Women's Basketball | 02/15/24 | 11:18 AM

HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll College Basketball teams will host the University of Providence this evening in a pair of critical late-season Frontier Conference matchups at the PE Center in Helena. The Women's game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and the Men will follow at 7:30 p.m.

A mid-February snowstorm isn't enough to cool down the importance of tonight's Frontier Conference doubleheader in Helena. 

The No. 8-ranked Carroll Women will look to avenge their lone Frontier Conference loss, a forgettable 63-40 loss in January to the now-ranked No. 14 Argonauts. A win would lock up the season series in favor of the Saints, but more importantly secures at least a share of the 2023-24 Frontier Conference Championship.

The battle between the only two Frontier teams appearing within the NAIA top-25 is sure to draw the attention of many, and the Saints are feeling confident heading into their penultimate home game in what will be arguably the biggest game of the season.

After earning a win in Great Falls in the first meeting between the teams, Carroll was abysmal from the floor in the last meeting. The Saints shot just 27.8 percent from the field as a team, far and away their worst effort of the season. Carroll had plenty of scoring opportunities, but the uncharacteristically bad shooting night spelled doom for the Saints' shot at a perfect conference record.

Carroll wins its share of games defensively, holding opponents to an average of just 57.3 points per game (No. 18 in NAIA). Providence's 63-point output in the last meeting speaks to just how poorly the Saints shot in the defeat.

Jamie Pickens (Helena, Mont. / GR) enters the game as the Frontier Conference Player of the Week for the fourth time this season. Pickens was simply sensational in her last game, scoring 31 points and pulling down 19 boards in Carroll's overtime win over Montana Western.

On the Men's side, the Saints have already secured at least an opening round bye and the No. 2 seed for the upcoming Frontier tournament. the Carroll Men will be looking for their second series sweep of the season, and aim to keep within striking distance of Montana Tech and a shot at the Frontier title.

Carroll swept the Frontier individual honors on the week, with Andrew Cook (Huntington Beach, Calif. / JR) having won his third Frontier Player of the Week honor in the last four weeks.

Cook has been good against the Argos in 2023-24, averaging 23.5 points per game, a hair more than his Frontier-leading 20.3 points per game on the season.

The Men are 7-3 against the Argos in their last 10 meetings, and will look for their first season sweep since the 2021-22 season over Providence this evening.

Tonight's Women's game is Carroll's annual celebration of Girls and Women in Sports. Carroll SAAC members, in partnership with the Vanilla Bean and YWCA, are asking fans to donate feminine products to help support the YWCA and their outreach. The first 100 fans to donate an item receive a free popcorn and drink from the concession stand, while the first 50 students to donate receive a coupon to Vanilla Bean Bakery.

Tip-off for the Women is slated for 5:30 p.m. and the Men will follow at 7:30 p.m.

Both games will be broadcast throughout Montana on SWX, and a simulcast will be available to stream on the Fighting Saints Network - presented by Point S Tire & Auto Service.

Catch Voice of the Saints, Nick Dietzen, and Carroll Hall of Famer, Gary Turcott call the action live on Rewind 94.9 FM or online HERE.

Live stats for the Women can be found HERE, and live stats for the Men's game HERE.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com this evening for a full recap of the action, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.