GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program punched their ticket to the round of 16 by defeating Reinhardt University 80-69 Saturday night.

The Argos (24-8) scored the first basket of the game off a layup from freshman Monique Carter and shortly after a jumper from graduate transfer Ashlee Maldonado gave the Argos a 4-0 lead.

The Eagles (27-4) would respond with an and one but a layup from freshman Keanna Salave'a kept the Argos ahead by three.

Reinhardt continued their momentum with a 7-0 run but a layup from senior Maddy Dixon and a three from Maldonado made it a one-point game.

The Eagles would slowly stretch their lead out to six the rest of the quarter as the Argos went into the second trailing 17-11.

Dixon scored the first four points of the second quarter for the Argos but a three at the other end kept the Eagles ahead by five.

Free throws from Salave'a cut the lead to four and a three-pointer from junior Kolby Pimperton made it 21-20 midway through the second quarter.

Each side would trade baskets until a pair of layups from Salave'a and a layup from freshman Taliah Lee gave the Argos a 31-26 lead.

UP would continue their momentum making it an 8-0 run off a second chance layup from sophomore McKenna Reggear, and following a free throw from the Eagles, a three from Maldonado gave the Argos a 36-27 edge going into the break.

Dixon opened up the second half with a layup, and following a three from the Eagles, a jumper from Maldonado kept the Argos ahead by 10.

Both teams would go back and forth until a layup from Pimperton and a three from freshman Eliannah Ramirez put the Argos ahead 49-37.

Following threes from both sides the Argos rattled off four free throws in a row to extend their lead to 15, and following a three-pointer from the Eagles, a layup from Ramirez gave the Argos a 59-47 advantage heading into the fourth.

Reinhardt would open the final quarter with an 11-2 run but a jumper from Lee kept the Argos ahead by five.

Each side went back and forth over the next three minutes until another three-pointer from Lee gave the Argos a 73-66 lead with two minutes remaining.

Reinhardt would respond with a three of their own, but the Argos made their free throws down the stretch as they punched their ticket to the round of 16 with an 80-69 victory over Reinhardt University. Maldonado led the way with 23 points and Dixon and Salave'a added 16 and 12, respectively.

The Argos will be back in action March 21^st for the round of 16 at the NAIA National Tournament. All games will take place at the Tyson Event Center in Sioux City, Iowa.