GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Argo women's basketball opened up their 2018-19 campaign with a 77-69 victory over the Mount Royal Cougars on Saturday.
 
Parker Esary led the Argos offensively scoring a double-double, including a game-high 23 points and collecting 12 rebounds. Esary shot for an impressive 8-for-10 from the field and was perfect from the line, 7-for-7. Jenna Randich scored 19 points for the Argos, in addition to garnering six rebounds.
 
The Argos started off slow as the Cougars got out to a 12-6 lead following four minutes of play. However, the Argos rallied to score five unanswered to bring the deficit to one, 12-11, less than a minute later. Kerstyn Pimperton gave the Argos their first lead of the game after hitting a three with four minutes to play in the first, 16-14. The Argos remained in control through the end of the opening period to extend their lead to five, 21-16.
 
The second period opened up to eight-straight Argos' points to push Providence to a double-digit lead, 29-16. The Argos would extend their lead to 16, but the two squads would trade points until the Cougars made the final two shots of the period to bring the deficit to 10 at the break, 40-30.
 
The Argos opened the second half on fire as they scored 15 unanswered to push their lead to 25, 55-30. Mount Royal diminished the deficit to 17, but a free throw from Jenna Randich closed out the period with an 18-point Argo lead.
 
Mount Royal maintained their momentum heading into the final period as they brought the game back within 10 with 4:23 left in the fourth. The Cougars were able to bring the game down to a single-point lead with 2:44 remaining, 72-63, but the Argos managed to fend off the Cougars rally as the game eventually ended to an eight-point Argo victory, 77-69.
 
Up Next
The Argos will head to the Evergreen State as they will play Northwest Christian and Northwest University on October 26 and 27 at 5:30 and 8 p.m. respectively.