GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program fell to #5 Carroll College 63-59 Saturday night.

The Argos (9-5) scored the first basket of the game when sophomore McKenna Reggear found senior Maddy Dixon for a layup.

The Fighting Saints (10-3) would respond immediately with a jumper by Kyndall Keller and a layup by Maddie Geritz to take a 4-2 lead.

There would be three lead changes over the next four minutes but a 4-0 run to end the quarter by Carroll gave the Fighting Saints a 16-12 lead.

Carroll would extend their lead to six to open the second, but a 10-0 run for the Argos behind a pair of threes by graduate transfer Ashlee Maldonado retook the lead for UP 24-20.

The Fighting Saints would answer with a 9-0 run of their own to take a five-point lead halfway through the quarter.

Neither team could pull away in the final five minutes and freshman Monique Carter would end the half with a three-pointer to cut the Fighting Saints lead to two.

Jamie Pickens would open the second half with a jumper for the Fighting Saints, but an and one by Maldonado made it a one-point game.

Carroll would extend their lead back to five, but an 8-0 run behind layups from senior Kolby Pimperton and freshman Keanna Salave'a gave the Argos a three-point edge.

Both sides would trade baskets the rest of the quarter as UP went into the fourth leading by two.

Neither team would gain a lead by more than five throughout the fourth quarter until a layup by Pickens made it 57-52 with under two minutes remaining.

Despite a late layup by Maldonado, the Fighting Saints made their free throws down the stretch as the Argos fell to #5 Carroll College 63-59.

The Argos will be back in action Jan. 11 when they travel to Billings, Mont. Tip-off versus #12 Rocky Mountain College is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in the Fortin Education Center.