HELENA — Bailey Pasta scored a game-high 18 points, including five consecutive during a pivotal stretch in the fourth quarter, as No. 13 Carroll College defeated No. 19 University of Providence 59-47 in Frontier Conference women’s basketball action on Thursday evening.
The Lady Argos opened the game on a 15-5 run, with Parker Esary leading the charge for coach Bill Himmelberg. The UP post scored four quick points in the opening quarter, and Kallee Wilson’s 3-pointer helped spark the run.
But Pasta nailed a 3-pointer at the end of the period to get Carroll back to within seven points. After a Stephanie McDonagh triple pushed the lead to 20-12 early in the second, the Saints ended the half on a 12-6 run of their own, trimming the deficit to 26-24 at halftime.
Pasta and Brittney Johnson traded 3-pointers with McDonagh to start the second half, but the Saints poured in 22 points in the third quarter to take the lead for good. Carroll forward Taylor Salonen knocked down a 3-pointer as the third period buzzer sounded, giving the Saints a 46-37 lead.
Pasta added four rebounds and one assist to go with her 18 points. Johnson added 11 points, including three 3-pointers, four rebounds and four assists, while Jaidyn Lyman came off the bench to score nine points. The Saints made 10 3-pointers in the win.
Carroll improved to 16-6 overall and 8-3 in the Frontier Conference. The Saints are tied with Rocky Mountain College at the top of the conference standings, after the Battlin’ Bears defeated MSU-Northern on Thursday evening.
McDonagh led the Lady Argos with 15 points. UP fell to 16-6, 7-4 and dropped behind Carroll in the league standings.
