GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The ninth-ranked Vanguard women's basketball team got outscored 23-5 in the fourth quarter to fall 73-56 to No. 18 Providence on Saturday at the McLaughlin Center Gymnasium.
The Lions entered the final period with a 51-50 lead after outscoring the Argos 22-13 in the third quarter. But the Blue and Gold sputtered over the final 10 minutes, shooting just 2 of 16 overall and 1 of 8 from three-point range.
Halle Si'i scored all five of her team's points in the fourth quarter. The remainder of the team shot 0 of 14 from the field.
Ashlee Maldonado and Keanna Salave'a combined for 14 of Providence's 23 points in the fourth. The Argos made all eight of their free throw attempts and did not commit a turnover as they held together down the stretch.
Si'i and Melissa Akullu each scored 18 points to lead the Blue and Gold. Jaryn Madsen notched nine points, all on three-pointers. Akullu added 10 rebounds for her second double-double in as many games.
VU shot just 31.8 (21 of 66) percent for the game, including 30.0 (9 of 30) percent from distance. The Lions attempted only eight free throws and sank five.
Si'i had eight assists and two steals but also committed six of VU's 11 turnovers.
Maldonado finished with game-highs of 21 points and nine assists, while Salave'a had a 16-point, 17-rebound double-double as the Argos improved to 6-0.
VU is now 1-1 on the young season.
What Happened?: The Lions turned in their most productive performance in the third quarter, shooting 8 of 15 overall and canning three triples to turn a 37-29 halftime deficit into a one-point lead.
VU appeared to be picking up steam as Akullu poured in 11 of her 18 points in the third.
But the momentum shifted just as quickly as the Lions seized it. VU missed 10 straight shots over a seven minute plus stretch to start the fourth and the Argos capitalized with a 17-0 run. Si'i tied the score at 53-53 on a layup with 9:21 to go, but the Lions went ice cold and Providence held a 70-53 lead at the 2:04 mark.
The two teams exchanged the lead six times in the opening period in a highly entertaining start as Providence led 21-20.
Both squads struggled to begin the second quarter as they combined to score just five points over the first five minutes. Si'i made one of two from the line, and Akullu and Maldonado had layups for the lone scoring.
With the score tied at 23-23, the Argos mounted a 14-3 run and led 37-26 on two Maddy Dixon free throws with 1:18 remaining. The Lions closed to 37-29 at the break.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions scored a combined 42 points in the first and third quarters, and were held to 14 points over the second and fourth stanzas.
What's Next?: VU suits up against Montana State-Northern on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. The game will be played at the McLaughlin Center Gymnasium in a neutral site affair.
