BILLINGS, Mont. - The No. 11 Carroll College Women's Basketball team could not overcome an early deficit this afternoon, falling to RV Rocky Mountain College, 51-58.

The Fighting Saints (12-5, 3-1) found themselves in a hole early, and were unable to fully dig out of it. Rocky Mountain College (12-4, 4-0) staved off a late push from the Saints to secure the seven point win, and claim sole possession of the Frontier Conference lead.

Carroll began the game with a four point advantage, but Rocky's Kloie Thatcher would score 14 points, behind a 4-6 effort from beyond the arc in the opening period to put the Battlin' Bears on top, 19-11.

The Saints would manage to slow Thatcher in the second quarter, but Rocky saw points from seven different players, and would extend their lead into the halftime break to 34-21.

Carroll came out of the break hot, and would dominate the third quarter. Jamie Pickens (Helena, Mont. / SR) scored seven points in the frame, one more than the entire Rocky unit could manage, and the Saints would trim the lead to just two points heading into the final frame.

The Saints would keep things close for the beginning of the fourth quarter, but Rocky would pull away with some timely shots and free throws late in the game to end the comeback attempt.

Three Saints would finish the game with double-digit points, Genesis Wilkinson (Newman Lake, Wash. / SR) and Sienna Swannack (Nine Mile Falls, Wash. / GR) each scored 10 points, while Pickens led the team with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a double-double effort.

Rocky's Kloie Thatcher led all scorers with 22 points.

Carroll will look to bounce back at home next Thursday when they play host to Providence at 5 p.m. at the Carroll PE Center.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of that game and to stay up to date eith everything going on in Carroll Athletics.