Box Score
The Augustana women's basketball team recorded its first loss of the season to Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Holiday Hoopsfest. The Vikings were a season-low 1 of 20 (5 percent) from 3-point range in the 95-68 loss.
The win improves the Golden Bears to 3-0 on the season and drops the Vikings to 2-1.
The Golden Bears took an early 10-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game, but a nine point scoring run by the Vikings gave them a 13-10 advantage at 13:43. The Golden Bears then outscored the Vikings 17-6 in the next four minutes to move the score to 27-19, with all of Augie's points during that period coming from freshman forward
Lydia Nelson.
Sophomore guard
Molly Hayes cut the deficit to five points by making Augie's only 3-pointer of the first half at the 8:42 mark. Concordia-St. Paul then exploded for 11 unanswered points to take a 38-22 lead at 4:48 on the clock. Augie was unable to cut into the deficit and trailed 49-30 at the half.
The Golden Bears shot 45 percent (18 of 40) in the first half and out-rebounded the Vikings 27-18. Hayes and Nelson kept the Vikings in the game by scoring 10 first-half points each. Hayes was 4 of 5 from the field while Nelson was 5 of 7.
Concordia-St. Paul started the second half off by outscoring the Vikings 17-6, earning them a 66-36 lead with 13:20 left to play. Augie went on a 12-2 run and cut the lead to 20 at 68-48 with 9:27 left to play. The Golden Bears then outscored the Vikings 27-20 in the last 9:15 of the game on their way to a 95-68 victory.
Nelson led the Vikings with a career-high 23 points and a career-high 6 rebounds. Hayes added 12 points.
Junior guard Maurika Hickman had a game-high 24 points for the Golden Bears, and senior guard Jamie Jones contributed 14. Senior forward Ashley Viehauser added 13 points and senior center Gillian Bjerke recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Augie will compete in NSIC Holiday Hoopsfest action again tomorrow night as they take on St. Cloud State at 6 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Arena.
