GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Lady Argos led (2) Lewis-Clark State College up until the final minute of the third quarter, but lost the lead at the start of the fourth quarter and never got it back, losing 78-70 to the Warriors. The game was a big improvement from that last time the two teams played, a 99-74 loss for UGF in Lewiston.
 
UGF certainly wasn't intimidated in the opening minutes, hitting two 3-point shots to start the game. The two teams traded runs and the lead, with the Lady Argos holding the advantage for the first five minutes and the Warriors holding a 6-point lead at the end of 10 minutes.
 
In the second quarter, it was UGF that looked like the second best team in the nation. The Lady Argos held the Warriors to 26 percent shooting from the field, while making 47 percent on the other end including 2-3 from three. A 7-0 run starting at the 8:38 mark and ending at 6:41 flipped the score from 27-21 LCSC to 28-27 UGF.
 
Included in that run were two buckets from senior center Whitney George, who finished with 6 points in the quarter and established herself as an offensive force to be reckoned with. She was one of five Lady Argos to finish with 5 points or more in the first half, all of them starters.
 
Freshman guard Jenna Randich played one of her best halves of offense all season, not just because of her two 3-point field goals, but also because of her 4 assists and 0 turnovers.
 
With a lead of three to start the second half, George, senior guard Nneka Nnadi, and junior guard Stephanie McDonagh took over the game for the first six minutes of the third quarter. Their performance grew the Lady Argo lead to 10 with four and half minutes left in the period, but LC State then went on a 12-2 run to tie the score at 54 before the start of the fourth.
 
That run continued into the next period. Led by point guard Caelyn Orlandi, the Warriors took a 62-54 lead before UGF finally scored. Nnadi and George accounted for 10 of the Lady Argo's 16 fourth quarter points but UGF just couldn't keep LC State from making shots. The Warriors hit 61 percent of their attempts in the final 10 minutes.
 
One of the major differences between UGF's 25-point loss at LC State and the team's close loss at home was the play of Whitney George. George earned her first double-double of the season with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Her ten rebounds were a season high and her 30 minutes were her second most of the year.
 
George wasn't the only Lady Argo to finish with a double-double. As good as the center was, Nneka Nnadi may have been better. The junior led UGF with 16 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
 
Right behind Nnadi in scoring was McDonagh with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. The junior played all 40 minutes and was often tasked with defending the Warrior's leading scorer Brittany Tackett. Tackett scored 20 points in 20 minutes the last time the two teams played but only managed 8 points this time around.
Randich scored in double-digits for the first time since the last game against LC State. The freshman finished with 10 points and led UGF with 5 assists and 0 turnovers.
 
UGF's record goes to 12-6 (1-6) on the season and next face Montana Tech at home on Saturday, January 21 at 5:30 p.m. When the two teams played earlier this year, Tech beat UGF 75-68 at home.