SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Carroll College Women's Basketball team saw their run at the program's first NAIA National Championship fall short in the penultimate game of the season, dropping a hard-fought battle with Providence 58-53 on Monday night at the Tyson Events Center.

The Fighting Saints (28-6) lived up to their name, fighting until the clock read 0:00, but fell five points short of the Argonauts (27-8, 11-4) and tomorrow night's title game.

In a historic moment for Women's Basketball in Montana, two Frontier Conference teams met in the semifinal round of a national tournament.

With the moment not lost on any player, the game understandably started off at a snail's pace with some nervy shots and multiple turnovers in the opening minutes. Each team was poor from the field in the first frame (CC - 26.7 FG%, UP - 25 FG%). Providence's Ashlee Maldonaldo was the difference, however, knocking down a pair of three-pointers as the Argos led after one, 12-11.

Carroll's offensive woes continued in the second quarter. Another sub-30 percent shooting frame led to a meager eight points. Meanwhile, Providence's perimeter shooting picked up. The Argos' Kolby Pimperton knocked down three shots from beyond the arc, and Providence created some separation heading into the break, 27-19.

Even with the ice-cold performance in the first 20, the Saints managed to keep well within striking distance. An abnormally rough start for Jamie Pickens (Helena, Mont. / GR) saw the All-American end the half just 2-8 from the floor with four points. The half was not all bad for the Frontier Player of the Year though, as another program record was captured by one of the all-time greats. 

Pickens pulled down eight boards in the opening half, becoming the all-time leader in rebounds, surpassing Emili Woody's mark of 1,025, untouched since 2006.

The 15-minute break was just what the Saints needed, and Carroll came out of the half on a tear.

Pickens set the tone on the first possession, bullying her way to a bunny shot and the Saints were off and running. Pickens, Maddie Geritz (Boise, Idaho / GR) and Kyndall Keller (Havre, Mont / SR) combined for 16 points, and thanks to an acrobatic layup from Keller at the horn, pulled in front 37-36.

Another milestone was met in the fourth quarter for Pickens, as her six points made her just the second Fighting Saint to ever score 2,000 points in a career, joining Jolene Fuzesy (2067 points) atop the mountain. Despite another combined 16 points from Keller, Pickens, and Geritz, the Argos just simply made more shots, and closed the game out at the line, ending the final pursuit of a Red Banner for one of the best teams in the 50 year history of Carroll Women's Basketball, 58-53.

Keller was outstanding again, finishing an impressive tournament run with a team-high 17 points. Pickens' 16-point, 16-rebound double-double capped potentially the greatest career of any Saint all-time, while Maddie Geritz again delivered on the big stage in Sioux City, capping her career with 16 points.

Ashlee Maldonado led the Argos with 22 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

The semifinal loss marked the end of the line for a trio of some of the best to ever don the purple and gold, Erica Nessan (Spokane, Wash. / GR), Maddie Geritz, and Jamie Pickens, but rest assured the Saints will be back. Those seniors, along with a hungry group of returners, elevated the program to heights not reached before, and tomorrow begins the chase of equal success in 2024-25.

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