BILLINGS, Mont. – An encouraging bounce-back game from sophomore guard Jenna Randich and a strong performance from freshman post Parker Esary weren't enough for the (RV) University of Providence women's basketball team in an exhibition game against a strong Montana State University Billings squad. The MSUB Yellowjackets, who are off to the best start in program history, beat the Lady Argos 87-65.
 
In a game that wouldn't have changed UP's overall record either way, the biggest takeaway was the play of Randich. The 2016-17 Frontier Conference Freshman of the Year looked poised to go from roleplaying starter to star in the first half of the first game of the year before leaving the game with an injury that would keep off the court for over a month.
 
Randich came back on December 2 and in her two games before MSUB, she scored just 10 points on 2-11 shooting. Against the Yellowjackets, she got back to form, scoring 18 points while shooting 4-8 from three and 6-6 from the free-throw line with 5 assists.
 
"Jenna had a big night. It was nice to see her breakout and shoot the ball so well," Head Coach Bill Himmelberg said. "I think that was important for her."
 
Despite Randich's play, the best guard on the floor throughout the game was MSUB's Alisha Breen, who was named the United States Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week a week earlier. Breen controlled the game, scoring 26 points with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
 
The other problem for the Lady Argos was how well MSUB was shooting the ball from distance. MSUB shot 12-28 from 3-point range including 7-16 in the first half. That shooting display put UP behind 41-30 at the half and the Lady Argos never really recovered.
 
Playing against an NCAA Division II opponent for the first time in her career, Esary wasn't fazed. The freshman scored a team leading 19 points, her highest total in a game since scoring 20 against San Diego Christian on November 13. She also had 6 rebounds, but did turn it over 5 times.
 
The team's third and final double-digit scorer was senior guard Stephanie McDonagh with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
 
UP has played MSUB in each of the past three seasons going 0-3 in that stretch. While the game was an exhibition for the Lady Argos, the game counted for the Yellowjackets. The next contest for the Lady Argos won't be for another 20 days when UP hosts (17) Our Lady of the Lake University on December 29 at 5 p.m. UP is 1-1 against ranked teams in 2017-18.