HELENA, Mont. – The No. T-18 Argo women's basketball dominated the Carroll Saints in the opening period, but the Saints were able to outscore the Argos in the following three periods to take the 74-69 victory.

The Argos (7-1) outshot the Saints from beyond the arc, 50 percent, and from the line, 80 percent, but the Saints (6-2) were able to find an answer as they handed the Argos their first loss of the season.

Emilee Maldonado led the Argos with a team-high 24 points, while Reed Hazard and Molly Schmitz joined her in the double-digits with 10 apiece. Maldonado also dished out four assists and collected two rebounds. Parker Esary dominated the board for the Argos as she grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, followed by Schmitz who narrowly missed a double-double with eight boards. Esary also swatted two balls and collected a steal in the loss.

The Argos dominated in points off the bench as they outscored the Saints 18-5 from their reserves.

The Argos flexed their muscles in the first period as they outscored the Saints 15-3 to take a double-digit lead following the first 10 minutes of play.

The Saints were able to slowly cut down the deficit in the second period as they brought the gap back within single digits at the 5:15 mark, 22-13. Carroll would then outscore the Argos 11-4 to bring the game within two, but a free throw from Maldonado and a three from Hazard, while the Saints notched a layup, gave the Argos a four-point advantage headed into the locker room, 30-26.

Carroll opened the half on an 11-2 run to grab their first lead of the game, 37-32. The Argos would respond with a run of their own to outscore the Saints 6-2 and cut the deficit to one, 39-38. However, the Saints would knock down a three to maintain a four-point advantage until a pair of layups from Alicia Oatis and Maldonado tied things up at 46 to end the third period.

The Argos would lead early in the final 10 minutes as a Maldonado three put the Argos on top, 49-46. The Saints would tie up the match at 49 and 51, but the Argos would maintain the lead until the Saints connected on an and one layup at the six-minute mark to retake the lead, 59-57. The Saints would get as far ahead as eight, but the Argos would never get closer than four as the Saints would control the final minutes of the game to grab the 74-69 victory over the Argos.

Up Next
The Argos will continue their road trek as they travel to Billings on Saturday, December 1 to take on the Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears at 5:30 p.m.