against the wall. They know that losing a conference game means
something more in the long run. We can't afford not to be at our best."
The Skylights will tip off at 6 p.m. both nights and can be heard on 92.5
KPQX-FM.
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