HELENA, Mont. - The No. 19-ranked Carroll Women's Basketball team dropped their second game of the week, coming up just short to (RV) Montana Tech, 59-57 on Saturday afternoon at the Carroll College PE Center.

The Fighting Saints (17-9, 8-5) couldn't convert on opportunities down the stretch, falling back into a tie with Rocky at the top of the Frontier Conference leaderboard following Saturday's loss.

The opening quarter saw Kyndall Keller (Havre, Mont. / R-SR) start the game 4-5 from the floor for 11 points in the first frame to lead the way for the Saints. A 6-6 team effort from the free throw line helped the Saints to 19 first quarter points, but the Orediggers would lead after one, 21-19 thanks to a Kia Wasson jumper at the end of the frame.

Carroll got anther seven points from Keller in the second quarter, but five turnovers in the frame led to several easy buckets for Tech. Brooke Badinovac scored eight points, and the Orediggers would bring a 37-33 lead into the break.

The Saints tightened up on the defensive end in the third quarter, holding Tech to just 21 percent shooting in the frame. Carroll frequented the free throw line in the third, knocking down 9-12 attempts at the stripe. Keller had another impressive quarter, adding to her career-high effort with nine more points to help give Carroll a 50-48 lead with just one quarter to play.

Carroll held onto their two-point lead until the midway point of the frame, but the Orediggers would get back on top following a series of missed shots and turnovers by the Saints. Carroll kept it within one score for the remainder of the game, but could never seem to get back to even. A pair of missed free throws by Macy Mayer would give Carroll life with just two seconds left in the game, but a miscommunication off the inbounds would result in a game-ending turnover as the Saints fell 59-57.

Keller had a career night in her senior day recognition alongside Addi Ekstrom (Bozeman, Mont. / SR). The All-Conference guard put up a career-high 29 points on 11-17 shooting, leading all players in scoring.

The Orediggers were led by a 13 points effort from Badovinac and 12 points from Aubrie Rademacher.

Carroll will shift all focus towards a Thurdsay night home game against Rocky that will likely determine the Frontier Conference championship, with tip-off scheduled for 5 p.m. in the PE Center.

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

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