DILLON, Mont. – Almost half of (19) University of Providence women's basketball's 55 points scored against (24) Montana Western came in the fourth quarter, but that furious rally wasn't enough to overcome 30 minutes of struggling offense in a 68-55 loss. UP shot 29 percent in the first half and turned the ball over 6 times in the third quarter, before exploding for 24 points in the fourth.
 
UP trailed by 22 points entering the final 10 minutes, and that would have been even worse if not for a three from senior guard Stephanie McDonagh before the end of the third quarter. After making just 13 total field goals in the first 30 minutes and shooting 2-13 from 3-point range, something changed in the fourth.
 
The Lady Argos went 8-18 from the field and made 3 threes in the final period. That did narrow the gap, getting as close as 9 points with one minute left. After a free throw from junior Tristan Murphy brought the score to 64-55 with exactly a minute remaining, UP pressed and tried to force a turnover but couldn't and were forced to foul.
 
The problem was that the Lady Argos had 2 fouls to give before the bonus and almost 30 seconds came off the clock before Western finally went to the free-throw line. That didn't leave nearly enough to make up an 11 point gap.
 
Western got off to a good start and built a 7 point lead through five minutes of play. McDonagh pulled the Lady Argos back within 2 by scoring the last 5 points of the quarter.
 
UP trailed for the entire second quarter, but the score was close until the Bulldogs in threes on three of four possessions around the last three minutes of the period to take a 10 point lead into the half.
 
After shooting 26 percent in the first quarter and 31 percent in the second, the Lady Argos shot 40 percent from the field in the third. That improved shooting was negated by 6 turnovers with Western usually turned into points. Western won the quarter 21-9 which put the Lady Argos into the 22 point hole at the start of the fourth.
 
Foul trouble was a big factor in the game, costly the Lady Argos valuable minutes from one of its best players. Western had no answer for freshman Parker Esary, who finished with 17 points, and 9 rebounds on 7-8 shooting, but she only played 28 minutes and eventually fouled out.
 
UP's other leading scorer, Stephanie McDonagh finished with 4 fouls and she played 28 minutes and finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals.
 
The Lady Argos are now on a four game losing streak with a 16-9 (7-7) record. All four of those losses have come on the road, and UP will finally return home for its next game, a February 16 contest against (15) Rocky Mountain College at 5:30 p.m.