Box Score
The Augustana women's basketball team dealt conference-foe Wayne State its first loss of the season with a 68-61 victory Saturday night at the Elmen Center. The Vikings were able to pull out the win behind a 22-point effort by junior guard
Megan Doyle.
The win improves the Vikings to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Wildcats drop to 7-1 and 2-1 in the conference.
Both teams started the game out sloppy, committing a combined 10 turnovers in the first 10 minutes of play. The Vikings were able to put together a run, and a 3-pointer by Doyle at the 8:48 mark put Augie up 19-9.
The Wildcats then started to play some offense, trading baskets with the Vikings until scoring seven unanswered points to pull to within one at 29-28 with 1:52 on the clock.
A layup by freshman center
Alex Feeney gave the Vikings a 31-28 lead at half.
Augie was 42.3 percent (11-26) from the field at the break, compared to just 25 percent (8 of 32) for the Wildcats. The teams were an even from 3-point range, both at 27.3 percent (3 of 11).
The Wildcats tied the score at the beginning of the second, when senior guard Kati Jo Christensen sank a three just a 1:25 into the half. Sophomore guard
Molly Hayes answered with 3-pointer of her own just 10 seconds later, allowing Augie to retake the lead at 34-31.
Wayne State was able to take its first lead of the half when junior guard Alyssa Fischbach scored a layup and then a jumper to put the Wildcats up 35-34 with 16:17 to play.
The teams traded the lead for the next few possessions until the Wildcats went on a 10-3 run to earn their biggest margin of the night at 50-46 with 8:41 left on the clock.
The Vikings just wouldn't go away, and retook the lead, 58-53 with just 4:26 left in the game after two made free throws and a jumper by junior
Kristi Board plus a three from Hayes. During that time, the Vikings recorded four blocks to keep the Wildcats from scoring.
Wayne State then scored five straight points to tie the score at 58-58 before a long 3-pointer from Doyle grabbed the lead for the Vikings, putting them up 61-58 with 2:20 to play.
Augie only allowed Wayne State to score three more points, and made 7 of 8 free throws in the last 1:25 to seal the win.
The Vikings were 44.9 percent (22-49) for the game compared to Wayne State's 29.5 percent (18-61).
The Wildcats did outrebound Augie 37-34 and forced 17 Augie turnovers while only committing 15.
Doyle scored 10 of her 22 points in the last 7:38 of the game. She collected a team-high seven rebounds and dished out five assists while also posting three blocks.
Feeney ended with 13 points, six rebounds, and two blocks on the night while Hayes contributed 12 points, four assists, and three steals.
Junior center Mara Hjelle led Wayne State by collecting a double-double on 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Augie will be back in action on Dec. 19 as they play non-conference opponent University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 2 p.m. at the Elmen Center.
