GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program defeated MSU-Northern 75-69 Thursday night.

The Argos (17-8) scored the first basket of the game off a pull-up jumper from freshman Monique Carter but a pair of layups on the other end gave the Skylights (11-16) a 4-2 lead.  

Both teams would go back and forth over the next six minutes with neither team gaining a lead by more than three.

Free throws from graduate transfer Ashlee Maldonado tied the game at 17 but a free throw from the Skylights gave MSU-Northern an 18-17 advantage after the first quarter.

The Skylights would score the first points of the second but a three from sophomore Camryn Cartwright tied the game at 20.

MSU-Northern would go on an 8-0 run over the next four minutes to make it 28-20 midway through the second quarter.

The Argos would respond with a pair of layups from senior Maddy Dixon and freshman Eliannah Ramirez to cut the lead to four.

The Skylights would end the half with a three-pointer to take a 36-28 lead into the break.

The Argos would open the third quarter with four straight behind Dixon and freshman Keanna Salave'a to cut the lead back down to four.

A jumper from Maldonado would make it six in a row for UP, and following a layup from MSU-Northern, a layup from Maldonado made it a two-point game.

The Skylights would answer with a 7-0 run but a jumper from Maldonado kept the game within seven.

UP would cut the lead to three following layups by Maldonado and Salave'a but a layup from MSU-Northern gave the Skylights a 49-44 lead heading into the fourth.

Salave'a would open the fourth with a pair of free throws but a three on the other end put the Skylights ahead by six.

Each side would trade baskets until a three from Maldonado and a layup from Dixon brought the game within one with eight minutes left.

 UP would make it an 8-0 run following an and one from Salave'a to retake the lead for the Argos 56-54.

Following a three from the Skylights, free throws from Salave'a put the Argos back out in front by one.

MSU-Northern would add a free throw to tie the game at 58, but a 6-0 run behind layups from Maldonado and Cartwright gave the Argos a 64-60 edge.

The Skylights would add a pair of free throws but layups from Dixon and Cartwright pushed the Argo lead out to six with just under three minutes remaining.

Each side would add a layup and despite a late run from MSU-Northern, the Argos made their free throws down the stretch as they defeated the Skylights 75-69. Maldonado led the way with 24 points and Dixon added 19 points as well.   

The Argos will be back in action Feb. 24 for the regular season finale against Montana Tech. Tip-off versus the Orediggers is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the McLaughlin Center.