BILLINGS -- Call it great defense or ice-cold shooting. Either way, Rocky Mountain College held off Carroll College Wednesday night for a low-scoring 43-39 Frontier Conference women's basketball win at the Fortin Center.
The Bears led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter before Carroll chipped away, cutting it to two in the fourth. But the Saints were held to 25 percent shooting compared to Rocky's 32 percent as the Bears (14-6 overall, 5-4 Frontier Conference) trimmed Carroll's conference lead. The Saints slip to14-7 overall and 6-3 in the Frontier.
Markaela Francis was Rocky's only player in double figures with 14 points. She also collected seven rebounds.
Christine Denny led everybody with 17 points for Carroll. Danielle Wagner was just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
The Saints host Montana Western on Friday. Rocky plays at Western Saturday.
Jovan Sljivancanin led Carroll's men to a 76-61 win in the nightcap. The Serbian player turned in a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Rocky had five players score in double figures led by Sam Vining with 12. Clayton Ladine and Darius Henderson each added 11. Ladine led the Bears in rebounding with seven.
The Saints hit 50 percent of their 3-pointers, shooting 7 of 14 from outside. They also won Wednesday's battle in the paint, outscoring Rocky 36-22. Most devastating were Carroll's advantages in second-chance points (18-3) and points off turnovers (18-4).
The Saints improve to 15-6 overall and 6-3 in conference. Rocky falls to 6-12, 1-8.
