GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Play as a nationally ranked team for the first time in a year, (14) University of Providence women's basketball lived up to its ranking with a 67-62 win over Montana State University-Northern. The Lady Argos were led by freshman post Parker Esary through most of the game, but senior Stephanie McDonagh scored UP's last 7 points to fend off an MSUN comeback effort.
 
Both teams shot a similar percentage, with UP shooting better from the charity stripe, and MSUN shooting better from three. Both teams also had 11 turnovers. The one major difference statistically, was a 32-23 rebounding advantage for the Lady Argos.
 
"The biggest thing for us was that we outrebounded them and got a few more shots than them because of that," Head Coach Bill Himmelberg. "We shared the ball well tonight, I thought we moved the ball pretty well against their zone. I think we could have attacked with the dribble a little more, but overall I'm very happy with how things turned out."
 
Some early touches in the paint for UP's two starting post players Parker Esary and Tristan Murphy gave the Lady Argos the lead for most of the first quarter. While Esary continued to be a problem the Skylights just couldn't solve in the second quarter and UP hit 60 percent of its shots, 2 made threes for MSUN's Peyton Filius helped the Lights tie the score at 31-31 by the time the first half concluded.
 
Coming out of the break, MSUN's Brandy Lambourne opened the third quarter with a score to put the Lights ahead. In what would be a series of call-and-response scenarios between the two players, UP's senior guard Stephanie McDonagh gave the Lady Argos the lead back with her first three of the game.
 
UP received an offensive boost in the third quarter from senior Molly Herron. A defensive specialist who averages under 5 points per game, the Havre, Montana native poured in 6 points in the quarter against her hometown team to give UP a 6 point lead by the start of the fourth and final period.
 
After scoring 12 points in the first half, Esary added another 11 in the second, but with four minutes left in the game and MSUN threatening to erase UP's 10 point lead, the ball was put in McDonagh's hands.
 
Lambourne, who scored 30 points in the game, narrowed the gap to 7 at the 4:15 mark. McDonagh answered with a three of her own on the next possession. The Lights then worked the score to 63-60, but right when UP needed a bucket to stop the momentum, McDonagh was there again with a smooth pull-up jumper.  
 
Lambourne got a layup on the other end to bring it back to a one-score game, but after a miss from Esary with 12 seconds on the game clock and 2 left on the shot clock, McDonagh was there for the offensive rebound and a putback that put the game on ice.
 
"Stephanie was huge for us for," Himmelberg said. "Having an All-American like her at the end of games is a big advantage. She is totally capable of taking a game over at any given time. As a coach, it's nice to know you have a player like that. She knows it's her turn to be that player now."
 
Those last 7 points gave McDonagh 18 for the game, completing another do-everything performance that included 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal in 38 minutes on the floor. Esary was equally impressive, leading the team with 23 points and 7 rebounds while adding 2 steals, 1 block, and 1 assist.
 
After one of her best scoring games of her career, freshman point guard Emilee Maldonado only shot 3-10 from the field, but she ran UP's offense well, scoring 9 points with 5 assists, and just 2 turnovers.
 
The win brings UP's winning streak to five games and brings the team's record to 15-3 (6-1). Next, for the Lady Argos will be another home game, this one against Montana Tech on Friday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m.