Skylights rebound with pair of wins
By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
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
The Skylights set the tone early on Friday, jumping out to a big lead and
cruising to a 75-53 win over Notre Dame De Namur University of California.
"We came out with a whole different mindset," said Skylights head
coach Mike Erickson. "We were out to prove to ourselves that we were a
better team. I thought, as a whole, our will to win was much better."
It didn't hurt that Northern jumped out to a 41-18 lead in the first half
against an undermanned Notre Dame squad.
"Our offense was clicking right away, which gave us some confidence we
were looking for," Erickson said. "I think it was definitely down a
little, offensively."
The Skylights didn't let up much in the second half, pouring it on as some of
their younger players got into the act, including redshirt freshman center
Ashley Trulock, who posted a career high 12 points and six rebounds.
"Ashley going out and being our second
leading scorer definitely gave her some confidence she was needing,"
Erickson said. "It also gave us a glimpse into the future of what she will
bring to this team. It was also big to get some of our younger players into the
game. Those games are important because they give them some incentive for all
of the practice."
Northern dominated Notre Dame in every statistical category, including rebounds
(41-21), assists (23-13), turnovers (28-23) and shooting percentage (44-23).
Besides Trulock, the Skylights got a team-high 14 points from Jessi Reome.
Megan Valgardson added 12 points, while point guard Camille Gardner added 11
points and six assists.
On Saturday night, Northern continued its solid play, for at least a half, in a
72-71 win over
The Skylights played their single best half of basketball this season,
dominating the Yellowjackets en route to a 46-27 lead. Northern shot 42 percent
from the field and knocked down six three-pointers while rolling to a 19-point
lead.
"We set the standard of how we are capable of playing in that half,"
Erickson said. "Anything less than that would be
underachieving. We were doing the little things like taking care of the
ball and boxing out. We were also so aggressive on both ends of the
floor."
If anything less would be underachieving, then Northern admittedly
underachieved in the second half. BHSU erased the 19-point lead and left the
Skylights' clinging to a slim lead.
"The roles were reversed," Erickson said. "They started playing
with a lot of emotion and we started playing a little passive. We stopped
attacking the basket."
Still, Northern did what it had to do to win the game, which included sinking
16 of 24 free throws in the second half.
"That was a great learning experience - going from being up 19 at halftime
to having to play with our backs against the wall," Erickson said.
"We found a way to win."
Reome led the Skylights for the second straight night with 22 points, including
four three-pointers. Jaci Heny added 12 points, seven assists and four
rebounds.
"It's definitely nice to get back on the winning track after three
straight losses," Erickson said. "I thought we responded really well
and came out with the right attitude. The three losses really matured us as a
team. I think it showed this weekend."
Northern will now be off for the Thanksgiving break and will return to action
on Dec. 3-4 when it hosts the
MSU-NORTHERN 75,
NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR 53
NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR (53)
Michelle Heuer 2-4 2-3 6; Tamsen Lee 7-18 0-0 17; Darice Murray 2-4 0-0 4;
Chrysten Cotney 3-8 0-0 9; Corazon Riley 2-5 0-0 4; Shiondre Austin 0-1 0-0 0;
Amanda Montieth 2-6 2-2 6; Cathy Tennes 1-5 0-1 2; Jennell Day 0-2 5-6 5.
Totals: 19-53 9-12 53.
MSU-NORTHERN (75)
Kristie Pullin 0-4 2-2 2; Camille Gardner 3-6 2-2 11; Jaci Heny 1-4 2-2 4;
Jessi Reome 6-15 1-2 14; Megan Valgardson 4-5 1-2 12; Ashlie Griffin 0-2 0-0 0;
Laura Keaster 1-1 0-0 2; Heather Riener 2-4 0-2 4; DeLayne Johnston 0-6 1-2 1;
Jena Heggem 2-4 1-2 6; Michele VanDyke 2-4 3-4 7; Ashley Trulock 5-6 2-3 12..
Totals: 26-61 18-25 75.
Halftime score: MSU-N 41, ND 18. Three-point goals: ND 6-15 (Lee 3-7, Cotney
3-5, Monteith 0-2), MSU-N 5-16 (
MSU-Northern 72, Black Hills St. 71
BLACK HILLS STATE (71)
Lindsay Buthe 2-4 4-4 8; Alisa Doolan 2-6 0-0 4; Lacey Haughian 6-8 0-1 12;
Jill Thomas 1-7 0-0 2; Ashley Kent 7-12 0-2 17; Snjezana Dojcinovic 0-2 0-0 0;
Becca Walters 3-5 1-1 8; Lana Giannonatti 0-3 0-1 0; Jamie Bentley 3-6 2-2 10;
Brittney Klipfel 4-7 2-2 10. Totals: 28-60 9-13 71.
MSU-NORTHERN (72)
Jessi Reome 6-14 6-6 22; Kristie Pullin 4-9 0-1 9; Camille Gardner 2-6 2-5 8;
Jaci Heny 3-8 6-8 12; Megan Valgardson 0-4 9-12 9; Ashlie Griffin 1-1 0-0 3;
DeLayne Johnston 2-5 0-1 4;
Halftime score: MSU-N 46, BHSU 27. Three-point goals: BHSU 6-12 (Doolan 0-1,
Thomas 0-2, Walters 1-1, Giannonatti 0-1, Bentley 2-4), MSU-N 8-21 (Reome 4-8,
Pullin 1-3, Gardner 2-5, Heny 0-2, Griffin 1-1, Heggem 0-2). Rebounds: BHSU 46
(Haughian 10); MSU-N 25 (Valgardson 7) Assists: BHSU 16 (Giannonatti 4); MSU-N
15 (Heny 7). Turnovers: BHSU 27, MSU-N 15. Total fouls: BHSU 29, MSU-N 15.
Fouled out: Haughian, Klipfel; Technicals: BHSU coach.