BILLINGS, Mont. -- The University of Providence women's basketball team fell to #23 Rocky Mountain College 91-81 Saturday night.

The Battlin' Bears (18-8) scored the first basket of the game, and following a layup from senior Ainsley Thurber, a layup from Rocky Mountain College put the Battlin' Bears ahead by two.

The Argos (15-11) quickly added layups from junior Brooke Dial and senior McKenna Reggear to take an 8-7 lead, but the Battlin' Bears answered with a 22-4 run to take a 29-12 edge into the break.

Rocky Mountain College pushed the lead out to 22 to begin the second quarter but the Argos slowly cut into the lead the rest of the way with a three-pointer from Thurber cutting the Battlin' Bear advantage to 53-35 heading into the break.

Each side traded baskets to begin the second half until a 10-0 run from the Argos behind jumpers from senior Camryn Cartwright, Thurber and a triple from junior Eliannah Ramirez to cut the lead to 67-59.

The Argos continued their momentum into the fourth quarter with back-to-back threes from junior Brooke Dial to trim the advantage to five, but the Battlin' Bears quickly pushed the lead back to nine with four minutes remaining.

The Argos did not go away with a layup and a jumper from Dial cutting the lead to five, but a dagger three from the Battlin' Bears with 30 seconds left was too much for UP to overcome as the Argos fell to #23 Rocky Mountain College 91-81.

The Argos will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 20 when they host Montana Western. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (MST) in Great Falls, Mont.