GREAT FALLS, Mont. – No. 22 Argo women's basketball found success against the Montana Tech Orediggers on Saturday as they handed them a 76-57 defeat at the McLaughlin Center.
 
The Argos (17-9, 6-8 Frontier) had fell in the previous two contests against the Orediggers (12-13, 2-12 Frontier), but finally pulled out a victory at home.
 
Emilee Maldonado and Parker Esary led the way for the Argos, tallying 16 points apiece. Esary tallied a double-double with 14 rebounds, while Maldonado was one board short with nine. Molly Schmitz also scored double-digits in the contest with 13 points.
 
Mollie Peoples was a one-man show for Tech as she was the sole Oredigger in double-digits with a game-high 23 points. Kaylee Zard led Tech in the post with nine boards.
 
A 2-2 tie was the only time that the contest wouldn't have an Argo advantage. The University of Providence closed the first period with a seven-point lead, however they nearly doubled their lead through the following 10 minutes as they took a 12-point lead into the locker room, 39-27.
 
The Argos would extend their lead to 24 at the 1:16-minute mark of the third period, but a buzzer-beater jumper from the Orediggers cut the lead down to 22, 60-38.
 
The Argos held a 29-point advantage with two and a half minutes to play, but one final 14-4 rally from Tech would bring the game to its final, 76-57.
 
Up Next
The Argos hit the road as they take on the No. 21 Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears on February 14 at 5:30 p.m.