(Editor’s note: University of Providence media release)
KIRKLAND, Wash. – No. T-18 Providence women’s basketball fended off a late Northwest Christian rally as Emilee Maldonado delivered a clutch layup with 2.6 seconds on the clock to garner their second win of the season, 85-83.
Maldonado had a career night as she set a career-high 28 points in the win. She nearly missed a double-double, garnering eight assists, while also collecting three rebounds and three assists. Maldonado was 71 percent from long distance and 55 percent from the paint. Parker Esary also had a great night for the Argos as she garnered 20 points, going 10-for-18 in the paint on the night. Jenna Randich and Tristan Murphy were the other Argos in double figures, scoring 14 points and 10 points respectively. Murphy also collected five rebounds.
The Beacons opened the game to a five-point lead, 5-0, before an Argos’ three from Kerstyn Pimperton evened the game at 11 and a layup from Randich tied things up again at 13. Two free throws from Elly Teske gave the Argos their first lead of the opening period with two minutes remaining. A free throw from Molly Schmitz and a layup by Maldonado closed out the period as the Argos tallied three to the Beacons two to hold a one-point advantage.
The second period was controlled by the Argos as scored five-straight points to open the period to a six-point lead, 23-17. The Argos maintained their lead for most of the period, however the Beacons brought the deficit down to three with 2:15 on the clock. The Argos rallied to an 8-2 run to close out the half and push their lead to 45-36.
A two-point jumper from Parker Esary tacked on two more to give the Argos their only two-digit lead of the game to open the second half, 47-36. The Beacons and Argos traded points through the third period as Northwest Christian would only get within three, but a three from Maldonado closed out the third period to a six-point Argo lead, 66-60.
The Beacons scored a layup to open the final period, but a three from Randich sparked a 10-2 Argo rally to push the Argos to their largest lead of the day, 76-64. The Beacons slowly whittled away at the Argos lead in the final period to bring the game within a point in the final 20 seconds of play, 82-81. Maldonado made a free throw to push the lead back to two, but the Beacons found an answer as they made a layup to tie the game up at 83. However, Maldonado scored on a fastbreak layup to push the Argos to the two-point win over the Beacons, 85-83.
