BOX SCORE
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana used an 18-2 scoring run midway through the second half to defeat Winona State 81-67 Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference basketball in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Vikings are now 15-5 (8-5 NSIC) and extend their home winning streak to nine games. Winona State falls to 12-5 (8-5 NSIC).
The game-changing scoring run began just under 12 minutes into the second half on a basket by
Molly Hayes, who led all players with 26 points on the afternoon.
Three other Vikings were in double-figures, including
Megan Doyle (17),
Alex Feeney (12) and
Lydia Nelson (10).
Michelle McDonald and Natalie Gigler led WSU with 22 and 20 points, respectively.
Winona State opened action on a 8-2 run, but a 3-pointer by Hayes followed by a layup from Nelson served as the early rebuttle from Augustana.
Beginning at 12:18, the Vikings went on a 20-2 run that lasted over six minutes to put Augustana ahead 32-19.
Tessa Wilka and
Liz Helsper had four points each in the run, while Feeney made a layup and 3-pointer to record five points.
At the half Augustana led 47-34 and scored 16 of its points off WSU's 12 turnovers. The Vikings had just two turnovers in the half.
WSU's Gigler led all players, scoring 10 points before the break.
The Warriors immediately began to catch up to the Vikings in the second half, taking on a 17-4 run to tie things at 53-53. Hayes then scored seven points and Doyle had another two to begin the 18-2 run that gave the lead back to Augustana and secured the Vikings' 81-67 victory.
Augustana finished the game 52.6 percent from the field and had 34 points off WSU's turnovers. A host of those points came off the Vikings' eight steals.
The Vikings return to the road next weekend to meet up with Concordia University, St. Paul and St. Cloud State for the second time this season.
