HELENA, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program fell to Milligan University 64-62 Saturday afternoon.

The Argos (9-4) scored the first basket of the game when freshman Keanna Salave'a got around the defender in the post for a layup.

On the very next possession, Salave'a would find senior Maddy Dixon in the post for a layup. After free throws by both teams, Dixon made back-to-back layups to extend the Argos lead to five.

The Buffaloes (10-3) would shorten the Argo lead to four to end the first quarter. Dixon led the way with six points in the opening ten minutes.

Each side would trade threes to open the second, but a 5-0 run by Milligan gave the Buffaloes a 20-18 lead.

There would be four lead changes over the next five minutes highlighted by freshman Monique Carter's steal and layup to give the Argos a one-point lead.

The Buffaloes would hit a jumper in the final minute of the first half to go into the break leading the Argos by one.

Milligan would open the third with an 8-0 run, but a three-pointer by graduate transfer Ashlee Maldonado and a jumper by freshman Taliah Lee cut the lead to four.

The Buffaloes would end the quarter on a 9-4 run to go into the fourth leading 52-43.

Both teams would go back and forth over the first few minutes, but a jumper and a three-pointer by Maldonado cut the lead to five with two and a half minutes remaining.

Following Kolby Pimperton's seventh rebound of the game, Carter found Pimperton on the wing for a three to shorten the lead to two.

On the very next possession the Argos increased their run to 10-0 behind a layup by Salave'a to tie the game at 62 with 40 seconds left.

The Buffaloes would make a jumper with two seconds left and despite a last effort shot from the Argos, UP fell to Milligan State 64-62.

The Argos will be back in action Jan. 6 for their Frontier Conference opener versus #5 Carroll College. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Great Falls, Mont. at the McLaughlin Center.