GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Montana Tech and the University of Providence opened the Frontier Conference Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in first round action. The Orediggers mounted a comeback in the third quarter, but the Argos held on winning 68-58.

After a tight first quarter that had six lead changes and three ties, the Argos had a slim 18-16 margin at the end of the frame. The Orediggers went 7 for 11 from the field in the first quarter.

But the second quarter was a different story for Tech’s shooting. The Orediggers went 2 for 12 from the field and the Argos started to heat up. Providence outscored Tech 24-17 in the second going 7 for 13 from the field and took a 42-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Argos outrebounded Tech 17-5 in the first half.

The Orediggers started a comeback in the third quarter opening with an 8-2 run. Tech finished the frame on an 11-4 run and outscored the Argos 19-10 in the third cutting their lead to 52-42.

Tavia Rooney went 4 for 4 in the third with eight points and finished the game leading the Orediggers with 16.

Tech kept the momentum going in the fourth starting with a 6-2 run cutting the Argo lead to 54-48 with 8:27 left in the game. Providence stopped the Tech rally there to hold on. The Argos went 8 for 10 from the free throw line down the stretch.

The Orediggers shot 39.3% from the field and the Argos shot just 31.1%. Providence outrebounded Tech 38-20.

Providence hit 7 of 19 from beyond the arc led by Brooklyn Harn hitting 3 of 8 from deep. Harn led the Argos with 17 points finishing with a double-double pulling in 10 rebounds.

Dani Urick had 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Rooney led the Orediggers on the boards with six.

Liv Wangerin had nine points coming off the bench.

Four of the five Argo starters hit double-digits with Reed Hazard finishing with 14 points and Maddy Dixon and Kenedy Cartwright netting 12 each. Hazard led the team with seven assists and Dixon had six rebounds.

Providence moves on to the semifinal round tomorrow.

The Orediggers finish the season 7-18 under first year head coach Jeff Graham.

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