Box Score
The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team used its size advantage and strong outside shooting to defeat 18th-ranked Augustana 79-66 in a battle of unbeatens at the NSIC Holiday HoopsFest Sunday at the Sioux Falls Arena.
MSU Moorhead improved to 6-0 with the non-conference win, while Augustana slipped to 4-1 on the year.
The Dragons used their height to get Augustana's post players into foul trouble. Then when the Vikings switched to a zone defense, MSU Moorhead continually worked the shot clock and knocked down 3-point baskets. The Dragons made 12 of 22 shots beyond the arc in the game, including 7 of 12 attempts in the second half.
Midway through the second half, MSU Moorhead led 51-48 when Katie Walden, Jenny Theisen and Chris Falzon drained 3-pointers on successive possessions to help the Dragons break the game open at 60-48 with 8:12 left in the game.
Following a free throw by Augustana's Amy Puthoff, the Dragons' Krista Opheim buried another trey to push the lead to 63-49 with just under 7 minutes to play in the contest.
The game started out differently as Augustana got off to a fast start. The Vikings used their pressure to force the taller Dragons into seven turnovers in the first 5 minutes of play as they jumped out to a quick 14-3 lead with 15:16 to play in the half.
All of Augie's starters contributed to the rapid start as all five starters scored during that stretch.
However, the tide began to turn at the 14:55 mark when Augie center Dani Arens was whistled for her third foul. With Arens on the bench, MSU Moorhead went on a 17-5 run to take its first lead of the game at 20-19 with 7:13 remaining in the half.
With just over 2 minutes left in the half, MSUM sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers by Angie Jetvig and Theisen around 2 free throws by Opheim to turn a 24-24 tie into a 32-26 lead with 1:14 left before intermission.
But the Vikings closed out the period strong with buckets by Kathryn Van Duynhoven and Megan Doyle to cut the Dragon lead to 32-30 at halftime.
However, early in the second half, fouls began to mount for the Vikings. Arens picked up her fourth foul less than 2 minutes into the second half. By the 12 minute mark, Van Duynhoven and fellow post player Whitney Hofer were also on the bench with 4 fouls apiece.
With its top three inside players seeing limited playing time, the Vikings went to their perimeter players for their scoring. However, except for Doyle, who scored a game-high 21 points, Augustana struggled from the 3-point line. The Vikings shot just 29 percent from behind the arc, making only 6 of 21 attempts.
Hofer was the only other Viking to score in double figures as she netted 14 points. Meanwhile, Puthoff, the team's leading scorer at 19 points per game, managed just 5 points on 1 of 8 shooting.
Walden led five Dragons in double digits with 15 points. Opheim was next at 12 points, while Alison Nash-Gerlach added 11. Theisen and Jetvig each scored 10 points.
Augustana opens NSIC play on Friday, December 5, when the Vikings travel to Bismarck, N.D. to take on the University of Mary in a 6 p.m. contest.
