BOX SCORE BOX SCORE
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Sioux Falls shot 47.3 percent from the field--including a 59.3 percent second-half performance--to hand Augustana a 65-59 season-opening loss Tuesday evening in the Prairie Spirit Charitable Challenge at the Sioux Falls Arena.
USF improves to 2-0. Augustana drops its first season opener since the 2006-07 season.
The win for the Cougars was their first over the Vikings since 1988. It also snapped Augustana's 10-game winning streak in the series.
Alex Feeney recorded her fifth career double-double for Augustana, notching game-highs in points (21) and rebounds (10).
Laura Johnson made a layup to put the Cougars on the scoreboard first, but Augustana followed her basket up with a 12-point run behind the lead of
Lydia Nelson. The Vikings' 10-point advantage was their largest of the game.
USF cut its deficit to three, 18-15 at 9:05, and managed a 23-23 tie after Alysaa Rushton made a 3-pointer.
The Cougars gained their second advantage of the game when Jamey Hofer recorded a pair of free throws, but
Faith Tinklenberg turned around and drilled a 3-pointer to regain a 26-25 Viking lead.
Feeney helped Augustana close the half with a 34-30 lead, scoring five of the Vikings' final eight points.
Augustana tallied 13 of its first half points off turnovers, while USF recorded just seven.
Just more than five minutes into the second half, USF made a basket in the paint to go up 40-39 and take over the Viking lead for good.
USF held its largest lead of the game at 59-52 with 4:37 left of play when Alysaa Rushton drilled a 3-pointer.
USF shot a higher percentage from the field, 47.3 to Augustana's 37.0 percent, while the Vikings were better from behind the arc at 33.3 to 23.5 percent.
Rushton's 17 points paced USF.
Augustana begins a five-game, non-conference homestand Saturday against Minot State. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
