OLYMPIA, Wash. – Overcoming a nine-point halftime deficit, the Montana State-Northern Skylights played to a 52-50 win over the host Evergreen Geoducks in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Thursday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Skylights (4-3) used a pair of three-pointers to jump out to a 6-0 lead but the advantage didn’t last long as the Geoducks (1-3) pressured MSUN to 17 first-half turnovers, converting for 20 points off giveaways as the Geoducks took their first halftime lead of the season into the break at 29-21.

Montana State-Northern quickly fixed their mistakes at halftime and was able to pull even with 11:44 left in the game on a free-throw by Taylor Cummings.  Evergreen fought back as the two teams exchanged leads for the next nine minutes.

The Skylights used a layup by Nikki Tresch to take a 52-50 lead with 2:26 remaining and both teams went cold the rest of the way as neither team was able to get a basket, including an attempt at the buzzer by Jessica Denmon (Oak Harbor, Wash./Skagit Valley CC) that clanged out for the Geoducks as they lost the tight game to the Skylights.

Evergreen was led by 12 points from junior Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS), who also added nine rebounds, five steals and a block on the night.  Senior Jessica Edge (Lake Stevens, Wash./Skagit Valley CC) added 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench.  The Geoducks turned the ball over just 12 times on the night, compared with 21 for MSUN.

Montana State-Northern was led by 15 points off the bench from Kacie McKeon.  Tresch finished with 14 points in the win.  The Skylights shot 38.6% on the night, making 17-of-44 attempts from the field.

The Geoducks will take a bit of a break as they don’t hit the hardwood until Dec. 14 when they head over the mountains to take on Central Washington in an exhibition.  Tip with the Wildcats is set for 7 p.m. at Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg, Wash.

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