GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program defeated Eastern Oregon 67-57 Friday night.

The Argos (23-8) scored the first basket of the game off a pull-up jumper from graduate transfer Ashlee Maldonado, but a layup on the other end by the Mountaineers (21-8) tied the game at two.

Neither side would gain a lead by more than three the rest of the quarter as the Mountaineers took a 17-16 edge into the second quarter.

A layup from freshman Keanna Salave'a opened the second for the Argos, and following a three-pointer from Eastern Oregon, layups on back-to-back possessions from Salave'a gave the Argos a 22-20 lead.

The game saw ties at 22 and 24 before a 5-0 run behind a pair of layups from Salave'a pushed the Argo lead out to five.

The Mountaineers would close the half on a 7-2 run to take a 32-31 lead into the break.

The Argos would open the second half with baskets from Salave'a and freshman Monique Carter, but a layup from EOU kept the game within one.

UP answered with a 7-0 run behind a three from Salave'a and a layup from Carter to push the Argo lead out to nine midways through the third quarter.

The Mountaineers slowly cut into the Argo over the next three minutes but an and one and a layup from Salave'a gave the Argos a 50-40 lead.

The Mountaineers would add a basket as the Argos took a 50-42 lead into the fourth quarter. Salave'a scored 14 points in the third.

Both sides would go back and forth until layups from Dixon and freshman Eliannah Ramirez put the Argos ahead 57-45 with just over six minutes remaining.

Eastern Oregon shortened the Argo lead to nine but a layup from Maldonado made it 63-52 with three minutes left.

Despite a late run from the Mountaineers, a late layup from Salave'a secured the 67-57 victory. Salave'a led the way for the Argos setting a new career high with 35 points.

The Argos will be back in action tomorrow night for a trip to the sweet 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Great Falls, Mont. at the McLaughlin Center.