Box Score Butte, Mont. - In their first conference game of the season, the No. 16 MSU-Northern Skylights defeated the Montana Tech Orediggers 66-63 at the HPER Complex in Butte Thursday evening.  The Skylights were led in scoring by senior guard Natalee Faupel who notched a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. 
In a close game that had eight lead changes and saw the score tied eight different times, the Skylights were able to make crucial free throws in the closing minutes to move to 1-0 in conference play (8-1 overall).
 The Skylights pulled down 10 offensive rebounds and led with a score of 13-8 at the end of the first quarter.  Despite giving up 15 points in the second quarter and shooting just 29 percent from the field in the first half, Northern was able to tie the score going into halftime off a three pointer by junior guard Jacy Thompson. 
The third quarter finished with the Orediggers on top 40-37.  Tech built a five point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Skylights capitalized on free throws by hitting 15-17 from the charity strip.  Sophomore guard Katie Fertterer was perfect from the line shooting 8-8 in the final stanza.
Northern recorded a season high 16 offensive rebounds and out rebounded the Orediggers 39-27.  The Skylights defense also held Tech to shooting just 2-5 from beyond the arc.  Tech sits third in the NAIA in three point field goals made with 100, averaging just over eight three pointers a game.
Senior guard Hattie Thatcher led the Orediggers in scoring with 20 points, going 7-7 from the free throw line.
The Skylights travel to Lewiston, Idaho to face the No. 7 LC State Warriors Saturday night at the LCSC Activity Center.  Tip off is scheduled for 5:30 pm PST.