BILLINGS, Mont. – A slow first quarter and another game with too many turnovers were too much for (19) University of Providence women's basketball to overcome in a 71-54 loss to (15) Rocky Mountain College. UP did keep its turnover numbers below 20, but only just, losing the ball 18 times.
 
The game's first four possessions weren't a good omen for Lady Argos as UP turned the ball three times in their four trips down the floor. Those turnovers were broken up by a bucket from junior Tristan Murphy, but the Lady Argos would only get 3 more field goals in the quarter. 
 
By the end of the first 10 minutes, UP trailed by 11. The Lady Argos began to shoot better in the second quarter, and from then on, the game was fairly evenly played. Despite outshooting the Battlin' Bears in the second half, the Lady Argos could never close the gap, only getting as close as 9 points once in the second quarter.
 
Even in that better second half, the Lady Argos struggled to score points from outside the paint. UP went 2-14 from three, while Rocky hit almost 50 percent from distance at 6-13.
 
Even without the balance of outside shooting, UP's freshman Parker Esary was an unstoppable force for the Lady Argos. Esary dominated the post, scoring 10 points in the first half and another 12 in the second for 22 points and 9 rebounds. She did it all while shooting 10-16 from the floor.
 
A big factor is Esary's effectiveness was her ability to stay out of foul trouble, something that has been difficult for her to do at times during Frontier Conference play. The freshman finished the game with 3 personal fouls and played for 32 minutes. Her 10 made field goals tied a career high.
 
Rocky's defense was about as effective as any this season in slowing down the conference's leading scorer, UP's senior Stephanie McDonagh. The guard scored her fifth lowest total of the season, and yet by the standards of almost any other player in the country, she played a great game.
 
She finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, for her first double-double of the season. She also led UP with 2 assists.
 
UP has now lost four of its last five games but the team is still tied for second in the Frontier Conference standings with a record of 16-7 (7-5). The Lady Argos will stay on the road for their next contest, traveling to Idaho to take on Lewis-Clark State College, a team they beat 74-71 at home just a week ago.