Frontier Conference play gets under way tonight when the Carroll College women visit the Electric City for a game with the University of Great Falls. Carroll keeps going north after playing the Argos as they head to Havre for another league game against MSU-Northern.

“It’s always tough to open conference play with two games on the road,” Carroll coach Shawn Nelson said. “Especially when Great Falls has a completely different team than last year. They’re more talented inside and outside. It’ll be a very challenging weekend.”

UGF (7-7) is coming off an 83-73 loss to Whitworth College and have lost three of its last four games. The Argos are led by Laura Keaster’s 18.2 points per game. Junior college transfer Jocelyn Moore is also in double-digits with 13.0 and leads the team in rebounding with 8.2.

“Keaster and Moore have led them to some wins over good teams,” Nelson added. “They’re real strong at home. They beat Minot by 20 and they’re a pretty good team every year.”

Former Boulder star, freshman Kylie Bullock, has played in all 12 games during the non-conference slate. A great nose for the ball, Bullock has averaged two boards, over one assist and one steal (fourth on the team) while playing just a handful of minutes each game.

MSU-N (10-4) counters with four players in double-figure scoring. Dana Ball, Kaylee Shaw, Stacie Baker and Ashley Trulock all average between 10 and 12.1 ppg.

Barker leads the Frontier Conference in rebounding with 12 per game.

“Northern is very balanced and methodical,” Nelson said. “They make you guard them and are good at that style.”

Former Helena High star Mandee Carroll is on the MSU-N roster.

Carroll is led by the league’s top scorer (21.1) and the top 3-point shooter in the nation (62.5 percent), senior Jolene Fuzesy. The game will be her last in Havre where she played part of her prep career with the Blue Ponies.

The Fighting Saints also have the top assist player in Caitlin Courchaine, who averages 5.5 per game.

“We’re taking steps in the right direction,” Nelson said of the Saints. “The Azusa game was a good wake up call for us.”

Nelson expects a tough test every night out this year.

“In general every team in the league is good,” he said. “This is the first year that from top to bottom there’s parity. Anybody can get beat any night. It’s good for the league, but at the same time gives you an uneasy feeling.”

Carroll returns to Helena next week to face Montana Tech on Thursday and UM-Western on Saturday.

Reporter Tom Stuber: 447-4070 or irsports@helenair.com