LEWISTON, Idaho – It was a battle for the ages. Two underdog teams produced upsets to clinch their spots in the Frontier Conference Championship game, and in the end, it was the Providence Argonauts who took home the title. The No. 21 Lewis-Clark State Women's Basketball team battled their hearts out, falling just three points short by a final of 69-66.
 
The Warriors won three of the four quarters, but the difference maker was the second frame in which UP outscored LC State 20-9. In all, The Argos were 17-for-18 from the line where LC was 11-for-16. Providence outrebounded the Warriors 41-31.
 
"This is one of the few games all season long where we didn't make more free throws than our opponent attempted," coach Brian Orr said. "They got to the line a lot more than we did and they made their free throws. We just didn't get to the line."
 
UP jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first minute and half, but a basket by Abbie Johnson and a 3-pointer by Jamie Nielson quickly evened the score. Another triple by Nielson put the Warriors in front 8-5, and an eight-point run at the end of the frame had LC State ahead 17-12. The Warriors had eight steals in the quarter.
 
The Argos took control in the second, outscoring LC 20-9 to take a 32-26 into the locker room.
 
Back-to-back baskets by Kiara Burlage and a pair of free throws by Jansen Edmiston got the Warriors off to a hot start in the second half. Edmiston tied the game 32-32, but seven points by the Argos put them back in the lead. A three-point play by Edmiston brought the Warriors back within one at 44-43 with 3:29 left in the quarter, but the Argos clung to a 49-45 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
Providence grew its advantage to 11 midway through the final quarter, but the Warriors battled back. Free throws by Edmiston and a basket by Burlage kept UP within two before a 3 by Peyton Souvenir made it a one-point game. The Argos made a pair of free throws to seal their victory at 69-66.
 
Edmiston led the Warriors with 21 points and filled up that stat sheet with five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. Nielson dropped 12 points and Burlage had 10 with eight rebounds.
 
Emilee Maldonado led UP with 17 points and seven assists, followed by Parker Esary with 16 points and Jenna Randich with 15. Bailey Cartwright scored 13 points and had a game-high 15 rebounds.
 
LC State awaits its fate when the NAIA reveals the bracket for the 2020 NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Tournament. The bracket reveal will go live on the NAIA's Facebook page at 4 p.m. PT. Stay tuned to lcwarriors.com and social media for information as it is released.