BILLINGS -- The University of Providence trailed by one early but never again Wednesday night to steal a 62-50 women's basketball road win at Rocky Mountain College in the first round of the Frontier Conference tournament.
Bailey Cartwright turned in a double-double for the Argos (18-12) with 15 rebounds and 13 points. Providence had four players hit double-digit scoring with Parker Esary and Emilee Maldonado each accounting for 14. The Argos led by as many as 15 in the second quarter.
Markaela Francis, Rocky's leading scorer, again led the Bears (19-10) with 17 points followed by Kloie Thatcher's 16. Those were the only RMC players to reach double figures. Grace Parker had 11 rebounds for the Bears.
Despite Kerstyn Pimperton's buzzer-beating NBA-range 3-pointer at the end of third, Rocky made a fourth-quarter run to cut the deficit to six. But the Bears never got any closer.
Providence will next play a semifinal at top-seeded Carroll College Saturday at 7 p.m.
Rocky's season isn't over. The Bears will again play in this year's NAIA women's national tournament later this month in Billings as the host team.
