GREAT FALLS, Mont. – One of the toughest teams in the NAIA showed why they ranked sixth in the nation on Tuesday as the University of Providence defeated Bushnell in women's basketball action, 62-48, on elementary school day.  
 
The Beacons kept things competitive and had drawn to within one point in the third quarter, but the Argos used a 13-0 run and kept the Beacons from hitting a field goal for a six-minute stretch to pull away for good.
 
"I was pleased with our response today after a really mediocre game on Monday," said head coach Chad Meadors. "We bounced back against a really good team and battled. That is a team that is going to make a really deep run and that is what we want to be. Now we have a really good idea of what we need to do in order to improve.
 
For the Argos (6-2) it was their sixth straight win and they used their size to their advantage, holding a 45-34 rebounding margin and a 20-14 edge from points in the paint. Carroll shot 36.7% from the field in the contest but were 12-for-13 at the free-throw line.
 
Bushnell shot 31% from the field and hit four three-pointers along with forcing 17 Providence turnovers. Leading the team for second straight game was Ayden Krupke, scoring 15 points as the only Beacon in double-figures. Mandy Sisul and Libby Mathis earned seven points apiece with Mathis posting a team-high six rebounds.
 
Providence was led by Ashlee Maldonado, scoring 20 points while Keanna Salave'a earned a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds along with four of the Argos seven blocked shots.
 
Bushnell moves to 1-4 to close out their non-conference portion of the schedule, but as far as Coach Meadors is concerned, the team is 0-0. He said, "At this point it's not about looking at wins and losses, it's about focusing on improvement. I don't know a better way for us to prepare ourselves for league than to play the games we did against the teams that we did. We know what we've got to do and it's time to realized we are a good team, and settle into the league schedule, find our rhythm and routine."
 
The Beacons will get a short break before they return to action on December 6 at 5:30 pm, playing host to Multnomah University (2-4) in the Cascade Collegiate Conference opener for both programs.