(Editor’s note: University of Providence athletics release)
GREAT FALLS — Argo women’s basketball (9-2) found themselves at a deficit at the start of the fourth, but a 20-11 final 10 minutes clinched a 61-55 win over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (5-6) on Friday evening.
Parker Esary led all scorers with 22 points, while also grabbing a double-double with a season-high 16 boards. Emilee Maldonado was the second Argo in double-digits as she netted 15 points, in addition to dishing out six assists.
The Pronghorns took the early lead, 5-2, but a three from Kerstyn Pimperton knotted things up at five. Both teams tallied two points to a tied game at seven apiece. The Argos would take a 9-7 lead, but the Pronghorns responded with a three to retake the lead, 10-9. University of Lethbridge closed out the period on a 6-0 run to take a seven-point advantage after the opening period, 16-9.
Over the opening six minutes of the second period, the Argos slowly chiseled away at the Pronghorns lead to eventually tie things up at 23. Lethbridge would outscore the Argos 5-2 to close out the half with the three-point advantage, 28-25.
The Argos came out of the locker room to outscore the Pronghorns 6-3 to tie things up at 31 with eight minutes remaining in the third. The Pronghorns responded with a pair of free throws and would lead by as much as five, before sending things to the final 10 minutes with the Argos down by three, 44-41.
The Argos kicked things into gear during the final period as Esary layup tied things up at 43. Another layup from Esary gave the Argos their first lead since the opening period, 45-43. Both teams would net two points to bring the match to 47-45, but that was as close as the Pronghorns would get as the Argos outscored Lethbridge 14-10 to close out the match and seal the victory, 61-55.
