Lewis-Clark State Warriors

Game Capsule: MSU-Northern at LCSC

Posted on 09 January 2010 by Ryan Collingwood

Here’s a brief game preview and quotes from Montana State-Northern head coaches Shawn Huse and Chris Mouat.

MEN

Tipoff: 8 p.m. tonight, LCSC Activity Center

Records: Montana State-Northern 12-5 overall, 0-1 Frontier Conference; Lewis-Clark State 10-5 overall, 1-0 Frontier Conference.

Players: Senior guard Andrew Sellars leads the Lights at 15.4 points per game, connecting on nearly 50 percent of his 3-point attempts. Markus Monroe leads L-C with a league-best 19.8 points a night.

Game themes: MSUN had its nine-game win streak snapped with a 65-48 loss at No. 12 Westminster on Thursday, and will be looking to avoid an 0-2 start in FC play. L-C bested Great Falls 76-68, but will be facing a team that’s allowed just 64 points a game and boasts four players who average double figures in scoring. If the Warriors can weather the Lights’ defensive frenzy and contain their adequate perimeter play, a 2-0 start is more than feasible.

“L-C State has unbelievable size and a great deal of athleticism,” MSUN head coach Shawn Huse told the Havre Daily News. “Their bigs can step away well from the basket as well, and they possess a good combination of shooters with pure scorers in the backcourt. We will need to deal with their size and strength if we are going to have a good chance in their gym.”

WOMEN

Tipoff: 6 p.m. tonight, LCSC Activity Center

Records: Montana State-Northern 9-8 overall, 0-1 Frontier Conference; Lewis-Clark State 15-2, 1-0 Frontier Conference

Players: Samm Schermele, a 5-foot-9 guard from Great Falls, leads the Skylights at 18 points per game. Sophomore stalwart Jasmine Stohr has paced the Warriors all season, averaging a team-high 14.7 points.

Game themes: The Skylights, who fell to No. 19 Westminster on the road on Thursday, have a balanced crop of scorers, most of whom are new to the program via the JC ranks. Zivile Gaizutyte, a 6-2 post from Lithuania, is second in scoring and the team’s leading rebounder to complement the efforts of an athletic backcourt. No. 11 LCSC will have to avoid a shaky start like it had in its league opener on Thursday. The Warriors turned that game into a 78-50 rout of Great Falls, but MSUN probably matches up better with LCSC

“L-C State is very, very good again this year,” MSUN head coach Chris Mouat told the Havre Daily News. “They are big and experienced inside, but their guards are really what makes them go. They really do have it all, and again, our defense will be key against them. If we play well defensively, well have a chance.”