GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Argo women's basketball earned an upset victory and moved to 5-0 after defeating the No. 14 Master's University Mustangs on Education Day, 62-59.
The Argos opened the game up with two 4-0 runs but the Mustangs responded with the Argos output to take a 9-8 advantage. The Mustangs would push their lead to as much as four, but two free throws from
Alicia Oatis in the final 10 seconds brought the deficit down to two, 19-17.
An and-1 layup from
Jenna Randich put the Argos in control to begin the second period, 20-19, but the Mustangs were quick to tie it back up at 20. The Argos maintained their advantage outscoring the Mustangs to take a four-point lead, 28-24. The Master's Mustangs went on an 8-4 run to close the gap and tie the game once again at 32 all. The Mustangs would net another free throw, but layup from
Reed Hazard and
Jenna Randich closed out the half to put the Argos up by three, 36-33.
The Mustangs outscored the Argos 8-3 following the break to give the advantage back to the Mustangs, 41-39. Randich connected on another three to put the Argos back up 42-41, sparking an 15-2 run to give the Argos their largest lead and the only double-digit lead of the game, 54-43. The Master's hit two free throws to drop the advantage to nine after three periods, 54-45.
The fourth began with an Argo drought as the Mustangs scored 11 unanswered to tie the match at 54 and then take a 56-54 lead, but the Argos wouldn't go down easy as
Tristan Murphy netted a layup in the paint to once again tie the game up at 56. A Mustang layup and free throw pushed The Master's to a three-point lead, 59-56 with three minutes to play.
Emilee Maldonado connected on a free throw to bring the Argos within two at the one-minute mark. With an upset on the line and 16 seconds remaining on the clock,
Jenna Randich hit a contested three to give the Argos a one-point lead and then following a missed Mustang three, she hit two free throws to seal the Argos victory over No. 14, 62-59.
Randich had a career outing against the Mustangs, setting a new career-high 23 points, while also collecting six boards, two blocks, and two assists in the win.
Parker Esary filled the stat sheet as she netted 16 points for the Argos, in addition to grabbing five rebounds, dishing out two assists, garnering two blocks, and getting a steal.
Tristan Murphy also filled the box score with a double-double in the win. She knocked down 10 points, collected a team-high 11 boards, grabbed two steals, blocked a shot, and garnered an assist.
Up Next
The Argos head to Billings, Montana to take on the MSU-Billings Yellowjackets in an exhibition match tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.
