GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Depth has been a major factor for Lady Argo basketball in 2016-17, but in the team's 66-62 win over the University of Calgary, it was the starters who ruled the day. Four UGF players scored all but 9 of the team's total points, 14 of the team's 19 total steals, and 5 of the team's 6 total steals.
 
In the first half, the Lady Argos just couldn't make a shot, particularly during a second quarter in which only 4 shots of 16 attempts successfully found their way through the hoop. Taking nine trips to the free-throw line, and making all of those, kept UGF alive in that quarter, but through 20 minutes of play, the team still trailed the Dinos 39-30.
 
The first nine points of the third quarter were all Lady Argos, led by senior forward Nneka Nnadi with two lay-ups in the paint. Calgary retook the lead at the 8-minute mark in the period, but a layup from senior center Whitney George tied the game again a minute later and the Dinos never led again.
 
Part of the turnaround for UGF was leading scorer Stephanie McDonagh getting back to her scoring ways in the final two quarters. The junior guard scored 13 of her game-leading 18 points in the second half and was joined by George to create a formidable inside-outside offensive attack. All but one of George's points came in the second half and 3 of her 4 blocks came in that time span as well.
 
After shooting 35 percent in the first quarter, and 25 percent in the second, UGF's percentages from the field jumped to 47 in the third and stayed just under 45 in the game's last period. The fourth quarter was also the Lady Argo's best defensive effort, holding Calgary to its lowest shooting percentage of the night and only giving up two free throws to the Dinos.
 
While McDonagh and George made the difference in the second half, Nnadi and senior guard Darah Huertas-Vining kept UGF in the game in the first half and were significant contributors in the second as well. Nnadi finished as the team's second leading scorer with 16 points, and Huertas-Vining wasn't far behind with 13.
 
McDonagh not only led UGF with 18 points, but she also led in steals and assists. Her 9 steals set a new career and put her one point shy of a double-double and she added 4 assists and 4 rebounds to her game totals.
 
The win brings the Lady Argo's record to 11-2 (0-2) and marks the team's last non-conference game of the season. UGF ends non-conference play with a perfect 11-0 record against teams not from the Frontier Conference.
 
Conference play will resume with a home game on January 5 against MSU-Northern at 5:30 p.m.