GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Bismarck State women's basketball was on the road on Saturday for a Frontier Conference matchup against (RV) Providence (Mont.), looking to capture another victory over a ranked opponent at the beginning of a stretch where they play four consecutive ranked conference foes.
The Mystics opened the night trading baskets with the Argos, hoping to match UP's inside scoring with efficient perimeter looks. However, through the first, the Argos held a slim 14-11 advantage as the Mystics were within striking distance despite shooting just 18.8 percent from the floor in the opening frame. Providence capitalized in a big way in quarter two, shooting 8-for-16 and building a 36-24 advantage by halftime.
The third quarter appeared to be the turning point for BSC. The Mystics tightened defensively, holding the Argos to just ten points in the period while chipping away behind thanks to a combined 16 points from Stormer, DeCoteau and McPherson. By the time the quarter closed, BSC had cut the deficit to single digits at 46-40.
The Mystics carried that energy into the fourth, but Providence found timely answers. Each time BSC threatened to trim the margin further, the Argos countered with key interior baskets or defensive stops, eventually rebuilding a double-digit lead. Despite the Mystics' push down the stretch, Providence closed out the final minutes to secure the 65-52 win.
Kennedy Stormer paced the Mystics once again, finishing with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting, including four three-pointers. Natalie DeCoteau added 10 points and three rebounds, while Aleah McPherson chipped in six points and eight rebounds. BSC knocked down eight threes and committed 17 turnovers compared to just nine from the Argos, which gave UP a 23-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
With the loss, Bismarck State moves to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in Frontier Conference play. Providence improves to 6-2 and 2-2 in league action.
The Mystics now prepare for a quick turnaround as they head west for a Sunday matchup at MSU-Northern (5-2, 3-1) at 1 p.m. CT. They'll then continue a challenging December road slate, including a Division-I test at North Dakota on Dec. 9, before returning to Montana for games against No. 16 Carroll (Mont.) and No. 15 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Dec. 12 and 13.
They'll break for the Holiday following that road trip and their first game out of the break will be a short trip to cross-town Division-II foe, UMary (N.D.) on Dec. 31. Their next home game will be Friday, Jan. 2, at 5 p.m. to host Montana Tech.
Check out the women's schedule for information on how to follow and watch the team during their upcoming games.
Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.
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