BUTTE, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program fell to Montana Tech 62-58 Saturday afternoon.

The Argos (11-6) scored the first five points of the game off a three from senior Ashlee Maldonado and a jumper from sophomore Monique Carter, but a pair of layups on the other end from the Orediggers (12-6) made it 5-4.

Both teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter but a layup from junior Ainsley Thurber kept the Argos ahead 16-15 at the end of the first.

The Argos opened the second quarter with a 6-2 run behind a layup from Carter to extend the UP lead to five, but the Orediggers responded with seven straight to take a 24-22 lead midway through the second quarter.

Each side went back and forth the rest of the half until a layup from sophomore Eliannah Ramirez brought the Argos to within two, but a jumper as time expired from the Orediggers put Montana Tech in front 33-29 going into the break. Salave'a led all scorers with 11 points in the first half.

Montana Tech scored the first five points of the third quarter to extend their lead to nine, but a jumper from Carter made it 38-31.

The Orediggers maintained that edge the rest of the quarter as the Argos trailed by seven heading into the fourth.

Sophomore Taliah Lee hit a three to make it a four point game to start the fourth but a pair of baskets pushed the Oredigger lead back out to eight.

A pair of threes from Maldonado made it 60-54 with a minute remaining, and despite late pressure from the Argos, UP fell to Montana Tech 62-58.

The Argos will be back in action Jan. 23 when they travel to Billings, Mont. for a matchup with Rocky Mountain College. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Fortin Education Center.