BILLINGS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program defeated #12 Rocky Mountain College 60-51 Thursday night.

The Argos (10-5) scored the first basket of the game when freshman Keanna Salave'a found sophomore McKenna Reggear for a layup.

The Battlin' Bears (11-3) would respond with a layup of their own, but a three pointer by graduate transfer Ashlee Maldonado gave the Argos a 5-2 lead.

Rocky Mountain College would go on an 8-0 run until Maldonado's second three of the quarter shortened the RMC lead to two.

Maldonado would go back and forth with RMC over the next five minutes scoring 16 total points in the first quarter to give the Argos a 21-14 lead.

The Battlin' Bears would open the second with a 8-0 run, but Maldonado would hit her fourth three of the game to retake the lead for the Argos.  

Each side would trade baskets but a three-pointer by freshman Taliah Lee and a layup by Salave'a gave the Argos a 32-29 lead going into the break.

UP would score the first points of the second half behind a layup by Salave'a, but a 7-0 run by the Battlin' Bears gave RMC a two-point lead.

Maldonado would answer immediately with another three pointer and a layup by Salave'a retook the lead for UP 39-36.   

Each side would trade baskets the rest of the quarter as the Argos went into the fourth leading by four.

RMC would score nine of the first 13 points of the fourth as the Battlin' Bears took a 46-45 lead halfway through the quarter.

The Argos would answer with Maldonado's sixth three of the game followed by a layup for her 28^th point of the night to retake the lead for UP 50-46. Six threes and 28 points are both new career highs for Maldonado.

Maldonado would add a pair of free throws and a three-pointer for her 33^rd point of the night to extend the Argo lead to eight with three minutes left.

Despite a late run from the Battlin' Bears, a late three from freshman Monique Carter sealed the 60-51 victory for the Argos.

Maldonado led the way for the Argos setting a new career high with 33 points and seven three pointers. Seven three pointers is tied for the second most in a single game in Argo Athletics history joining Emilee Maldonado and Erin Legel.

The Argos will be back in action Jan. 13 when they host Montana Western. Tip-off versus the Bulldogs is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in the McLaughlin Center.