Brandon Stinson

Women's Basketball 1/10/2024 6:00:00 PM Brandon Stinson | Sports Information & Media Coordinator

GAME NOTES: Rocky Women’s Basketball Returns Home to Host #16 Argos

BILLINGS, Mont.- The Battlin' Bears will host the first of three straight home games in the Fortin Education Center on Thursday evening in a top-25 matchup with the University of Providence.

Matchup

#12 Rocky Mountain College (11-2) vs #16 University of Providence (9-5)
Thursday, January 11th | 5:00 pm (MT) | Fortin Education Center

Battlin' Bear Recap

The Rocky women won all three matchups against the University of Providence a season ago and have won four straight against the Argos. Their last loss to Providence came in 2021-22 as Rocky's fourth-quarter comeback efforts fell just short, 57-55.

Despite their conference opening loss in Butte on Saturday, the Battlin' Bears still boast an impressive 11-2 record with only one game played in the Fortin Education Center this season. Both their 11 wins and two losses lead all Frontier Conference teams.

Morgan Baird has proven to be a tough matchup offensively this season in more ways than scoring the basketball. Her five assists in the loss versus Tech ties her career high and marks the second game this season she has dished five assists in a single game. Baird is also the only player in the Frontier Conference to be top five individually in points per game (15.5) and field goal percentage (57.4%).

Sophomore and local Billings Senior product Brenna Linse made her first start in Butte on Saturday and impressed in her playing time. Linse set new career highs in rebounds (7), offensive rebounds (4), and minutes played (23). She made three of her four field goal attempts and hit both of her free throw attempts. Linse has been a great offensive rebounder in her minutes this season, as 21 of her 39 rebounds this season have been offensive boards.

Gracee Lekvold and Ky Oliver have been consistent for the Battlin' Bears offensively, as both have scored 10 or more points each in all but one game since Thanksgiving. Oliver ranks 7th in the Frontier in points per game (12.3) and 3rd in three-point shooting percentage (39.3%) this season, while Lekvold ranks 4th in assists per game (3.3) and 8th in steals per game (1.6).

The Rocky women have played just one game in the Fortin Education Center this season, an exhibition game against MSU Billings on November 15th. Their matchup on Thursday will be the first of three straight on their home court, taking on MSU-Northern on Saturday, January 13th, and hosting #5 Carroll College on Thursday, January 18th.

Preview

The Argos will have their second straight top-25 matchup entering Thursday after opening up their conference schedule against #5 Carroll College at home, falling 59-63.

Providence has been led this season by two newcomers and three new starters in their lineup from last season. Graduate transfer Ashlee Maldonado is an early front-runner for Newcomer of the Year in the conference, scoring 17.4 points per game, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game so far this season. Freshman Keanna Salave'a averages 14.6 points per game and is the Frontier's leading rebounder with 11.4 boards per game. Preseason All-Conference selection Maddy Dixon has also been a big impact for the Argos, averaging 10.9 points per game and adding 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game defensively.

The Argos enter Thursday ranked #16 in the NAIA but are looking to shake off a three-game losing streak. Providence has impressive wins this season against then #4 Indiana Wesleyan and then #9 ranked Vanguard University, as well as their most recent victory over #25 Indiana Tech in Hawai'i. Their only loss to a top-25 team this season is to #10 Lewis-Clark State College in Helena, 78-72.

Find live updates by following Battlin' Bears Athletics on Social Media

Twitter: @BattlinBears
Instagram: @battlinbears
Facebook: /battlinbears

Print Friendly Version