GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball team fell to Montana Tech 79-72 Saturday night.

The Argos (15-13) scored the first four points of the game behind layups from junior Brooke Dial and senior Ainsley Thurber, and following a free throw from the Orediggers (22-4), a hook shot from Thurber put UP in front 6-1.

Montana Tech quickly tied the game at six, but a pair of layups from Dial tied the game at 10.

Each side went back-and-forth the rest of the quarter with a pair of free throws from freshman Madi Reibel tying the game at 18 heading into the break.

The Argos opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run behind a pair of baskets from Thurber, but the Orediggers stormed back with a 14-1 run of their own to take a 32-25 lead.

UP slowly cut into the Montana Tech lead the rest of the quarter with a pair of free throws from freshman Dymon Root cutting the advantage to 41-37 at halftime.

The Argos outscored the Orediggers 10-4 to open the second half behind a triple from Dial and a layup from Thurber to give UP a 47-45 lead.

Both teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter with a layup from senior McKenna Reggear tying the game at 59 heading into the break.

Montana Tech took an early four-point lead in the fourth quarter, and following baskets from junior Eliannah Ramirez and Dial, a triple from the Orediggers put Montana Tech ahead 72-65.

The Argos cut the lead to four behind a three-pointer from Reggear, but the Orediggers pushed the lead out to nine down the stretch as UP fell to Montana Tech 79-72.

The Argos will be back in action on Feb. 27 – March 2 when they head to Butte, Mont. for the Frontier Conference Tournament.