HELENA, Mont. -- The newly minted No. 17-ranked Carroll College Fighting Saints defeated No. 20 Rocky Mountain College 56-54 on Wednesday in Billings, the fifth consecutive win for CC.  

The Saints trailed 51-49 with two minutes left after Markaela Francis converted a bucket. 

However, Christine Denny tied the game at 51 just seconds later, and then Taylor Salonen gave the Saints a two-point lead with a pair of free throws. 

Salonen added another field goal before Francis made a shot and converted a free throw to bring the Battlin' Bears within a point with two seconds left, but one more foul shot from Salonen gave the Saints the victory. 

The Saints (12-5, 4-1 Frontier Conference) received 14 points from Christine Denny and another 10 from Kamden Hilborn to power their offense as the only scorers to reach double figures. 

Rocky (12-4, 3-2) received a 13-point effort from Kloie Thatcher. 

The Saints trailed 29-26 at halftime, but used a 15-6 third quarter to enact control. The Battlin' Bears stormed back in the fourth, but the Saints made the big plays down the stretch to get the victory.

It becomes the third win over a Top 25-ranked opponent in the past four games. 

The win puts the Saints in sole possession of first place in the Frontier Conference for the time being. The Saints face No. 22 Montana Western, who can also stake a claim for the top spot, on Friday in the PE Center.