GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Hannah Dean scored 19, and Bailey Pasta scored 17 to lead the Carroll College women's basketball team to a 67-54 win over Providence and clinch at least a share of the Frontier Conference regular-season title, the first since the 2004-05 season.
 
"Well deserved and well-earned and I am really happy for them," head coach Rachelle Sayers said. "A lot of people counted us out. We were picked to finish fourth. To lose Cassie (Hashley) and Sara (Chalich) and at least clinch a share of the conference is really special."
 
The Saints never trailed in the game.
 
Carroll opened the game with an 8-2 run to take control early, but the Argos responded and cut the deficit to 17-13 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Argos cut the lead to 20-17 with back to back buckets early in the second quarter, but Carroll extended the lead to 33-25 at the half.
 
The first half a three-point shooting show by Pasta, the senior put up 12 of her 17 points in the first half, all on three-pointers. In the second half, Carroll would put it away with post play.
 
The Saints outscored Providence 16-11 in the third quarter, including six from Dean.
 
Carroll built a 55-39 with 7:40 left in the game before the Argos went on a 10-2 run to cut the Carroll lead to 57-49 with 3:10 to play, but the Saints outscored Providence 10-5 to close out the game and the 13-point win.
 
The Saints were 21-53 (39.6 percent) from the field and 8-21 (38.1 percent) from the three-point line. To go along with Dean and Pasta's stellar game, Brittney Johnson added 10.
 
Providence was 22-56 (39.6 percent) from the field and 3-13 (23.1 percent) from the three-point line. Parker Esary led the Argos with 12 points, Tristan Murphy added 10 and Jenna Randich scored 11. The Frontier's second-leading scorer Stephanie McDonagh was held to just 2-9 from the field for eight points.
 
The Saints have two games left on the slate, both at home, one win will give Carroll the outright title, a first-round bye in the Frontier playoffs and home court advantage. Carroll opens the week with defending conference champion Lewis-Clark State Thursday, before hosting current second-place Montana Western Saturday.
 
Attendance at both games is expected to be high. Tickets can be purchased at the Carroll Athletics office beginning at 9 a.m. Monday or by calling 447-4480.