GREAT FALLS, Mont. – For the first time in 13 games, the University of Providence women's basketball team kept its turnover total below 10, but the clean ball handling was negated by a poor shooting night in a 67-54 loss to (11) Carroll College. The Fighting Saints continue to be a riddle the Lady Argos just can't solve as they'll finish as the only Frontier Conference team with an undefeated record against UP in the regular season. 
 
A vast majority of the first half was played in a frustrating state of close but not quite for the Lady Argos. After a slow start that let Carroll get out to an early 10-2 lead, UP was able to keep the lead at 7 points or less for almost the entire rest of the half and yet only had the game within one score once.
 
That one time was with 9:05 on the clock in the second quarter following a back bucket from freshman point guard Emilee Maldonado. Her score pulled the Lady Argos within 3 points and a block from freshman  post Parker Esary on Carroll's next possession gave UP a chance pull within 1 point or tie the game.
 
UP turned it over instead, and Carroll hit a three the next time down to go back ahead by 6.
 
The frustration wasn't limited to a broad span of time, but also applied to specific moments. During three different possessions in the first half, the Lady Argo defense was on the verge of forcing the Saints into a shot clock violation only to see Carroll take and make a desperation three as the buzzer sounded.
 
One of those times was with just over a minute left in the half and brought Carroll's lead back to 8 for the first time since early in the first quarter. That 33-25 advantage is one that the Saints took into halftime.
 
Working for 20 minutes to cut into a lead without success seemed to take a toll on the Lady Argos in the third quarter. UP's defense just wasn't quite as sharp, and Carroll had its best shooting quarter of the game, hitting 45 percent, and extended the lead 13 points by the end of the period.
 
The fourth quarter was the only one where Carroll didn't outscore UP, with both teams putting up 18 points. The Lady Argos did stage a small comeback attempt, getting the score down to 55-49 with 3:26 left, Carroll's star forward Hannah Dean scored 5 straight points a minute later to bring the margin back to 12. UP would never get closer than 9 points after that.
 
It was also Senior Night for the Lady Argos, but it was the non-seniors who put up the biggest numbers. UP's pair of big post players, Esary and junior Tristan Murphy, both gave Carroll problems.
 
Esary finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks while also forcing the best defensive post player in the conference, Hannah Dean, to foul out. Dean also spent some time defending Murphy who finished with 10 points and 6 boards.
 
Coming off of a  career high  20 points the night before, sophomore Jenna Randich had another good, though not quite as good,  night  with 11 points and 3 assists.
 
Senior guard Stephanie McDonagh, the team's leading scorer, had her  second lowest  point total of the season at 8, breaking a streak of 24 straight games with 10 or more points. She did contribute in other ways with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. 
 
The loss brings UP's record to 17-10 (8-8) and puts the Lady Argos just one game ahead of Lewis-Clark State College for fourth in the Frontier Conference standings, which is the final spot for a home game in the opening round of the conference playoffs.
 
There are two games left in the season for each team and UP's next opponent will be the conference's bottom dweller, Montana State University-Norther. The Lady Argos will be on the road against MSUN on February 21.