DILLON -- Reed Hazard hit a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer to help Providence to a 67-64 Frontier Conference women's basketball win over Montana Western on Sunday at Straugh Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game at 64-64 on a Brynley Fitzgerald bucket with 12 seconds remaining. But UP's Emilee Maldonado found Hazard for one of her four made 3-pointers in the game to avoid overtime and secure the win in regulation. Hazard finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including a 4-for-6 mark from 3-point range. Maldonado made four 3s herself and had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Argos, who finished with 18 assists on 27 made field goals.
Providence held a slim advantage through much of Sunday's game, leading 36-30 at halftime and 50-40 after three quarters. The Argos largest lead came at the 8:15 mark of the fourth quarter when a Maldonado 3 put them up 55-43.
But Fitzgerald scored Western's next nine points and 14 total in the fourth quarter to keep her team close. She finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds. Sydney Sheridan added 14 points for the Bulldogs.
The difference in the game came from behind the 3-point line. Providence made 12 of 26 3-point attempts, while Western was 9 of 28.
With the win, Providence improved to 4-3 overall and 4-3 in Frontier play. The Argos are next set to host MSU-Northern on Jan. 30 and 31.
Western, meanwhile, falls to 8-4 overall and 6-4 in Frontier play. The Bulldogs will play at Montana Tech on Jan. 30 and 31.
