Haerling, Warriors back in step; Point guard returns after four-game absence, helps women douse Lights 91-71

The past two weeks have most likely been the toughest of Nikki Haerling's young life.

But the Lewis-Clark State junior guard showed no visible effects Thursday night, scoring 10 points and doling out eight assists in the Warriors' 91-71 Frontier Conference women's college basketball victory over Montana State-Northern at the L-C Activity Center.

Haerling left the team prior to its Jan. 29 home date with Montana Tech after learning that her family had been involved in an automobile collision en route to the game. Her grandfather and sister were killed in the accident, and her mother, father and grandmother sustained serious injuries.

Haerling, who rejoined the Warriors on Monday, appeared in her customary starting spot at point guard. She received a loud ovation upon scoring her first bucket on a zone-penetrating drive just over a minute into the game, then added a long 3-pointer later in the half to temporarily quell an MSU-Northern charge.

Afterward, L-C coach Brian Orr said he wondered whether he should have called a play for Haerling so early in the contest. But she put those questions to rest with her initial move to the hoop.

"I thought it kind of loosened us up," said Orr, whose club remained unbeaten on its new court and improves to 19-8 overall and 8-3 in FC play.

"Nikki coming back this week was a big lift for us," he added. "No question about it."

L-C, which zoomed ahead 24-12 to start the game, watched its lead shrivel to just two points before pulling ahead 40-36 at the half.

MSU-Northern continued to keep things close over the first few minutes of the second half before L-C reeled off a 21-4 run that consumed nearly six minutes and left the visitors from Havre trailing 68-47 with 11:06 remaining.

Much of the damage was inflicted by Warrior frontliners Kendra West and Ashley Baker, who accounted for 12 points during that span.

Baker tacked on another 10 points down the stretch, helping L-C stem the Skylights' rally bid. She finished with a game-high nine rebounds and matched West's 19-point scoring effort.

West, L-C's lone senior, grabbed only three rebounds. But that was enough to make her the program's all-time leader in that category, giving her 716 for her career. Former Warriors Amanda Campbell (1995-99) and Rosie Albert ('94-98) had shared the previous mark of 715.

But West said she wasn't focused on personal accomplishments leading up to, during, or after the game.

"So much has happened the last couple of weeks that I haven't thought about it at all," she said, alluding to Haerling's situation.

It's that kind of unselfish nature that has been an overriding factor in West's success at the collegiate level, according to Orr.

"I don't know if you can really put (West's accomplishments) on paper. I just don't know if stats are going to do it," Orr said, referring to West's leadership role. "She's helped us so much off the floor as well."

L-C also received a 14-point contribution from Jade Fulbright, and the Warriors converted nearly 52 percent (33 of 64) of their field goal attempts, including a 56.7-percent showing (17-for-30) in the second half.

MSU-Northern outshot L-C in the opening half, hitting on 14 of 27 attempts (51.9 percent). But the Skylights went cold after that, going just 8-for-32 (25 percent) over the game's final 20 minutes.

NOTES -- Haerling declined comment after the game. ... Gate receipts from Thursday's matchup will be donated to a relief fund to help cover her family's medical expenses, and a silent auction was held to benefit the fund.

MSU-NORTHERN (21-9, 7-5)

VanDyke 2-5 0-1 4, Valgardson 4-10 11-12 19, Reome 3-9 3-3 11, Heny 6-14 3-5 15, Gardner 0-4 0-0 0, Riener 0-1 0-0 0, Pullin 4-8 2-2 12, Johnston 2-3 4-4 8, Heggem 0-4 0-0 0, Trulock 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 22-59 23-27 71.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE (19-8, 8-3)

Kalbfleisch 3-8 0-0 8, K. West 8-10 1-2 19, Baker 7-11 5-8 19, Haerling 2-8 5-6 10, Fulbright 5-7 3-4 14, Hart 0-2 0-0 0, Wittmer 0-1 0-0 0, Yancheva 3-7 0-0 9, Boggs 0-0 0-0 0, V. West 2-4 2-2 6, Jackson 1-1 0-0 2, McCauley 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 33-64 16-22 91.

Halftime score -- Lewis-Clark State 40, MSU-Northern 36. Three-point goals -- MSU-N 4-23 (Reome 2-7, Heny 0-5, Gardner 0-3, Pullin 2-5, Heggem 0-3), L-C 9-17 (Kalbfleisch 2-5, West 2-3, Haerling 1-1, Fulbright 1-1, Yancheva 3-6, West 0-1). Rebounds -- MSU-N 38 (Valgardson 8, Johnston 8), L-C 34 (Baker 9). Assists -- MSU-N 11 (Gardner 3), L-C 22 (Haerling 8). Total fouls -- MSU-N 22, L-C 20. Fouled out -- Heny. Technical fouls -- none.

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Bauer may be contacted at dbauer@lmtribune.com