Women’s Basketball: UGF Lady Argos host playoff game
The 23rd-ranked University of Great Falls women’s basketball team will welcome Lewis-Clark State College to the McLaughlin Center for a first-round Frontier Conference playoff game Tuesday night at 7.
This is the first home playoff game for the UGF women’s program since 1985. The Lady Argos (8-6 Frontier, 21-8 overall) earned the home playoff contest by finishing fourth in the regular-season standings.
“This is a very special and exciting night for the women’s team,” UGF head coach Bill Himmelberg said. “It speaks volumes about how hard our girls have worked, as well as assistant coaches Jaci Heny and Sydnee Burke. I feel very lucky to have assistants like them on my staff.”
The Lady Argos split two regular-season contests with the Warriors (7-7, 21-9). Then-No. 12 LCSC defeated UGF 75-70 at the McLaughlin Center in the conference opener on Jan. 9. UGF returned the favor by beating then-No. 21 LCSC 77-72 on Feb. 5 in Lewiston, Idaho.
The Warriors, who spent most of the season ranked in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll before falling out last week, are led by Tanis Fuller (16.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 spg) and Caelyn Orlandi (12.9 ppg, 3.1 apg). Other key players for LCSC include McKenzie Heaslet (8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.9 bpg), Natahnee Spencer (7.2 ppg), Brooke Litalien (6.9 ppg, 2.0 apg) and Megan Risinger (5.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg).
The Lady Argos, who lead the conference in scoring at 75.5 points per game, have players averaging double figures. UGF is led by Frontier Conference scoring champion Erin Legel (17.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.7 apg) and Lindsey Abramson (14.1 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg).
Darah Huertas-Vining (13.1 ppg, 3.3 apg), Nneka Nnadi (11.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Stephanie McDonagh (10.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.3 apg) are also key contributors for UGF.
LCSC is second in scoring at 70.1 points per game. The Warriors ended the regular season with a 61-58 victory over Montana Western and have won three of their final five games.
“We’re going to have to play better defense than we did Saturday,” Himmelberg said, referring to the Lady Argos’ 75-60 loss at No. 10 MSU-Northern. “L-C is a formidable opponent. I’m grateful to have the chance to play this game in our gym.”
UGF has lost four of five since defeating LCSC on Feb. 5 – though three of those losses came to ranked teams.
Tuesday’s winner will likely head to Salt Lake City Friday for a semifinal game against regular-season champion and No. 3 Westminster. If Montana Tech were to defeat Carroll in the matchup of the 3 and 6 seeds, the UGF-LCSC victor would play at MSU-Northern Friday while Tech would go Salt Lake City.
The championship game is scheduled for Monday, March 9 at the home site of the highest remaining seed.
Montana Coaches Association passes, Frontier regular-season passes, Argo season passes, previously distributed general admission tickets and Argo Kid’s Club punch cards will not be honored. Only Frontier Conference lifetime passes and 2014-15 NAIA membership cards will be accepted. All other fans will have pay admission, which is $7 for adults and $5 for students. Children 5 and younger are free.