GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Lewis-Clark State's 21st-ranked women's basketball lead from start to finish in dispatching Frontier Conference rival Providence, 74-64, Saturday night – but it wasn't without the Argos providing some tense moments with a late-game run.
 
After building leads of as many as 22 points, the Warriors allowed Providence to close to within nine, 62-53, with 4:54 remaining in the game. LC responded with a field goal from Hannah Burland and two free throws by Abbie Johnson to rebuild its double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game.
 
"It was a little different finishing the first and second quarters with a lead," said coach Brian Orr after the Warriors' road sweep extended their win streak to six. "We got off to a great start both offensively and defensively.
 
"We knew that Providence would make a run the second half but we didn't plan on them making it that close. We are starting to learn how to close out games and we did just that."
 
The Warriors remain tied for the league lead with Montana Western with both teams finishing the weekend's action with 7-3 Frontier marks. LC is 15-5 overall; UMW is 14-7 after beating Rocky Mountain Saturday. Providence dropped to 4-6, 13-9.
 
LC State won with what has become a familiar style – steady defense and a balanced offense. Kiara Burlage and Jansen Edmiston had 18 points each for the Warriors with Peyton Souvenir finishing with 11. Souvenir and Edmiston each had six rebounds, and Jamie Nielson was the assist leader with four.
 
On the other end of the court, the Warriors limited Providence to just 31.94 percent (23 of 72) from the field and 21.05 percent (eight of 38) from 3-point range.
 
The Warriors scored the first seven points of the game and held Providence scoreless until the Argos scored at the 6:53 mark of the first to make it 7-2. LC outscored UP 11-8 for the rest of the period to take an 18-10 first-quarter lead.
 
The second quarter started in much the same manner with the Warriors moving out to a 27-10 lead in the first three minutes before Providence responded with its first basket of the period at the 6:46 mark to make it 27-12. Twice the Argos cut LC's lead to 12 but the Warriors closed the half with an 8-0 run for a 44-24 lead at the intermission.
 
Burlage's field goal just 30 seconds into the third quarter gave the Warriors their largest lead, 46-24, of the game. They maintained the high double-digit edge through the period and took a 62-46 lead into the final 10 minutes.
 
The Warriors return home to the Activity Center next week with a Friday night (5:30 p.m.) game against No. 17 Carroll College and a Saturday night (5:30 p.m.) matchup with Montana Tech on the schedule.