Friday's Regional Briefs

Lady Argos roll over Concordia

HAVRE – Whitney George and Erin Legel recorded double-doubles Friday afternoon as the University of Great Falls women earned a 76-46 victory over Concordia of Alberta during the MSU-Northern preseason tournament at the Armory.

Legel, an All-American last season and Frontier Conference preseason pick for Player of the Year, drained 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists, while junior college transfer George added a game-high 16 markers and also had 11 rebounds as the 6-4 junior fills the shoes of Lindsay Abramson, who graduated last Spring.

Nneka Nnadi added 15, and Stephanie McDonagh tossed in 12. Every member of the team contributed at least a point in the team’s first action since making the NAIA Elite Eight last March.

“I was proud of the way our girls played,” said head coach Bill Himmelberg. “It was our first time out and we shook off the first game jitters but I thought the girls did a nice job of executing offensively.”

The Lady Argos will take on King’s University Saturday at 8 p.m.

Quake upsets Americans at IcePlex

Vadym Nesteruk took a feed from Hunter Ruschmeyer and scored what proved to be the winning goal with 19 seconds left in the second period to boost the Yellowstone Quake to a 2-1 win over the previously unbeaten Great Falls Americans in a NA3HL Frontier Division match in front of 625 fans at the IcePlex.

Nesteruk’s goal broke a 1-1 deadlock, created when Stevan Goran scored off assists from Mitch Ramstad and Miles Giorgione just three minutes earlier. Lance Knutson redirected all ten Americans’ shots in the third stanza, and saved 25 shots for the game.

Nick Green scored Yellowstone’s (2-2-1, 5 pts.) first tally 14 minutes into the opening frame.

Americans’ goalie Jake Stephan saved 22 of the 24 shots taken against him as Great Falls fell to 5-1-0 (10 pts.).

The same two teams face off Saturday night at 7:30 at the IcePlex.

Halmes, Bessette win at NRA Finals

BUTTE – Matt Halmes of Cascade earned 75.5 points to win the go-round in saddle bronc Friday night as the Northern Rodeo Association Finals continued here at the Civic Center.

Shawn Bessette of Great Falls and Sid Sporer of Cody, Wyo., tied for first place in the team roping competition. University of Great Falls athlete Abby Knight of Charlo won the barrel racing for the second night in a row.

The third and final go-round is slated for Saturday night at 7.

Other winners Friday included Tucker Zingg of Glendive (bareback), Jess Lockwood of Volborg (bull riding), Garrett Hansen of Helena (steer wrestling), Zane Holdbrook of Roberts (tie-down roping), and Cierra Kunesh of Helena (breakaway roping).

The all-around leaders heading into the final go-round are Hansen and Tammy Jo Carpenter.