GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A sluggish second half caused the University of Providence women's basketball team to fall to Rocky Mountain College 71-56 Thursday night in the McLaughlin Center in the opening game of Frontier Conference play. 

The Battlin' Bears (6-1, 1-0) outscored the Argos (9-3, 0-1) 41-22 in the second half, including 17-6 in the third quarter to turn a 34-30 halftime deficit into a 15 point win.

"In the second half they shot it extremely well," head coach Bill Himmelberg said. "They moved the ball well and we didn't have enough energy to move around defensively to scramble where we needed to scramble. They got it low on the block a few times and I didn't like that. I don't think we followed our defensive game plan the way we should have."

Four Argos scored in double digits for the Argos, led by 13 points from Emilee Maldonado. Maddy Dixon nearly recorded a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Parker Esary also was a rebound short of a double-double, finishing with 10 points and nine boards. Kerstyn Pimperton added 10 points for the squad.

As a team, the Argos shot 32.8% from the field and 23.8% from the three-point range, going 5-21 from beyond the arc. The team finished with seven assists on their 22 made baskets.

"We just didn't move the ball very well tonight," Himmelberg said. "We had seven assists tonight. That's a long way from the 20 to 25 we've had before. Give Rocky a ton of credit tonight, they defended well. We were taking the first available shot instead of moving the ball and taking the best available shot. We shot it a little early in the shot clock sometimes."

N'Dea Flye led the way for the Battlin' Bears with 21 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. Shaunie Bribiescas added 15 while Kloie Thatcher chipped in 12.

The Argos will have to rebound quickly as they'll travel up to north on Saturday to face MSU-Northern in Havre. That game will tip off at 2:00 p.m.

"We just have to come out and be ready to go," Himmelberg said. "The Frontier is hard every night. Anybody can beat anybody on any given night. We lost one tonight but we have to get back on the horse. It isn't going to be any easier up there so we have to be ready to go."