SIOUX FALLS - Augustana College used a balanced scoring attack and a solid zone defense to defeat No. 4 South Dakota 74-64 Saturday night at the Elmen Center.
The Vikings (10-5, 2-0 North Central Conference) used a 27-4 run midway through the first half to pick up their seventh win in eight games.
Trailing 13-5 with 15:25 left in the first half, Augustana outscored South Dakota (15-3, 0-2 NCC) 27-4 over the next 10 minutes to take a 32-17 lead with 5:30 remaining before the half.
Augustana relied on its 3-point shooting during the stretch. The Vikings made 7 of their first 12 shots behind the arc. Five of those treys came when the Vikings reeled off 19 unanswered points to cap the scoring spree.
South Dakota chipped away at the lead, thanks to three 3-pointers by Kayla Jacobs, but the Vikings led 40-35 at intermission.
Augustana was very efficient in the second half, sinking 55.6 percent (10-for-18) of its shots. The Vikings, which never trailed in the second half, always had an answer when the Coyotes made a run. After USD narrowed the margin to 45-41 with 17 minutes left, Augustana answered with seven unanswered points to regain an 11-point cushion at 52-41 with 14:35 to play.
Twice USD cut the lead to three points, but each time, Joanna Naumann countered with baskets. The Coyotes cut the lead to 57-54 with 8:50 left, but Naumann scored at the other end to make it a five-point game.
Moments later, Augustana led 61-58 but the Vikings' Alison Adamson made one of two free throws. USD failed to score on its next possession, and Naumann followed with another bucket to push the lead back to six at 64-58 with 5:42 to play.
Augustana made 8 of 12 free throws the rest of the game to preserve the win.
Naumann and Erin Johnson led Augustana with 15 points apiece, while Katie Krauth added 13 points and 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Andrea Seefeldt scored 11 points off the bench.
USD's All-American Mandy Koupal led the Coyotes with 32 points and 15 rebounds. However, she was the only USD player in double figures. The Coyotes finished the evening 20-for-57 (35.1 percent) from the field, including 8-for-33 (24.2 percent) from 3-point range.
Augustana will go on the road for the first time in NCC play next week. The Vikings play at St. Cloud State on Friday and at Minnesota State on Saturday.
