GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Lady Diggers put up a fight Saturday night but came up just short in a 79-77 defeat against the University of Great Falls.

Tech (8-9, 0-2 Frontier) had four players score in double figures including Martha Dembek who had a team- and career-high 19 points. Dembek also added five rebounds and three steals. Mandy Machinal chipped in with 17 points, six assists and three rebounds. Kayla DeWit had another strong performance shooting 8-of-11 for 16 points and pulled down nine boards. Hattie Thatcher contributed with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists.

UGF (14-3, 1-1 Frontier) was led by Erin Legel with a game-high 24 points.

Thatcher got things rolling for the Diggers making her first three shots to pull Tech within one at 7-6. The Orediggers took an 11-10 lead after a deep three pointer by Kabri Emerson. Tech's lead would be short lived as UGF used a 13-3 run in the middle of the half to go up 23-14. The Copper and Gold would go on a run 12-4 run of their own highlighted by seven-straight buckets by Martha Dembek. Both squads exchanged points back-and-forth but an Argo basket at the buzzer gave UGF a 38-36 edge at the half.

The fast pace second half saw a lot of scoring by both teams. The Diggers tied up the contest at 40 all off of an outlet pass from Emerson to Kayla DeWit for a layup. The Lady Argos pulled away going up by as many as 10 (68-58) but the Diggers stayed true to their name and chipped away at UGF's lead. Tech's defense would hold UGF without a field goal for four minutes as they go on a 12-3 run at with the score 71-70. The contest would go down to the wire; Mandy Machinal would hit a three to pull Tech within one with three seconds remaining. UGF's Mackenzie Owens missed the first free throw but makes the second. Thatcher pushes the ball down the court and puts up a three-point shot but it just misses to the right.

The Lady Diggers return to the hardwood on Jan. 17 when they host the Lewis-Clark Warriors at 5:30 p.m.