GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball team looks to avenge a brutal overtime loss from earlier in the season when they face off against #24 Rocky Mountain in Billings Thursday evening. After the road game, the Argos (13-9, 4-6) will return to Great Falls to host #22 Montana Western at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The Argos are coming off a split weekend. The defeated Montana Tech Friday night before falling to #21 Lewis-Clark State at home on Saturday.

"We've been in the gym getting better," head coach Bill Himmelberg said. "We're excited to get back on the road and get back at it. Hopefully we shoot the ball a little better than we did against LC."

The Argos will need to be able to slow down Markaela Francis, who is averaging 15.9 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game. She scored 27 points and 14 rebounds when the teams met earlier in the year.

"We have to be able to control Markaela somehow," Himmelberg said. "She does a great job for them. They run most of their offense through her. And we have to make sure that we rebound the ball well. They are super physical on the boards."

Saturday's game is an entirely different beast. Montana Western is riding a three-game winning streak and have previously defeated the Argos 73-60. The game will tip off at 5:35 p.m. and be broadcast on SWX Montana. 

"Western is playing really well right now," Himmelberg said. "They're shooting the ball really well because of how they execute. They're going to shoot the three so we're going to have to defend the three-point line and make sure we don't give them a lot of second chance opportunities."

Both teams will have to plan for the Argos' balanced attack as well. The squad is currently third in the nation in 3 pointers a game (9.4) and total 3 pointers made on the season (207). The Argos are seventh nationally in total assists (382) and eighth in assists per game (17.4).

The Argos are balanced offensively with four players averaging double figures. Parker Esary leads the team with 14.8 points per game, followed by Bailey Cartwright (13.7 ppg) and Emilee Maldonado (13.2 ppg). Jenna Randich contributes 10.6 points per game while Kenedy Cartwright averages 9.2. Maldonado also leads the Frontier Conference in assists with 4.9.

The Argos are currently 6^th in the conference standings, but are only one game back from the 4^th spot, currently held by Rocky Mountain. A big weekend could propel them up the standings.

"The Frontier is so brutal," Himmelberg said. "You can't take a look at the overall big picture and worry. You just have to focus on the one that is in front of you. You have to stay positive and know that you play really tough teams."