HELENA, Mont. – The 18th ranked Carroll College women's basketball team faces two road tests against No.  20 Great Falls, Friday, and No. 11 MSU Northern, Saturday, in the final regular-season road trip of the season.
 
The Saints (5-7, 6-3 Frontier Conference) are coming off a tough, home loss to No. 4 Westminster but have won seven-consecutive games away from the friendly confines of the PE Center. They will look to continue that streak this weekend, but head coach Rachelle Sayers knows that Carroll has tough road ahead.
 
"This is the most challenging part of our season," Sayers said. "Playing No. 4 Westminster, then to have to travel to No. 20 UGF and then back to back with No. 11 MSU-Northern is tough.  Our league is just so good this year it is unbelievable.  We have been really good on the road thus far, but we are definitely going to have to play well this weekend."
 
Carroll begins the weekend with a tough test in Great Falls. The Argos defeated the Saints 73-68 in the first matchup of the season.
 
The Argos (20-4, 7-2 FC) have the highest 3-point percentage in the NAIA and the score an average of 77.08 points per game.
 
Guard Erin Legel leads UGF with 18.9 points per game but was held to just seven points against the Saints in the first meeting.
 
"UGF has a roster full of kids that can score and they play with a lot of confidence at home," Sayers said. "These are big games for both teams, so we are expecting great crowds.  We know it will be loud, but this is what you play for.  There is nothing better than seeing two good teams battle it out."
 
While the Argos are led by a strong three-point game and guard play, MSU-Northern (22-3, 7-2 FC) has potentially the best center in the country.
 
Ajha Edwards is a 6-5 powerhouse that averages 17.2 points and 13.25 rebounds per game. She is No. 2 in the nation for total rebounds and fourth in the nation for field goal percentage. 
 
Sayers and the Saints are concentrated on the Argos but she knows that a different kind of test awaits her team Saturday in Havre.
 
"I can't even start to think about MSU-Northern," Sayers said. "All I can tell you is that they are good.  They defend well, they execute well, they are well coached and they have a 6-5 kid at center that changes everything that you do."
 
UGF and MSU-Northern are tied for second in the conference behind Westminster. Carroll sits in fourth place.
 
The Saints have put in the work to try to rebound from the disappointing loss to Westminster Saturday in Helena, and Sayers believes they are well on their way.
 
"We have had a good week of practice," Sayers said. "We have had a chance to put the Westminster game behind us, and I think the kids are looking forward to getting back on the court."   

The Saints and Argos tipoff at 5:30 p.m. Friday and the Saints take on MSU-Northern at 6 p.m. Saturday.