HAVRE, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program defeated Montana State University Northern 69-55 Thursday night.

The Argos (11-5) scored the first basket of the game when graduate transfer Ashlee Maldonado found senior Maddy Dixon for a layup.

The Skylights (8-9) would answer immediately with a jumper, but a three-pointer from Maldonado gave the Argos a 5-2 lead.

Following a pair of baskets from MSU-Northern, senior Kolby Pimperton made a three and a layup to extend the Argo lead to four halfway through the first.  

MSU-Northern would cut the lead in half, but a jumper from sophomore Camryn Cartwright made it 14-10 going into the second.

Maldonado would open the quarter with her second three of the game, but a 6-2 run from the Skylights cut the lead to three with five minutes remaining in the half.  

UP would answer with an 8-0 run behind a layup by freshman Keanna Salave'a and a pair of baskets from freshman Taliah Lee.

The Argos would extend their run to 18-0 to end the half going into the break leading MSU-Northern 37-18. Maldonado led the way for UP with 13 points in the first half.

Freshman Monique Carter would score the first basket of the second half and following a free throw from MSU-Northern, Maldonado's fourth three of the game increased the Argo lead to 23.  

Each side would trade baskets and following a layup by the Skylights to cut the lead to 20, a layup from freshman Eliannah Ramirez pushed the lead back to 22.

MSU-Northern would go on a 9-2 run to end the quarter to cut the Argo lead to 15 going into the fourth.

Salave'a and Carter would both make layups to open the final quarter, but a three-pointer from the Skylights kept the Argo lead at 16.

MSU-Northern would hit back-to-back jumper to cut the lead to 12, but layups from Salave'a and Maldonado put the Argos ahead by 16 with just over three minutes remaining.

Despite a late three from the Skylights, the Argos made their free throws down the stretch as UP defeated MSU-Northern 69-55. Maldonado led the way for the Argos with 20 points and Carter added 16 points as well.

The Argos will be back in action Jan. 20 when they host Montana Tech. Tip-off versus the Orediggers is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in the McLaughlin Center.