Box Score
The Augustana women's basketball team suffered its first conference loss of the season Sunday to Minnesota Duluth. The Vikings fell 81-63, snapping an 8-game winning streak.
The Vikings are now 10-2 on the season and 4-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Bulldogs improved to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the conference.
Augie stuck with the Bulldogs early in the first half, and a 3-pointer by sophomore forward
Liz Helsper locked the score at 12-12 with 13:53 left in the half. Minnesota Duluth then exploded for a 19-5 run to take a 31-17 lead at the 7:47 mark.
The Vikings tried to battle back, but were plagued with turnovers, allowing the Bulldogs to increase their lead to 54-29 at the half.
Augustana came out on fire in the second half, when a 3-pointer and a jumper by junior forward
Kristi Board followed by another jumper by sophomore guard
Molly Hayes cut the deficit to 54-36 with 16:32 on the clock.
The Bulldogs went on a small run of their own, scoring nine points to Augie's three in the next 3 minutes to build the lead back to 63-39.
Hayes then scored six unanswered points, combining with a jumper by sophomore center Kathryn Van Duynhoven pulled the Vikings to 63-47 with 10:41 to play.
Augie was able to put together another string of points to pull within 14 points at 73-59 with 3:03 on the clock, but it was too little, too late, giving the Bulldogs the victory.
The Vikings shot 41.1 percent (23 of 51) from the field and 42.9 percent (9 of 21) from 3-point range. In contrast Minnesota Duluth was 49.0 percent (30 of 61) from the field and 60 percent (9 of 15) from behind the arc.
Augie committed 23 turnovers while the Bulldogs only had 13.
Hayes led the Vikings with 14 points while Board recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Rounding out the double-figures was junior guard
Megan Doyle with 11 points.
The Vikings will be back in action on Friday as they take on MSU Moorhead at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Augustana will entertain Minnesota, Crookston at 5 p.m. Both games will be played at the Elmen Center.
